Wang three-peats as CCAA Player of the Year

For the third consecutive season, Takeisha Wang of the Concordia Thunder is the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Women’s Badminton Player of the Year.

Wang received the award during the 2020 CCAA Badminton National Championships banquet, hosted by the University of Toronto Mississauga.

“Takeisha has been a dominant force in all disciplines within the CCAA,” said Michael Kopinak, CCAA Badminton Convenor. “I’m always in awe of athletes who can dominate a sport in the way that Wang has done while also continuing to be a leader and mentor on her team and within the community.”

With this honour, the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) student-athlete joins Olivia Lei (2015-17) of Humber College and Rui Lin Huang (2009-12) of Douglas College as the only three-time recipients of the CCAA Women’s Badminton Player of the Year award.

Wang’s impressive CCAA resume also includes being a four-time CCAA medalist, four-time CCAA All-Canadian and four-time CCAA Academic All-Canadian.

In her fifth and final year of eligibility, Wang dominated the ACAC in Women’s Singles (6-0 record), Women’s Doubles (4-0) and Mixed Doubles (5-1) play and led the Thunder to a first place regular season finish. Then, at the ACAC Badminton Championships, she earned a gold medal in Women’s Singles and led the Thunder to silver in the team event.

“Takeisha has been phenomenal during her five years at CUE, and this season was no exception as she was dominant across the ACAC,” said Joel Mrak, Director of Athletics & Recreation at Concordia University of Edmonton. “She will be leaving a legacy as one of the all-time badminton greats in the ACAC and CCAA as she goes after her third straight CCAA National Championship this year.”

Wang, who is also a certified coach at the B-Active Badminton Club in Edmonton, is an excellent ambassador for Concordia, the ACAC and the CCAA. She also serves as a mentor and a role model to many young players, not only because she is a National Champion but, because she has such a positive attitude and a reputation as an excellent student (she currently has a 4.0 average).

This week, at her final CCAA National Championship, Wang will look to add to her medal haul. She has already earned CCAA gold in Mixed Doubles (2019) and Women’s Singles (2018) as well as silver in Women’s Singles (2017) and bronze in Women’s Doubles (2016). 

Other nominees for the CCAA Women’s Badminton Player of the Year award were Huyen Le of the George Brown Huskies (Ontario Colleges Athletic Association) and Katherine Zhu of the UKC Blue Devils (Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association).

CCAA Player of the Year winners receive a customized ring provided by Jostens Canada, the Official Ring Supplier of the CCAA National Championship banquet.