A state championship team needs contributions from every starter, and Sunrise Mountain does not win its first Division II badminton title against two-time defending champion Ironwood without its #6 starter.

Junior Gracen Thomas drove two comeback victories to decide the state title match and five the Mustangs a 5-4 win Nov. 1 at Desert Vista High School in Phoenix. In the #6 singles match, she trailed Ironwood senior Hayden Flores 19-14 in the third game, but rallied to win 22-20 and give Sunrise Mountain a 4-2 advantage.

Ironwood won two doubles matches to tie the final 4-4. The #3 doubles match between Thomas and senior Chloe Thornburg and Ironwood juniors Ella Hartsburg and Reece Naylor went to three games and the whole gym watched the decisive third game.

It was a wild roller coaste

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