In his first season at the helm, University of Toronto Varsity Blues badminton head coach Stéphane Cadieux will lead a strong U of T squad at the OUA championships being held this weekend (Feb. 19-21) at McMaster University.

Since combining the men's and women's banners into one team title in 1996-97, the Varsity Blues have captured three provincial banners, last winning in 2012-13. Prior to that, Toronto's men had earned 27 championships from 1954 to 1996 and the women collected eight from 1972 to 1996.

This season, the Varsity Blues have been led by a strong women's squad, with first-year kinesiology majors Rachel Honderich and Brittany Tam competing at a high level right alongside third-year veteran Bethany So.

Honderich, who earned a silver and bronze medal at the 2015 Pan American Games this past summer in Toronto, has extensive international experience. The Toronto native helped Canada to gold at the 2014 Pan American Championships in the team event, while also earning silver in women's singles.

Tam twice represented Canada at the World Junior Championships (2013-14), while also competing alongside Honderich at the 2014 Pan American Championships. She most recently represented Canada at the 2015 World Championships in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, So, who competed for Canada at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia returns to the team after a two-year absence.  The kinesiology major was named the female rookie and player of the year in leading U of T to the OUA silver medal in 2012. She earned her second consecutive OUA all-star nod in helping the Blues to their first OUA championship banner in 10 seasons in 2012-13.

On the men's side of the draw, second-year statistics major Andrew Wilkinson has returned to the Varsity Blues fully charged after previously earning OUA rookie of the year honours in 2011-12. Like So, Wilkinson also competed internationally, representing Canada at the 2013 Summer Universiade.

Joining Wilkinson to make the push for the Blues on the men's side is fellow veteran and 2012-13 OUA rookie of the year Jackie Yeung. As a member of the Varsity Blues last championship winning team, Yeung will be able to provide the knowledge and experience necessary in providing an overall team performance that can lift U of T over the top.

Action in Hamilton will begin Friday afternoon (Feb. 19) with the Varsity Blues taking on the Waterloo Warriors in their tournament opening match. The Blues will take on Waterloo, York, Ottawa and Guelph in Pool A action, before Saturday evening's quarter-final/placement matches begin at 4 p.m.

Blues Tournament Schedule

Friday, February 19
vs Waterloo 12:30pm
vs York 4:00pm

Saturday, February 20
vs Ottawa 9:00am
vs Guelph 12:30pm
QF/Placement Matches 4:00pm

Sunday, February 21
SF/Placement Matches 9:00am
Bronze/Gold Medal Matches 1:00pm


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