It was business as usual for Hamilton badminton—with a little twist. 

Ironwood also flexed its muscle on the court. On Saturday at Independence High, the perennial powers pulled off clean sweeps in Division I and II, capturing state championships in singles and doubles. 

Hamilton punctuated the day with it two best singles players, Hayley Koh and Katheryn Yi, battling for the D-I crown. And what a match it was. 

Koh, the top seed, was the favorite, but the unseeded Yi wound up with the D-I title. But it took three tightly contested sets for Yi to come out victorious.

The scores: 20-22, 21-18, 23-21. 

"It was really amazing,” Yi said. "I’m really happy we were able to get first and second place. I’m also very proud of both of us. We played really well. That was the toughest, craziest match I’ve ever had with her.”

Some of that craziness came in the third set, with Yi up 20-18 and a point away from closing the match. 

But the quick-footed Koh battled back to tie it before the strong-swinging Yi added the final touches.

That marked Koh’s only defeat in a successful 20-match singles campaign this season.

Despite losing to the same player she partnered with to win the D-I doubles final last year, Koh walked off the court showing a masterclass in sportsmanship. 

“(Yi) has made me a better player,” Koh said. “She’s my best friend. It's part of competition. That’s how it works, and she deserves it. It’s an opportunity to grow, and there are better wins ahead for me."

Westwood was seeing double in the D-I doubles final with the Sue twins, Allison and Madison, of Hamilton. 

The siblings were also unseeded but also won, defeating Westwood’s second-seeded Naitsirc Galvez Valenzuela and Ava Sharpe 21-14, 21-17 to improve to 11-0.

Hamilton’s Lauren Rosales (far right) was one happy coach after the performance of singles players (left to right) Hayley Koh and Katheryn Yi and doubles partners/twins Allison and Madison Sue. "I don’t even know how to describe that feeling,” said Rosales about watching Koh and Yi battle for the D-I title. "I was just proud just watching them compete knowing that they are both seniors. It’s tough. But I’m so incredibly proud of both them.” Rosales was also proud of how the Sue twins regained their composure. “There were a couple of moments where the game was getting away from them, but they did a great job of centering and refocusing themselves,” she said. (Jose Garcia photo/AZPreps365) "When times are tough, (Madison) doesn’t give up,” Allison said.

“She’s a great doubles player,” said Madison of her sister. “She’s very supportive.”

In a sense, Westwood also won. 

The last time the Warriors reached a doubles final was 23 years ago, when coach Meg Bowman’s sister helped Westwood win the crown. Sharpe’s mom was Bowman’s doubles partner when the two attended Westwood High. 

Galvez Valenzuela and Sharpe, the No. 2 seed, finished with an impressive 17-3 record. After picking up their medals, Galvez Valenzuela, Sharpe and their teammates continued celebrating, purchasing churros to end their rewarding season. 

Westwood’s Naitsirc Galvez Valenzuela and Ava Sharpe (Jose Garcia photo/AZPresp365) In Division II, the dominance of Ironwood’s Sophia Tijore continued. The senior defended her singles crown with a 21-5, 21-7 victory over Sunrise Mountain’s Norah Brooks. 

Ironwood’s Sophia Tijore (Jose Garcia photo/AZPreps365)Tijore is 36-1 in her singles matches during the past two seasons.

Sunrise Mountain’s Norah Brooks (Jose Garcia photo/AZPreps365)

Her fellow top-seeded teammates Madison Hutter and Bryanna Moser improved to 20-0 after defeating No. 3 Anabelle Scott and Charlise Darling of Chaparral 21-18, 21-14 in the D-II doubles championship. 

Ironwood's Madison Hutter and Bryanna Moser (Jose Garcia photo/AZPreps365)   

It was Ironwood’s first doubles title since 2021.

Chaparral’s Anabelle Scott and Charlise Darling (Jose Garcia photo/AZPreps365)