The 2007 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Badminton Championships are set to begin in Scarborough, Ontario. The OCAA Badminton Championships hosted by Centennial College will take place from February 17-18 where the top players from the East and West Regional Championships have advanced to this two-day event that will crown OCAA men’s and women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles champions.

The Championships will consist of several returning teams and champions to the event this year. As a result, veteran collegiate badminton players will be looking to make their mark in the OCAA history books by winning multiple championships medals. Several new-comers will round out the field, looking to make an impact in the OCAA by knocking off the experienced players.

The Cambrian Golden Shield have been a badminton powerhouse over the past decade winning the last seven overall team championships. With the Golden Shield having representatives in women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles, the East Region Champions looked poised to take home their eighth consecutive championship.

Looking to end Cambrian’s title run will be West Region Champion Seneca Sting. Seneca will be in search of their first overall title since 1977, the same year where Seneca capped off four consecutive titles. CCAA Athlete of the Month David Trinh and partner Erica Lord will hope to lead the Sting to championship gold.

On the men’s side, two time defending champion and Badminton Player of the Year Nathaniel Allard of Fanshawe College enters as the early favourite in men’s singles. Nathaniel proved his dominance once again as he rolled through the competition at the West Regionals not dropping a single set. Jonathon Paynter of the Georgian Grizzlies looked as impressive in the East Region Championships as he swept the competition, never losing a set.

In men’s doubles, Hoa Ly and Roni Islam look to bring home Humber’s first ever gold medal in OCAA Badminton. The West Region Champions will be challenged by the highflying pair of Adam Thompson & Dwayne Wilson of Cambrian College.

On the women’s side, OCAA defending champion Margaret Myjak of Mohawk College will look to win her third consecutive medal at the provincial championships. Myjak has already added a bunch of hardware to her collection this year as she has won the West Region Championship, along with three invitational tournaments and being named CCAA Athlete of the Month. In her way stands several contenders including East Region champion Jody Carruthers of Cambrian who happened to finish first over Myjak at the Cambrian Invitational Tournament this season.

Meanwhile Samantha Sheppard & Megan Laplante will represent Cambrian in women’s doubles. The pair are looking to win Cambrian’s first women’s doubles gold medal since 2003, where the Golden Shield won seven consecutive titles. Challenging them will be Seneca’s Amily Lau and Emily Ko who won this year’s West Regional Championships and are favourites for a top three finish.

Look for the Seneca duo of Ryan David Trinh and Erica Lord to put their talent together to reach the medal podium in mixed doubles. The team finished first at the West Regionals. Standing in their way of a gold medal will be Ryan Vandenburg and Becky Ehret of the St. Lawrence Vikings who were the mixed doubles champions of the East.

A complete championship schedule including game times and results will be available online on the homepage of the OCAA website at www.ocaa.com.

The championships are set to take place at Centennial College. For more information on the OCAA Badminton Provincial Championships, please contact host convenor Joan Healey at the Centennial College Athletics Department at 416-289-5000 X 2314.

Participating Athletes:

Men’s Singles
N. Allard - Fanshawe
M. Gow - Fleming
T. Jamieson - Georgian
J. Paynter - Georgian
M. Schnarr - Mohawk
N. Sandhu – Seneca

Women’s Singles
J. Carruthers - Cambrian
J. Birch - Georgian
M. Myjak - Mohawk
C. Oakes – Mohawk
L. King – St. Clair
L. Clysdale – St. Lawrence (Kingston)

Men’s Doubles
A. Thompson & D. Wilson - Cambrian
J. Treu & A. Essaan – Centennial
J. Hebert & D. Bourassa - Fleming
K. Ling & E. Ngo – George Brown
H. Ly & R. Islam – Humber
J. Drydak & J. Audet – St. Clair

Women’s Doubles
S. Sheppard & M. Laplante – Cambrian
J. Hayman & J. Sky – Fanshawe
J. Leung & E. McPhee – George Brown
M. DeSouza & S. Gowland – Humber
K. Ditner & S. Collings - St. Lawrence (Kingston)
A.Lau & E. Ko – Seneca

Mixed Doubles
L. Gates & D. Debassige - Cambrian
C. Zhang & N. San – Centennial
D. Foisy & W. Traczuk – Georgian
A. Howe & C. Lay – St. Clair
R. Vandenburg & B. Ehret - St. Lawrence (Kingston)
D. Trinh & E. Lord - Seneca

The OCAA governs intercollegiate sports and promotes physical activity in its member institutions through quality athletic and campus recreation programs. It offers 15 varsity sports to 30 member institutions throughout Ontario.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Dennis
OCAA Marketing & Communications Coordinator
P: (416) 426-7043
W: www.ocaa.com