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Bears, Regals dominate Rams badminton tourney

Another weekend, another elementary sporting event, this one organized courtesy of St. Charles Elementary teacher Francois Viau, and his counterpart at St James Catholic School, teacher Michel Larivière.
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Hosting the Northern Ontario Badminton Championships last weekend, the Sudbury Junior Badminton Club looked particularly strong in the U14 age classification, sweeping all five categories that were contested. File photo.
Another weekend, another elementary sporting event, this one organized courtesy of St. Charles Elementary teacher Francois Viau, and his counterpart at St James Catholic School, teacher Michel Larivière.

Students from six different schools gathered at St Benedict Catholic Secondary School on Friday and Saturday for the Rams Intermediate Badminton Tournament. Winners included a number of the same student-athletes who were at the top of the heap at the previous meet hosted at Collège Boréal a few weeks ago.

Olivia Legendre of Marymount was crowned "Girls Singles" champion and also partnered with Mackenzie Watkins in picking up gold in the "Girls Doubles" event.

Lucas Mrozewski of R.L. Beattie knocked off classmate Emmett Taillefer in the "Boys Singles" competition, with Taillefer then teaming with Devin Mantle to capture the "Mixed Doubles" event.

Finally, the host school retained one banner, as Connor Killingbeck and Brayden Beaupré walked away with bragging rights in the "Boys Doubles" grouping. "I do really like singles, because of the individual aspect of it, but doubles is more fun, being out there with someone that you can laugh with," stated Killingbeck.

The 14 year-old grade eight student has played recreationally with his grand-mother since the age of three or four, reaching a top placing of fourth in mixed doubles with partner Hannah Castonguay in 2014.

At this age, the young athletes will often compete in three different divisions, with Killingbeck acknowledging that even the two versions of doubles play offer interesting variations.

"There is some strategy," Killingbeck contends. "Usually, my (boys) doubles partner is more powerful, while my mixed partner is usually more accurate." And as he prepares to move on to Lockerby Composite in the fall, Killingbeck is certain that badminton will remain in the mix.

"I play a lot of sports, but badminton is probably my favourite sport because, let's be honest, it's the only sport that I am really any good at," he said with a smile. Following are the top four finishers in each of the five categories:

Boys Singles
1st - Lucas Mrozewski (R.L. Beattie)
2nd - Emmett Taillefer (R.L. Beattie)
3rd - Connor Killingbeck (St Charles - Chelmsford)
4th - Ethan Rogers (CVDCS)

Girls Singles
1st - Olivia Legendre (Marymount)
2nd - Amelina Iturregui (St James)
3rd - Bronwyn Mantle (R.L. Beattie)
4th - Bella Cantin (Marymount)

Boys Doubles
1st - Connor Killingbeck/Brayden Beaupré (St Charles)
2nd - Lucas Mrozewski/Colin Therrien (R.L. Beattie)
3rd - Emmett Taillefer/Thomas Bourdon (R.L. Beattie)
4th - Quynn Turcotte/Dylan Depatie (St Charles - Chelmsford)

Girls Doubles
1st - Olivia Legendre/Mackenzie Watkins (Marymount)
2nd - Devin Mantle/Bronwyn Mantle (R.L. Beattie)
3rd - Hannah Castonguay/Trinity Gautreau (St Charles - Chelmsford)
4th - Carlyn Lewis/Bella Cantin (Marymount)

Mixed Doubles
1st - Devin Mantle/Emmett Taillefer (R.L. Beattie)
2nd - Bronwyn Mantle/Lucas Mrozewski (R.L. Beattie)
3rd - Hannah Castonguay/Connor Killingbeck (St Charles - Chelmsford)
4th - Jennifer Quenneville/Quynn Turcotte (St Charles - Chelmsford)

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