By Don Ketchum

All season long, the badminton team from Phoenix Greenway High talked about what it would take to turn the tables on Phoenix Sunnyslope and win the Class 4A state championship.

It wasn’t easy, but Greenway accomplished its goal on Wednesday night at Glendale Independence High.

The Demons, seeded No. 2, turned away top-seeded Sunnyslope 5-3 as the doubles team of Ursula Gomez and Monica Saldana came up with the decisive victory.

Greenway finished its season 17-0, including a victory over Sunnyslope earlier in the season. That was Sunnyslope’s only loss out of 14 matches.

“That was our goal all year, to come back and win it this time,’’ said Greenway coach Heather McDonald. “We knew we had a talented team coming back.’’

The team was younger this season, but stronger in the 4-5-6 positions, according to McDonald.

Sunnyslope did all it could to retain its title. The Vikings were led by No. 1 singles player Jasmine Fuller, the defending state champion.

Fuller was matched against Genesis Ramirez, and overcame a 13-10 setback in the first game to win the match with 11-9 and 11-5 wins.

Fuller will meet Ramirez again in the singles quarterfinals on Saturday at Independence when all singles and doubles players from both Class 5A and 4A will be mixed together for the first time. Fuller will be seeded fourth, Ramirez fifth.

In Wednesday night’s singles action, No. 2 Gomez, No. 3 Aiessa Allard, No. 4 Saldana and No. 6 Mathlide Pioux won their matches, forcing Sunnyslope to have to win all three of its doubles matches. Fuller teamed with Katee Espericuetta to win one, but Gomez and Saldana secured the title for Greenway.

Greenway players wore pink socks in honor of breast-cancer awareness month.

Next season, all teams will be consolidated into one state meet, just as the individuals are this year.

“It’s going to be a beast,’’ McDonald said. “That’s why we want to enjoy this one while it lasts.’’

CLASS 4A BADMINTON TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

Phoenix Greenway 5, Phoenix Sunnyslope 3

No. 1 singles – Jasmine Fuller, S, def. Genesis Ramirez, G, 10-13, 11-9, 11-5.

No. 2 singles – Ursula Gomez, G, def. Renata Arronte, S, 11-7, 11-8.

No. 3 singles – Aiessa Allard, G, def. Hanna Bashaw, S, 11-8, 7-11, 11-6.

No. 4 singles – Monica Saldana, G, def. Jean Gain, S, 11-6, 11-1.

No. 5 singles – Alisa Turkina, S, def. Brynn Szukala, G, 11-2, 13-10.

No. 6 singles – Mathilde Pioux, G, def. Katee Espericuetta, S, 11-0, 6-11, 11-3.

No. 3 doubles – Fuller-Espericuetta, S, def. Szukala-Pioux, G, 15-2, 15-5.

No. 2 doubles – Gomez-Saldana, G, def. Bashaw-Gain, 15-13, 15-8.