On March 7, Owen Kurvits of Redeemer University College won the gold medal in Men’s Singles Badminton at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) championship games in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is the school’s first-ever national title since joining the association in 1986.
While athletes from Redeemer have competed at the national level over two decades, this is the first national trophy and banner awarded to the school. The faculty, student body, and surrounding community are delighted in Kurvits’s achievement. Kurvits appreciated the overwhelming support that came through texts, tweets, and posts throughout the championship, commenting that it gave him the extra energy he needed in his final match. There were some stressful moments in the gold medal game as Kurvits won the first set 21-10 but lost the second 9-21. The third set was a triumphant finish for Kurvits with a score of 21-13.
Kurvits is a second-year student studying kinesiology. During his first year at Redeemer, he won the 2014 provincial championship and successfully defended the title this year. He was awarded the 2015 provincial player of the year title and 2015 CCAA All-Canadian Honours in February. Earning the national title in men’s badminton marked the completion of an exceptional year for Kurvits and Redeemer head coach Benno Kurvits, who is also Owen’s father.
“We are excited and proud of this accomplishment for Owen” said Dave Mantel, Redeemer’s athletic director in a press release. “It is a moment in our history that we will never forget.”
About the Author
Krista Dam-VandeKuyt is a member of Kemptville CRC and lives with her family in Ottawa, Ontario.
