Collège Boréal badminton coach Lynn Michel is setting a shining example for her troops to follow. She reached the podium twice during the 2012 Canadian Masters Badminton Championships earlier this month in Quebec City.
Michel teamed with Daniel Couture to capture the consolation title of the mixed doubles - 40 grouping and duplicated that feat with fellow Sudburian Sarah Ball in the ladies doubles - 40 classification.
Also competing in the mixed doubles - 45 and ladies doubles - 45 divisions, Michel would do battle in an even dozen matches in the event that lasted five days.
Couture and Michel bounced back from a second-round loss to Eric Demeule/Josee Ruelland (19-21, 24-22, 19-21), running off three consecutive victories, beating Ian Assing/Angela Bukowski (21-13, 21-10), Eric Vaillancourt/Dominique Roussel (21-14, 21-9) and David Chan/Carol Burnett (21-12, 21-28) en route to the consolation crown.
Michel pretty much mirrored those results with Ball in the ladies doubles - 40 grouping, falling to Isabelle Cauchon/Linda-Maria Pride (21-23, 17-21), but claiming as victims Lucie Dion/Josee Ruelland (22-20, 21-15), as well as Dominique Guertin/Katrin Ulbort (20-22, 21-15, 21-13) in a three-set battle.
Michel and Ball fared nearly as well in their natural age grouping (45), advancing to the championship semifinal before being sent to the sidelines by the eventual gold-medal winners, Aine Humble/Shirley Thomson.
The locals slipped past Barbara Heaney/Jacqueline Myers (20-22, 21-19, 21-11) and Mary-Jo Randall/Karen Sun (21-15, 21-19) before being eliminated.
Partnered with David Pealow for the mixed doubles-45 competition, Michel and company bested Jose Arsenault/Joelle Mimeault (21-9, 21-19) but were knocked out in the second round by Grant Pittman/Joyce Pittman (8-21, 7-21).
During her career at College Boreal, Michel has been a multiple winner of the OCAA Coach of the Year honours, regularly helping to secure championship banners for the small francophone college.
Posted by Laurel Myers
