Dawson Laye is off to the high school badminton provincials after taking on all comers in the South Central Zone Badminton Tournament hosted here in Cochrane, Apr. 29.

The grade 10 student of Cochrane High School (CHS) says his strategy and a lot of practice was the key to winning gold in singles in the junior boys division.

"I played into where they weren't with backhands and stuff," says Laye.

Laye has been playing the sport for four years and while many in singles competition play year-round, he only plays during the school season.

It was Ben Spilak of the Strathcona Tweedsmuir who challenged him in the final and of all those he faced at the zones he's only played one before at the divisional finals a few weeks back.

Laye is heading to Red Deer Friday, but in the meantime he continues to work on his game and is a bit of a perfectionist.

"I'm working on all the stuff I didn't do well at the zones," he says. "My drive shots , my back head and my smashes weren't the greatest and I could always work on my drop shots."

Two other Cochrane High junior students claimed a bronze in the zones. Keegan Phaneuf and Koby Brander won a bronze in the junior boys doubles division. Also of note are Rosie Thorson and Joseph Cline who came fourth in intermediate mixed doubles.