HAWKS BADMINTON HEAD INTO PROMISING SECOND HALF
The Humber Hawks Badminton Team have reached the mid-point of a thus far very successful 2014/15 campaign, and head into the break looking to continue to add to a resume that is unmatched in the country.
The program, among the most decorated in the sport, are coming off a season that saw them add to their legacy; in 2013/14, the Hawks won both Men's and Women's Provincial Championships, produced six OCAA All-Stars and a pair of CCAA All-Canadians. The blue and gold have been led by those two All-Canadians, Ryan Chow and Tracy Wong; Tracy was also named CCAA Player of the Year last year, while Chow took home OCAA Player of the Year. On top of those two, the blue and gold feature some of the country's top incoming recruits. Adam Dong and Olivia Lei are in just their first year at the college, both boast incredible resumes, and have stepped in and immediately become a couple of the best players in Canada.
The team has been dominating in Ontario for the past seven years, producing ten All-Canadians in that short time, by far the most in the province. Since 2008, the program has also won an unmatched fourteen OCAA Gold medals and eleven national medals, including two gold's. The team's players have shone in the classroom as well; last year, Badminton produced five Academic All-Stars, as well as Ryan Chow's being named a CCAA Academic All-Canadian.
The Hawks played in their first and only Team Event of the year at Georgian College, finishing first overall and going a perfect 6-0 throughout the weekend. The blue and gold dominated throughout the tournament, going a combined 31-11 and defeating Seneca's 'A' Team in both the round robin and Final to clinch victory.
Next up was the Fanshawe Invitational, where Humber again won in convincing fashion, this time in a different format. Four separate first place finishes came in London: Adam Dong in Men's Singles, Tracy Wong in Women's Singles, Adam Dong and Darcy Schmidt in Men's Doubles and Adam Dong and Tracy Wong in Mixed Doubles. The showing set Humber up for a second half run with momentum on their side.
Leading the way for the Hawks has been former star Raymond Wong, who took over the squad after an outstanding playing career. His resume includes winning provincial championships in doubles and singles play, a CCAA National Bronze Medal in Singles, and a legacy cementing Gold medal at Nationals in Mixed Doubles. He and his family's contribution to the Badminton Program is so extensive, he was a natural fit to lead the program into the future and is off to a great start.
Next up for Hawks Badminton is the George Brown Invitational, set for December 13-14. If the first half was any indication, Humber is set for an impressive run.
For information on the season up to this point, please visit http://ocaa.com/sports/badminton/2014-15/schedule.