Oberlin High and St Jago High were crowned boys’ and girls’ champions, respectively, in the JBA/SDF Under-15 Badminton Schools’ League which ended recently.

The finals ended with a 3-2 symmetrical scoreline across both categories. Wolmer’s Boys’ and Bishop Gibson’s High School for Girls were runners-up in this year’s competition.

St Jago High are first-time winners and were especially joyous to have stolen the title from defending champions Bishop Gibson.

Boys’ defending champions deCarteret College did not enter this year’s competition.

Jamaican inducted into Ontario Colleges Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame

Former Jamaica national junior team member Dayvon Reid is among some of the most decorated George Brown badminton players of all time, former college athletes of the year, multiple provincial medallists, and now has been inducted into the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Hall of Fame.

Reid competed for the Huskies from 2008-12 winning four OCAA provincial medals (men’s singles silver in 2009, men’s singles silver in 2010, men’s doubles gold in 2011, men’s doubles gold in 2012) and one Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) national medal (men’s doubles silver in 2012) throughout his college career.

He was a CCAA all-Canadian, George Brown Athlete of the Year, and OCAA Badminton Player of the Year in 2012. Reid was honoured to join elite company in the Hall of Fame and, looking back, could not believe all his hard work had paid off.

“I am amazed and shocked,” Reid said. “It caught me off guard. It is not only special for me, but also for other George Brown athletes, because it shows them that if they put in the time and work hard, they can achieve the same success.”

But as Reid admitted, it was not an easy process and he had some helping hands along the way.

“Every year I worked hard, matured and changed,” he said. “Being new to the country was tough, but having that George Brown family made it easier, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to represent the college.”

It does not stop there for the badminton standout. He is working to represent Jamaica in the 2015 Pan Am Games held in Toronto. Reid, who now calls Toronto home, is thrilled with the possibility to compete for his native country while playing on Canadian soil.

“It would be amazing if I get to play. It would be the highest honour for me,” he said.

The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of extraordinary contributions and accomplishments within collegiate sports in Ontario. Honoured members include athletes, coaches and builders of the association. This year, 35 new members were recognised in the seventh OCAA Hall of Fame ceremony held in Oakville, Ontario in April. The OCAA Hall of Fame was established in 2003. Currently, the membership includes 379 individuals.