Ninety one university and college squash players from Victoria to New Brunswick merged at the University of Toronto this past weekend to compete in the 2008 Black Knight Canadian University and College Championships.
On the line in the men’s and women’s open championships was a place on the Canadian university squash team. The team will be competing at the 2008 World University Squash Championships Cairo, Egypt this August.
In the women’s open event, returning gold medalist Stephanie Edmison (University of Western) did not drop a game in the tournament and comfortably won the women’s championship defeating Queen’s Golden Gaels Rebecca Hazell in the final.
After reaching her first semifinal in six years, University of Toronto Varsity Blues Karlene Headley-Cooper, looking for her second upset of the tournament, was not able to get past Chrissie Arnold from the University of British Columbia. Arnold would down her opponent 3-1 to claim third place.
The men’s open saw some excellent squash played over the three days of competition. Graeme Schnell from the University of Calgary overcame two of the top players from Ontario University Athletics (OUA), defending champion David Yik from U of T and Western Mustangs Chris Hanebury, to claim the overall open championship. Yik was the closest to beating Schnell in their semifinal match but could not convert game ball in the first game and eventually went down 3-1 despite winning the second.
This was the first time that Schnell had been to the Championships and he created quite an impression with his all-around game based on power and amazing speed and shot recovery.
In the final, Hanebury only threatened late in the third game when he had game ball on several occasions but could not convert, leaving Schnell to win the match 3-0 and claim his first gold medal at these championships.
The bronze medal was won by Waterloo’s Eric Dingle after a Yik default.
Results:
Men’s Open
1 Graeme Schnell University of Calgary
2 Chris Hanebury University of Western Ontario
3 Eric Dingle University of Waterloo
4 David Yik University of Toronto
5 Robert Birrell Mt. Royal College, Alberta
Women’s Open
1 Stephanie Edmison University of Western Ontario
2 Rebecca Hazell Queen’s University, Ontario
3 Chrissie Arnold University of British Columbia
4 Karlene Headley-Cooper University of Toronto
5 Nicole Mailey University of Manitoba
Men’s A
1 Hassan Muhammed McMaster University, Ontario
2 James Wiseman Acadia University, Nova Scotia
3 Colin Chisholm McMaster University, Ontario
Women’s A/B
1 Isabel Jarosz University of Toronto
2 Daniah Shamim University of Toronto
Men’s B
1 Chris Caira University of Toronto
2 Jason Jobin University of Victoria
3 Mammen John University of Waterloo
Women’s C
1 Giselle Delgado University of Western Ontario
2 Karen Ho McMaster University, Ontario
3 Rebeca Tristan Aldave University of Toronto
Men’s C/D
1 Michael Konviser University of Toronto
2 Mohit Sharma McMaster University, Ontario
3 Jason Erlich McMaster University, Ontario
Women’s D
1 Sarah Kuntz McMaster University, Ontario
2 Pippa Ross University of Toronto
3 Alison Wardlaw Queen’s University, Ontario
