Jessica Han
Senior
Oak Brook
What drew you to the sport of badminton?
My older sister played at Central, and I kind of got roped in with it. Eventually I just thought it was really fun.
What do you enjoy about it?
I like that it's fast-paced and you don't need to much strength, which is good because I'm not super strong. I also like how you need good technique and also a lot of strategy to figure out how your opponent is going to react. It's kind of a mind game.
How would you describe your playing style?
This year I've gotten a lot more powerful so I can clear better and hit the birdie a little bit harder. I also try my best to play smart.
Any pre-game rituals?
I guess sometimes I try to pump myself up by doing some jumpers and also take deep breaths to try to relax as well. My teammates are pretty good at calming me and encouraging me.
How would your teammates describe you?
I hope fun and nice, I'm a little bit more on the chill side, but I can zone in when a match gets close.
What's your goal for the season?
To make state, if I can, but I also want my senior year to be one where I don't stress out too much and just have as much fun as possible.
What other Central activities are you involved with?
I do JETS (Junior Engineering Technical Society).
Who inspires you?
I admire my parents and my sister (Angela), how she managed to make her mark on the badminton team. My teammates, too.
Do you have other talents?
I can bake a good Key Lime Pie, and I like drawing.
Why does coach Katie Maley like having Han on the squad?
Jessica has been on the varsity team since her freshman year. She has truly showed all her teammates and younger athletes the meaning of grit. She has been playing the top singles spot for four years. Obviously, her freshman and sophomore year she had some really tough matches, but she learned from them and got better and really improved her skills. She has qualified for the state tournament the last two years as well, and I know she will do great things this year throughout the season and at the state tournament.
- profile by Ken Knutson, photo by Jim Slonoff
