The Waterloo Warriors badminton team closed out the 2014-15 varsity season in thrilling fashion, capturing their first OUA championship banner in five years at Ryerson's Kerr Hall Gymnasium in Toronto, dethroning the Western Mustangs who had won it three of the past four years.
The black and gold took home the team gold in dominating fashion, accumulating 63 points over the course of the championship, 18 more than second place Western. The McMaster Marauders edged out the Ottawa Gee-Gees for the bronze.
The Warriors won five medals including double gold for Surabhi Kadam (Woodbridge) who won both the women's singles and mixed doubles titles with her partner Wesley Marr (Toronto/Lawrence Park CI). Kadam was named the OUA Female Most Valuable Player for her performance this weekend.
In men's singles, McMaster's Jacob Kao took home the title with a 21-12, 9-21, 21-16 victory over Western's Jack Hall. In the bronze medal match, Nathan Leung (Markham) won the battle of Waterloo Warriors over teammate Cliff Tuen (Markham).
McMaster's Kao then partnered with Muhammad Karabunni to win the men's doubles title in a thrilling 21-19, 17-21, 21-19 match over Waterloo's Clarence Chan (Richmond HIll) and Wesley Marr (Toronto/Lawrence Park CI).
Kao was named the OUA Male Most Valuable Player for his double gold performance while Karabunni was named the OUA Male Rookie of the Year.
Top-seeded Sarah Bowman and Chinue De La Merced from Ottawa won the women's doubles title in straight sets over Western's Adrianna Giuffre and Aisyah Latib.
De La Merced also picked up an individual bronze medal in women's singles to earn her the OUA Female Rookie of the Year honours.
The event concluded with Kadam and Marr's gold medal performance in mixed doubles as they defeated Western's Bryan Jok and Aisyah Latib in three sets.
The banner is Waterloo's fourth title since the OUA moved to the team format.
Final Results
Team Standings
1. Waterloo - 63
2. Western - 45
3. McMaster - 27
4. Ottawa - 25
5. Toronto – 12
6. Ryerson – 11
7. Queen's – 9
8. York – 8
9. Carleton – 3
10. Guelph – 2
Men's Singles
1. Jacob Kao – McMaster
2. Jack Hall – Western
3. Nathan Leung (Markham) – Waterloo
4. Cliff Tuen (Markham) – Waterloo
Women's Singles
1. Surabhi Kadam (Woodbridge) – Waterloo
2. Adrianna Giuffre – Western
3. Chinue De La Merced – Ottawa
4. Carrie Law (West Hill) – Waterloo
Men's Doubles
1. Jacob Kao/Muhammad Kamaruddin – McMaster
2. Clarence Chan (Richmond HIll)/Wesley Marr (Toronto/Lawrence Park CI) – Waterloo
3. Kirk Hansen/Nathan Cheng – Ryerson
4. Anthony Ho (Scarborough)/Nicolas Hon – Waterloo
Women's Doubles
1. Sarah Bowman/Chinue De La Merced – Ottawa
2. Adrianna Giuffre/Aisyah Latib – Western
3. Adrienne Goldsworthy (Waterloo)/Judy Tan (Scarborough) – Waterloo
4. Emily Lam (Toronto)/Carrie Law (West Hill) – Waterloo
Mixed Doubles
1. Wesley Marr (Toronto/Lawrence Park CI)/Surabhi Kadam (Woodbridge) – Waterloo
2. Bryan Jok/Aisyah Latib – Western
3. Kevin Tseng/Sarah Bowman – Ottawa
4. Muhammad Kamaruddin/Sashini Senarath – McMaster
Major Awards and All-Stars
Most Valuable Player
Male – Jacob Kao – McMaster
Female – Surabhi Kadam (Woodbridge) – Waterloo
Rookie of the Year
Male – Muhammad Karabunni – McMaster
Female – Chinue De La Merced – Ottawa
Coach of the Year
Maurice Lee - Waterloo
All-Stars
Jacob Kao – McMaster
Jack Hall – Western
Surabhi Kadam (Woodbridge) – Waterloo
Adrianna Giuffre – Western
Muhammad Kamarunni – McMaster
Clarence Chan (Richmond HIll) – Waterloo
Wesley Marr (Toronto/Lawrence Park CI) – Waterloo
Sarah Bowman – Ottawa
Chinue De La Merced – Ottawa
Aisyah Latib – Western
Bryan Jok – Western
Carrie Law (West Hill) – Waterloo
Cliff Tuen (Markham) – Waterloo
Sashini Senarath – McMaster
