Varsity badminton smashes their way into national rankings
Author: C. Bell
Posted on Nov 29, 2023
Category: Badminton , ACAA , Alumni , Varsity Sports
The UNB Saint John badminton team has certainly made quite the impression, landing themselves at number 5 in the first Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Top 10 of the 2023-2024 season. This triumphant return to the sport shows that the re-established program can still achieve success.
The Seawolves’ season is off to an impressive start, with a standout performance over the weekend. The team clinched third place at Mount Allison University's regular season circuit tournament, earning 54 points. One of the highlights of the tournament was the mixed doubles team of Sydney Arseneault and Krishna Vaibhov winning the mixed doubles title. Additionally, Krishna Vaibhov and Vishwas Chhillar made it to the men's doubles finals and Arseneault advanced to the women's singles semi-finals.
Head coach Matthew Nicolle played a crucial role in reviving the varsity program at UNB Saint John. Having played for the Seawolves from 1999 to 2003, he now witnesses the hard work and dedication of the talented athletes who continue the legacy of the varsity program.
The program began ACAA play in 1995-96, concluding after 2006-07 campaign. During that span, the Seawolves won four ACAA championships and two players – Jen Fox (1999-2000) and Ron Davis (2000-01) – won bronze medals at the CCAA championships, the school’s only medals at the national level. Richard Johnson and Britt MacLeod each won two ACAA coach of the year awards, while Jing Bing Lam was the conference’s player of the year in 2006-07. The Seawolves had 11 all-conference nods during their 12-year run.
Nicolle attributes much of the success of the new program to the excellent athletes and coaches who initiated it all. “If it wasn’t for the many badminton leaders in the past who built a legacy of outstanding performance in the sport this would not be possible,” he said.
Nicolle hopes this will show competitors that UNB Saint John came to play, and that the team’s success will bring more awareness to the amazing program.
With a fall regular season total of 116 points, the Seawolves are eager to continue their momentum in the upcoming regular season circuit at University King's College in January.