By: Jolyon Thompson

TORONTO - Centennial College won the OCAA Champions Men's Badminton 2022-23 title and banner at the OCAA Provincial Badminton championships on the weekend.

It was the first time that Centennial College has won this Men's Team Championship title since the Men's and Women's Team Champions awards were implemented in the 2012-13 season. In fact, it was the first time Centennial College has won a Team Champions award since 1968-69 when these awards were recorded, as posted online.

Leading the charge was Colts varsity badminton athlete Colin Zhou who dominated Men's Singles during the two-day competition, not even losing a game to any of his competitors. Besides winning Gold in Men's Singles, Colin was named an East Division All-Star, the East Division Male Athlete, and the OCAA Male Athlete of the Year.

Colts Vishal Dave, who won Silver in Men's Singles, also dominated his event not conceding any games until he competed against Colin in the Finals. This is the first time since 2009-10 that the Gold and Silver medalists have been from the same College. Centennial last won Men's Singles Gold medal in 2005-6 when Colts athlete Nathaniel Allard triumphed.

Centennial continued its winning ways with a Silver medal in Mixed doubles. Colts athletes Deniese Scott and Ninh Le won a very close three-game battle against their Seneca opponents in the Semi-Finals to advance to the Gold medal round, where they succumbed to their George Brown opponents.

Centennial's third medal of the OCAA Provincial championships was in Men's Doubles. Overcoming obstacles along the way, Colts Adam Wilson and Brandon Cheung beat their St. Lawrence rivals for the first time since losing to them at Regionals, and again during the earlier round-robin competition. Colts' spirit and teamwork triumphed in a closely fought three-game match.

Rounding out our team at Provincials was Ivy Wong who fought valiantly despite strong competition but did not end up in medal contention.