M’CHIGEENG—The Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS) Mustangs badminton team has won the North Shore Secondary School Association (NSSSA) championship.
“We sent 23 athletes to both the pre-NSSSA and NSSSA championship (the latter held last Wednesday), including athletes in Grades 9-12, novice junior and senior,” said Jordan Smith, sports coordinator at MSS. “We won the NSSSA championship,” he said pointing out MSS defeated Central Algoma Secondary School for first place by three points (45-42).
“Seventeen MSS athletes will be going to NOSSA (Northern Ontario championships),” said Mr. Smith. “We did quite well at NSSSA. In just about every category we took part in we either had athletes in first or second or both.”
All three members of the Balfe family finished first in their events, pointed out Mr. Smith.
In the boys’ novice singles division, Jonah Balfe was first, Mya Balfe took top spot in the girls’ singles junior division while Annie Balfe placed first in the senior girls’ singles division.
The boys’ novice singles division saw Anders Watson and Ethan Ense finish first and second, respectively. MSS athletes made up the top two in the senior boys’ doubles division with TG Green and Davin Deschenes in first and the team of Jaron Panamick and Ian McCauley second.
The girls’ doubles novice division saw the team of Kim Williams and Darcie Thorpe in second. In the junior girls’ doubles category the team of Ava Corbiere and Emery Watson took top spot.
In the mixed doubles junior division, Maddie McCarville and Wyatt Williamson-Wright finished in second place. The MSS team of Eli Lock and Mackenzie Green were first in the senior mixed division.
The Mustangs coaches this season include Peter Tallman and Kaitlyn Watson-Smith.
Seventeen MSS athletes will be taking part in the Northern Ontario Secondary School Association playdowns being held in Sault Ste. Marie this week.
