TORONTO - The Georgian Grizzlies men's and women's badminton team played their first tournament of the New Year this past weekend when they participated in the Centennial Invitational in Scarborough, Ont.

The Grizzlies had a good showing at the tournament led by a pair of second year women's players, Jessica Maher (Tottenham) and Kiersten Hillman (Bracebridge).

Both Maher and Hillman were able to reach the quarter-final round of the women's singles competition.

They also teamed up as a women's doubles team where they reached the quarter-finals of the women's doubles top bracket and also won the consolation round.

The Grizzlies badminton team will be back in action this weekend when they travel to participate in the Cambrian Invitational in Sudbury, Ont.

That will be the team's final tune-up prior to the OCAA East Regional Championships which will be hosted by Georgian College on Jan. 31 - Feb. 1 at the Barrie campus. The top badminton players from the OCAA East Division will compete in each of the disciplines of men's and women's singles, doubles and mixed doubles for a spot to advance to the OCAA Championships.

This year's OCAA championship will take place Feb. 13 - 14 hosted by Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ont.

Source: Georgian Grizzlies