After nearly a decade as badminton partners, Gravenhurst High School (GHS) Grade 12 students, Cam Bird and Om Patel, secured a prestigious gold medal at the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) Championships.
The tournament, which took place on April 28 to May 2, was the duo’s fourth time competing at OFSAA remaining undefeated in the Muskoka–Parry Sound (MPS) and Georgian Bay Secondary School Association (GBSSA) regular seasons.
Despite being eliminated in the quarter-finals for the previous three years, and Bird overcoming a recent injury, the pair were able to put it all together and go undefeated to win the A Flight division.
Bird and Patel faced a couple challenging matches over the weekend, but they demonstrated exceptional skill and coordination to win the final match in two games with scores of 21-15 and 21-13, supported by advice from guest coach Curtis Hillman of the Bracebridge Knighthawks Badminton Club.
This achievement marks a significant milestone in GHS history, as Bird and Patel become the first badminton team to win an OFSAA gold medal. It is also the first time GHS has won a gold medal in any sport since 1993!
“I feel so privileged to have been on this journey with Cam and Om for the past three years. I am so proud of their ability to adjust tactics in a heartbeat and always compete with a calm demeanor,” said GHS badminton coach, Corry Ziörjen.
