TORONTO - The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) proudly recognizes Seneca College badminton student-athlete Tessa Liu (Taiwan) as its 2021-22 OCAA Female Athlete of the Year.
Named the OCAA Women's Badminton Player of the Year, Liu made quite the collegiate debut this past winter. The first-year student-athlete went undefeated in women's singles play at the OCAA Badminton Championships, not losing a set. Her average set score was 21-8 (excluding one outcome that was conceded), showcasing her dominance at the competition. Liu was the first Seneca student-athlete to win provincial gold in women's singles play since Carol Dela Cerna in 2012-13.
Liu was named to the OCAA All-Ontario First-Team, a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) All-Canadian, and was the conference's nominee for National Women's Badminton Player of the Year.
Liu joined the other OCAA gold and silver medalists at the 2022 CCAA Badminton National Championships in Edmonton where she continued her dominance. She won all of her five round robin matches before defeating Jasleen Kaur of Concordia University of Edmonton 21-13, 21-8 in the national semi-finals. Liu then dropped her first set in the CCAA gold medal match against Seneca teammate Dapasha Prabhjot, but rallied to win the national title 20-22, 21-12, 21-14.
Liu also helped lead her OCAA teammates to win the team supremacy award at nationals. Overall in both provincials and nationals she had a record of 14-0, winning 28 sets while losing just one. Her average set score at nationals was 21-11.
Liu is the first Seneca badminton student-athlete to be recognized as OCAA Female Athlete of the Year since Sue Mileva (1998-99). Liu and Mileva are the only Seneca student-athletes to win a national gold medal in women's singles. Liu is the fourth Seneca student-athlete to win the OCAA top female athlete award joining Mileva, Natasha Thombs (2005-06) and Ashley Docking (2008-09).
The OCAA named Humber's DeQuon Cascart as its 2021-22 OCAA Male Athlete of the Year on Thursday. Both athletes of the year will receive a distinctive keeper trophy, a framed certificate and $500 scholarship on behalf of the OCAA.
PREVIOUS OCAA FEMALE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
2019-20: Chuot Angou, Fanshawe (Basketball)
2018-19: Jade Kovacevic, Fanshawe (Soccer)
2017-18: Ceejay Nofuente, Humber (Basketball)
2016-17: Ceejay Nofuente, Humber (Basketball)
2015-16: Ceejay Nofuente, Humber (Basketball)
2014-15: Thalia Hanniman, Humber (Volleyball)
2013-14: Kelly Nyhof, Humber (Volleyball)
2012-13: Tracy Wong, Humber (Badminton)
2011-12: Vicky Siemon, Humber (Cross Country)
2010-11: Landis Doyle, Humber (Volleyball)
2009-10: Renee Yip, Humber (Badminton)
2008-09: Ashley Docking, Seneca (Soccer, Basketball)
2007-08: Katie Szeghalmi, Durham (Soccer)
2006-07: Megan Stacey, Nipissing (Volleyball)
2005-06: Natasha Thombs, Seneca (Basketball)
2004-05: Lisa Martin, Cambrian (Soccer, Volleyball)
2003-04: Erin Smith, Durham (Fastball, Volleyball)
2002-03: Stacey Michaels, Cambrian (Badminton)
2001-02: Joanna Vitale, Humber (Soccer, Indoor Soccer)
2000-01: Anita Kralt, Redeemer (Basketball, Soccer, Indoor Soccer)
1999-2000: Gabe Roy and Melanie Finley, Cambrian (Badminton)
1998-99: Sue Mileva, Seneca (Badminton)
1997-98: Joanna Van Dyke, Durham (Fastball, Volleyball)
1996-97: Marcy Skribe, Durham (Basketball)
- OCAA -
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For over 50 years, the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association has been a dedicated leader in amateur athletics through the provision of quality varsity and recreational athletic opportunities at the collegiate level.
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Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
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E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com