Hawks earn badminton players of the year
Posted on 24. Feb, 2010 by AreJay in News
MAGGIE CAMERON
SENIOR REPORTER
Charlie Lay, 22, and Renee Yip, 18, are the OCAA badminton players of the year, and the honour comes as no big surprise to those who know them, both as athletes and people.
“Charlie is recognized as one of those people who goes above and beyond; he practiced hard but he’s also very caring for individuals on his team and also for other teams as well,” said assistant coach Michael Kopinak.
As for Yip, Kopinak said there’s no question she stands out as an exceptional athlete.
“She’s won just about every tournament she’s entered, so this honour is well deserved. She’s a very well liked young lady,” he said.
Yip and Lay are pleased to be recognized.
“I feel really happy about it,” said Lay. “I’ve worked really hard this year,”
Yip said her father, a badminton player, is very proud of her.
Yip says she’s motivated by her dislike for losing. “At the end of the day,” she said, “It’s nice to bring something home. I just try my best not to loose.”
“I’ve never gotten into any other sports and badminton is just a really great sport. People don’t really know about it but it really challenges your body and your mentality. I like that part of it,” said Lay, a second year architecture student.
Yip and Lay agree that balancing school and sport is difficult, but clearly it’s something they’ve both mastered.
Yip, a first-year fitness and health promotion student, heads to Edmonton next week with her partner Raymond to compete in the nationals. Her coaches think they have a chance at gold.
Loading ...
