March 11, 2017

OCAA Sweeps CCAA Badminton National Championships

Team OCAA captured the Team Supremacy Award at the CCAA Badminton National Championships, winning four gold medals and a bronze.

CCAA Player of the Year Owen Kurvits, along with his father and coach Benno, received the Eileen Harle Fair Play Award for sportsmanship. At one point during the bronze medal match, Kurvits' opponent slipped on the floor and rather than smashing the birdie to the floor, Kurvits hit a high clear, giving Reinson an opportunity to rejoin the rally. The display drew applause from the spectators, coaches and the head referee. The award also celebrated the seventeen year coach-player relationship between the two as Owen graduates this year.

Women's Singles National Champion - Olivia Lei, Humber Hawks

CCAA Player of the Year Olivia Lei (OCAA, Humber College) is now the reigning three-time CCAA Champion in Women's Singles. Lei went a perfect 7-0 in the CCAA Championship, never dropping a set on route to a 21-8, 21-13 victory over Takeisha Wang (ACAC, Concordia University of Edmonton). Wang captured a CCAA bronze last year in Women's Doubles. Helen Cheung (PACWEST, Vancouver Island University) defeated Ryo Kuramochi (ACAC Wildcard, NAIT) 21-12, 21-8 to capture the bronze medal.

Complete listing of results

Men's Singles National Champion - Nicky Aung, Seneca Sting

Nicky Aung (OCAA Host, Seneca College) continued his dominance of the Men's Singles division, defeating Graydon Robb (PACWEST, Vancouver Island University) 21-11, 21-15. After trailing 4-0 in the first game, Aung scored 11 of the next 13 points, grabbing a stranglehold on the match in the process. Despite the loss, Robb captured his fourth CCAA Medal, previous winning gold, silver and bronze. Owen Kurvits (OCAA, Redeemer University) completed his post-secondary career by winning the bronze medal over Connor Reinson (ACAC Wildcard, Concordia University of Edmonton) 21-6, 21-12. With a contingent of friends, family and teammates cheering him on, the CCAA Male Athlete of the Year completed his career with a gold, silver and bronze medal.

Complete listing of results

Women's Doubles National Champions - Phuthita Nilyok & Chloe Rowe, Humber Hawks

In an all-OCAA final, Phuthita Nilyok and Chloe Rowe (OCAA, Humber College) defeated Christine Nguyen and Rachel Nham (OCAA Host, Seneca College) 21-11, 21-9. Nilyok now has a CCAA gold to go along with her silver medal last year in Mixed Doubles. Nham settled for a silver medal for the second consecutive year in Women's Doubles. Rachael Smillie and Cecilia Wolski (ACAC, Concordia University of Edmonton) secured the bronze medal with a 21-16, 25-23 victory over Caitlyn New and Kaitlyn Wilbee (ACAC Wildcard, NAIT). This is the second CCAA medal for Smillie following her bronze medal last year, also in Women's Doubles.

Complete listing of results

Men's Doubles National Champions - Ryan Chow & Adam Dong, Humber Hawks

The Men's Doubles title is returning to Humber College after Ryan Chow and Adam Dong (OCAA) defeated Andy Ko and Imran Wadia (ACAC, NAIT) 24-22, 21-12. Chow and Dong entered the championship as the reigning CCAA Men's Doubles Champions. This is the third CCAA gold for Dong who added a Mixed Doubles gold in 2015. Chow completes his post-secondary badminton career with five CCAA Medals, winning a trio of bronze medals from 2013-2015 in Mixed Doubles, Men's Singles and Men's Doubles. James Foster and James Qiu (PACWEST, Vancouver Island University) captured the bronze medal, defeating Raman Kumar and Azam Mohammed (OCAA Host, Seneca College) 21-19, 18-21, 21-14.

Complete listing of results

Mixed Doubles National Champions - Yan Zhou & Vinson Wong, Seneca Sting

Yan Zhou and Vinson Wong (OCAA, Seneca College) entered the championship as the underdog, but in front of a roaring home crowd, the duo outlasted Kai-Li Huang and Nicholas Roque (ACAC, NAIT) 21-17, 15-21, 21-18. The two teams brought fans to their feet with long rallies filled with extraordinary shots, highlighted by Wong's behind-the-head smash return for a critical point in the third set. The gold is the fourth CCAA medal for Zhou who previously had a gold, silver and bronze. Rosanna Chan and Jeffrey Ko (ACAC Wildcard, Concordia) defeated Melissa Liew and Chris Wan (PACWEST, Vancouver Island University) in the bronze medal match 23-21, 20-22, 21-15.