Banner Season: Host Lions look to pounce back atop the podium for second time in three years

Graphic on a blue background with an action shot of a York men?s badminton with the OUA Badminton Championships logo and event details next to the photo.
February 6, 2025

Burlington, Ont. – The battle for badminton glory heads to the Tait McKenzie Centre with several teams eyeing the conference banner. The Toronto Varsity Blues enter the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Badminton Championship as defending champs, but will see plenty of tests along their quest for a repeat, including the back-to-back silver medalists from Waterloo, and the host York Lions, who were victorious in 2023. The championship festivities run from February 7th to 9th.

EVENT DETAILS

Host: York Lions
Date: February 7 – February 9, 2025
Venue: Tait McKenzie Centre
Participating Teams (9): Guelph Gryphons, McMaster Marauders, Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, Ottawa Gee-Gees, Toronto Varsity Blues, TMU Bold, Waterloo Warriors, Western Mustangs, York Lions
Format: Open Championship
Past Champions: Toronto Varsity Blues

STUDENT-ATHLETES TO WATCH

Jacqueline Cheung, Toronto Varsity Blues | Cheung has made her mark time and time again during her OUA tenure. After beginning her varsity career with Western, the Richmond Hill, Ont. native joined the Varsity Blues in 2023-24. Regardless of the school colours she has worn, Cheung has always been a standout for her team on the court, as evidenced by her three all-star selections, former rookie of the year nod, and her previous MVP award.

Jackie Dent, Toronto Varsity Blues | Now in her second OUA season, the reigning conference rookie of the year was a key figure in her banner season debut in 2024. After helping Toronto claim their 10th OUA badminton title last year, the Waterloo, Ont. standout is looking for more of the same this year. The high-level competitor with her club team – KC Badminton – also claimed a recent podium finish at the 2024 YONEX Canadian International Challenge.

Michael Ji, Waterloo Warriors | Entering his first taste of banner season play, Ji is looking to contribute to the Warriors’ recent successes on the court and kick off his varsity career with a strong championship showing.

Natalie Lee, McMaster Marauders | The 2023 OUA rookie of the year has a lengthy list of accolades on the court. The Vancouver, B.C. native was a runner-up at the Junior National Championships and was a junior provincial champion for four consecutive years. Yee was also ranked first in B.C. in girls singles for three straight years. Following her top rookie nod in her debut varsity season, the kinesiology major also placed third at the 2023 YONEX Canadian University/College National Championships.

Sophia Nong, York Lions | With her third banner season appearance on deck this weekend, Nong is eyeing a second title since joining the Lions. Beyond her OUA success, the Toronto, Ont. native is familiar with what it takes to be a champion, having been crowned a Pan Am junior champion previously as well.

Enoch Song, TMU Bold | A standout first-year rookie, Song has made an immediate impact on the team with his strong leadership and impressive skillset. He has shown remarkable poise and determination, contributing significantly to the team’s success. Song’s ability to lead by example and elevate his teammates has been invaluable as the Bold prepare for the upcoming OUA Championship.

Jasper Tang, Western Mustangs | A top national-level athlete, Tang will be looking to rack up the wins for Western once again. The Markham, Ont. product only dropped two matches during his last OUA Championship outing, and remains one of the most consistent players on the team. 

Genevieve Ti, TMU Bold | Ti has been a standout contributor to TMU’s success with her unwavering hard work, consistent improvement, and positive mindset. Her dedication to growth has been evident in her performance, inspiring those around her. Her ability to stay upbeat, even in challenging moments, has driven the team forward and will surely be a key asset for a team looking to build on their seventh-place finish in 2024.

Katy Wong, Western Mustangs | Wong was a key member of the Mustangs in her banner season debut last year, upsetting multiple tournament favourites along the way. She returns to the OUA Championship looking to wreak even more havoc in 2025. Entering as a multiple time national tournament champion, the second-year standout from Markham, Ont. certainly has the pedigree to do just that.

Maggie Wong, Waterloo Warriors | Entering her sixth OUA Championship, Wong has her eyes set on crossing a provincial gold medal off her list. After winning the national championship with the Warriors a season ago, the masters student from Markham, Ont. is poised to keep the black and gold moving toward provincial glory.

Brian Yang, York Lions | The youngest junior champion ever in Canada, having won the U19 singles national title at the age of 14, is hoping to anchor the Lions in front of their home fans this weekend. A two-time Olympian – having represented Canada in Tokyo and Paris – Yang is no stranger to competing on the big stage and will hope his international experience lends itself to banner season success as well.

BURNING QUESTIONS

  1. With several new men’s faces and a strong returning women’s roster, can the Varsity Blues make it back-to-back OUA titles?
  2. Backed by Olympian Brian Yang, can the host Lions leap back to the top of the OUA mountain for a second time in three years?
  3. Entering as back-to-back OUA silver medalists and reigning national champs, can the Warriors get the provincial gold in 2025?
  4. Having placed fourth in back-to-back years, will Western be able to put their best foot fotrward and step onto the podium?

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

“With the OUA Badminton Championship right around the corner, we’re excited to showcase the hard work, dedication, and teamwork that has brought us to this moment. With a focused mindset and a drive to succeed, we look forward to making our mark and representing McMaster with pride. – Sommer Chou, Head Coach, McMaster Marauders

“We’re ready to give it our all and make this OUA Championship our moment to shine – with high energy, determination, and a united team spirit.” – Elena Ng, Head Coach, TMU Bold

“I’m really excited to compete this year as our team has been relentlessly improving since last year’s second place finish. So I hope that we can do even better and come out with that banner.” – Darren Choi, Student-Athlete, Waterloo Warriors

“We have a developing team of young athletes and are hoping to carry the enthusiasm into OUAs and medal on the podium.” – Noah Xu, Co-Head Coach & Student-Athlete, Western Mustangs