The 2006 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Badminton
Championships are set to begin in North York, Ontario. The OCAA
Badminton Championships hosted by Seneca College will take place
from February 17-18. The top three teams from the East and West
Regional Championships have advanced to this three-day event that
will crown OCAA men’s and women’s singles, doubles and
mixed doubles champions.
The Championships will consist of only a few returning teams and
champions to the event this year. As a result, the field will be
highlighted by a number of new up-and-coming collegiate badminton
players looking to make their mark in the OCAA history books.
The Cambrian Golden Shield has been a badminton
power over the past decade winning the last six overall team
championships. This year’s edition of the team is looking to
continue their dominance with players in the men’s singles,
men’s doubles and mixed doubles event. East Regional
Champions, Will Scott of Cambrian is in search of
the men’s singles title while Ryan Rows and
Kathryn Bobbies hope to secure a first place win
in mixed doubles. Also representing Cambrian are men’s
doubles pair Mike Dionne and Adam
Root who finished third at Regionals.
Looking to end Cambrians title run will be Georgian
College. After twelve years of dominating the east region,
the Cambrian Golden Shield we’re knocked off their throne by
the Georgian Grizzlies last week. Georgian won their east region
title behind a first place performance in men’s doubles from
James Didiodato and John Paynter
and a slew of second place finishes.
On the men’s side, last year’s defending champion and
Badminton Player of the Year and 2004-05 OCAA Athlete of the Year
Nathaniel Allard of Centennial College enters as
the early favourite in men’s singles. Nathaniel has continued
to set the pace this year finishing in the top three in several
invitational tournaments and going an undefeated 8-0 to win the
West Regional Championship.
In men’s doubles, the highflying pair of James
Didiodato and Jonathan Paynter from
Georgian will enter on a high note after finishing first at the
East Regional Championships. The pair earned silver last year and
is the only team competing who’ve been at the Championships
before.
On the women’s side a new champion will be crowned this year.
Leading the pack is last year’s silver medallist
Margaret Myjak of Mohawk who finished first at the
West Regional Championships and won the Centennial Invitational
this year. In her way stands several contenders including
Kim Dao of Georgian and Jolande
Amoraal of Humber.
Meanwhile Sian Leung and Natasha
Letbrun will represent St. Lawrence (Kingston) in
women’s doubles. The pair are two-time East Regional
Champions and are looking to win their first-ever provincial title.
Challenging them will be St.Clair’s Amanda
Sjoberg and Amy Howe who won this
year’s West Regional Championships and are favorites for a
top three finish.
Look for the Cambrian duo of last year’s OCAA mixed doubles
champion Ryan Rows and new partner Kathryn
Bobbies to put their talent together to reach the medal
podium. The team finished first at the East Regionals. Standing in
their way of a gold medal will be Karina Olivares
and Jun Kim who were mixed doubles champions of
the east and champions of the Fanshawe Invitational Tournament.
A complete championship schedule including game times and results
will be available online on the homepage of the OCAA website at
www.ocaa.com or on the Championship
Host Site.
Click here to
view results from the East and West Regional
Championships.
The championships are set to take place at Seneca College. For more
information on the OCAA Badminton Provincial Championships, please
contact host convenor Linda Stapleton at the Seneca College
Athletics Department at 416-491-5050 X 2957.
The OCAA governs intercollegiate sports and promotes physical
activity in its member institutions through quality athletic and
campus recreation programs. It offers 16 varsity sports to 30
member institutions throughout Ontario.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Michelle Waddick
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
T: 416-426-7043
F: 416-426-7308
E: waddick@ocaa.com
W: www.ocaa.com