MAGGIE CAMERON
SENIOR REPORTER
Humber Hawks' badmonton player Renee Yip was named OCAA athlete of the year.
Humber badminton star Renee Yip has every right to brag. After an impressive season, the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association named Yip 2009-10 female athlete of the year. But the 18-year-old Markham native remains humble.
“I’m really happy. But I didn’t expect it. I’m just a rookie,” said Yip.
“I think everyone has different skills that they can give out. I think it was just the timing at nationals that we played better than the other teams; it could go the other way on another day.”
During the 2009-10 OCAA badminton season, things went Yip’s way. The OCAA will present the first-year fitness and health promotion student with the prestigious award April 20. It is the first time in eight years a Humber athlete has been named OCAA player of the year.
OCAA’s marketing and sport development vice-president, Jim Bialek said the award honours far more than Yip’s abilities on the court.
“Not only is she a national champion, she is also an academic all-Canadian and academic provincial all star. She’s an honours student, she’s a wonderful person, she is family and she goes well beyond the marks of athletics and I think that’s special,” said Bialek.
Yip’s coach, Lam Trihn said he is pleased with Yip’s achievements.
“It’s awesome!” said Trihn. “She’s really serious about her sport and when she plays she’s very focused. I’m very proud of her.”
With her rookie season coming to a close, Yip said she plans to continue her badminton career as a Humber Hawk, but wonders how she will top this year’s performance.
“It feels awesome, and it offers the question, what am I going to do next year?” said Yip.
For now, Yip is studying hard for exams.
“I’m just trying to focus on school right now. I have a big course load, so there’s a lot to study and each course has an exam, basically I’m losing sleep to manage school,” said Yip.
Upon graduation Yip said she wants to become a physiotherapist.
Until then, Bialek said he is happy to have Yip on the team.
“She is everything you’d want representing your institution.”