Four Islanders to compete at collegiate nationals

Emma Hughes and Kristyn Visser begin play today at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Badminton Championship in Toronto. The Holland College Hurricanes team’s first match will be against Darby Walker and Christina Woo representing the Vancouver Island University Mariners.

Matches begin at 110 a.m. Atlantic.

All teams in the women’s doubles competition will play three matches today and two matches on Friday.

“I’m super excited to be at nationals,” said Hughes, a Summerside native. “I don’t know what to expect going into the competition but we’re hoping to be able to be strong competitors.”

Hughes was named the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) player of the year with a 43-5 record during regular season and conference playoffs. She competed in women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles during the season. Hughes and Visser went 24-0 together in doubles play during five regular season ACAA events and the conference championship.

“It is quite exciting to be representing Holland College again at nationals,” said Visser, a South Winsloe native who captained the women’s soccer team at nationals in Montreal in November. “There are some familiar teams from past years which I am looking forward to competing against. We look to be strong competitors and are very excited for the week.” Also representing the ACAA will be Sam White and Sam Lawther of the University of King’s College Blue Devils in men’s and women’s singles, respectively; Hamza Munawar and Riley Shewan of the Mount Allison Mounties in men’s doubles and Olivia Adams and Jaryd Morrissey of the Mounties in mixed doubles. Adams is from Charlottetown while Lawther is from Stratford.