PICKERING, Ont. – The Ridgebacks badminton team kick-started the jam-packed final two weeks of their season with day one of the OUA badminton championship on Thursday.

Ontario Tech opened the day with an 8-2 loss to the Waterloo Warriors, where Joshua Nguyen (Markham, Ont.) picked up a 21-17 and 21-12 win over Kevin Wang.

Jailyn Joensen (Whitby, Ont.) picked up the second win for the Ridgebacks, defeating Karla McCallum 25-23 and 21-7.

In round three, the Ridgebacks narrowly fell 6-4 to the Ottawa Gee-Gees. Nguyen once again opened the tie with a 21-6 and 21-8 win over Mathis Turgeon-Roy. Joensen followed it up with a 21-3 and 21-5 victory over Chloe Mason. 

In men's doubles action, Nguyen and Kevin Vu (Ajax, Ont.) took down Travis Lee and Turgeon-Roy 21-10 and 22-20. 

Finally, in mixed doubles, Joensen and Vu defeated Sandesh Gondarry and Venkatesh Agarwal 21-8 and 21-10.

The Ridgebacks will be back in action tomorrow at Melati Mas Sports in Pickering, Ont. for day two of the OUA badminton championship.