Could Badminton become a mainstream High School Sport in Massachusetts?

Getting badminton as one of the sports in High Schools seemed elusive but was very much in the minds and discussion among Massbad activists for over six years, though no concrete steps were taken.   To their surprise, a student group organizing themselves into the Massachusetts High School Badminton Leaque (MHSBL  http://www.mhsbl.com/) in 2010 held the first MHSBL Open on June of 2011.  The number of participants, most of who never competed in USAB tournaments, and schools involved inspired Massbad to work together with MHSBL.  Both organizations agreed that Massbad was to organize and run an annual HS Team Championships at Boston Badminton while MHSBL was to run the individual event, a High School Open at Newton North HS.  The grassroots organizing from the collaboration has been a great success.  In 2013, Massbad held two team competitions with  6 participating teams each, with a total of 9 schools involved.   The Mar 2, 2014 High School Team Championship involved 11 teams from 15 schools.
Progress made is not without issues and problems:
1.       A number of teams have been led or inspired by a competitive player.  Would the interest in badminton wane when the player graduates?
2.       HS teams continue to struggle to get court time for badminton in school gyms since the mainstream sports like basketball and volleyball are given priority.  However, we are now receiving feedback of teams given court time in their schools for the first time.
                After school badminton program is growing in more High Schools.  Newton North and Newton South had an after school badminton program for many years now.  Just this year, Westborough High School started a regular after school program at Boston Badminton.  It seems that improving the skill of everyone in the team and not just relying on a few good players  is a great formula for winning as Newton North, with no nationally ranked junior, has just won the 2014 Massbad High School Team Championship in Division 1.  Regular after school badminton programs is also a good way to insure the continuity of badminton in High School.
Badminton is the most popular P.E class at the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional HS, the Wareham HS http://www.wickedlocal.com/x2132762455/Badminton-Club-to-start-at-Wareham-High-School  and many other schools.  If only they are given court time, they’ll pick up their racquets and wack the birdie.  Badminton used to be very popular in Massachusetts.  In fact, USA Badminton can trace its organizational roots to 4 gentlemen from Brookline, MA in 1936.  Badminton’s popularity boomed from the 1930s to 70s as educational institutions, YMCAs and hundreds of clubs offered badminton instruction and leagues.  The effort to bring back badminton in schools comes from the grassroots.  There is momentum and good reason to keep the faith that badminton will eventually get the recognition to become a regular sport in High School.