Metro Vancouver…..The KPU Eagles badminton team got off to an early start this season with PACWEST Tournament One on October 25th and 26th, hosted by the VIU Mariners in Nanaimo, BC. The Eagles sit in second place in the PACWEST and are currently ranked sixth nationally in the CCAA. The team also participated in an exhibition trip to Edmonton, Alberta to participate in a two-day tournament hosted by Badminton Alberta and the Concordia University College of Alberta Thunder of the ACAC.
With a PACWEST silver medal team finish last February and a mixed doubles bronze at the CCAA Nationals from last season, the Eagles have set their sights high to soar above their last year’s results.
At this year’s VIU tournament one, KPU’s results included 22 points in men’s singles, 37 points in women’s singles, 32 points in men’s doubles, 29 points in women’s doubles, and 24 points in mixed doubles. KPU earned 144 individual points and 142 team points to end the tournament at 286.
In the women’s singles ‘A’ event Eagles third-year Roslyn Chong, Vancouver, BC was first with teammate second-year Veronica Yeung, Vancouver, BC in second. In men’s singles ‘A’ KPU’s third-year Lawson Chan, Surrey, BC finished in 4th while first-year Johnson Ma, Surrey, BC placed second on the ‘B’ side.
In women’s doubles, KPU’s Chong and Yeung finished first on the ‘A’ side while in men’s doubles Eagles Low and Ma placed second in the ‘A’ event with third-year Brad Mear, Fruitvale, BC and second-year Ethan Bui, Surrey, BC taking ‘A’s third place.
In mixed doubles, Low and first-year Tiffany Cheng, Richmond, BC placed fourth on the ‘A’ side while Mear and second-year Willine Kwee, Richmond, BC placed first on the ‘B’ side.
Overall, fourth-year KPU Eagles head coach Morgan van Heukelom was pleased with his team’s inaugural performance of the season. “We are proud of the hard work and dedication our athletes put into our program on a daily basis. This opening tournament was successful and we are off to a great start,” he stated, “Everybody played well and exceeded the coaching staff’s expectations. We look forward to getting back on the court in January for Tournament Two and strive for the best”. Coach van Heukelom also noted the leadership, determination, and sportsmanship demonstrated by Low, as well as the tenacity shown by rookie Eagle Cheng. Veteran Chong continued to show her power on the court, carrying over momentum from her success at the 2014 CCAA Nationals.
2014/15 KPU Eagles Badminton Team
(L to R back row) Coach van Heukelom, Lawson Chan, Bradley Low, Brad Mear,
Student Trainer Richard Wong, Assistant Coach van Heukelom
(L to R front row) Rosalyn Chong, Willine Kwee, Veronica Yeung
The exhibition trip to Alberta gave the Eagles the opportunity to gain valuable competitive experience and challenge themselves outside of the PACWEST. “The trip to Edmonton went well, all of our athletes benefitted tremendously,” said Coach van Heukelom, “The competition was very well-run with 107 individual players. As a result we played a lot of matches over the course of two days which tested our athletes’ endurance, but they came through with great strength.”
The Eagles return to PACWEST regular season action on January 31st and February 1st 2015 at Tournament Two hosted by the Langara College Falcons in Coquitlam, BC at the Pinetree Community Centre. The Eagles will then come home to the Ace Badminton Centre in Richmond, BC to host the 2015 PACWEST Provincials before the March 4-7 CCAA Nationals in Halifax, NS.
Photo Credit: Vancouver Sport Photography and Tree Frog Imaging
For more information on the Department of Athletics & Recreation, please contact Junelle Mah, sports information and marketing, at 604-786-0804 or at junelle.mah@kpu.ca.
The KPU Eagles Department of Athletics & Recreation enters its 14th season of interuniversity competition. The Eagles are members of the PACWEST conference and play in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) with 100 student-athletes participating on eight varsity teams in men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, badminton and golf. KPU athletics plays its home games at the Eagles’ Nest (Surrey Campus), Northview Golf & Country Club, Newton Athletic Park, all located in Surrey, BC and the Ace Badminton Centre in Richmond, BC. The Eagles are active in the conference with staff members on various advisory committees and competing to host both provincial and national championships. The student-athletes are mainly from the lower mainland but KPU’s rosters have included student-athletes from North America, South America, Asia and Europe.