By Larry Moko
The Daly twins smashed their way to a third straight Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic high school doubles badminton championship Wednesday and that’s not even the sport they excel at the most.
Keira and Nicole Daly have made a name for themselves in basketball – leading the Cathedral Gaels to three consecutive OFSAA titles at the AAA level.
The Grade 12 sisters powered Cathedral to a 90-game overall winning streak, and, in the process, each landed a scholarship to play for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.
At this year’s senior doubles badminton competition hosted by Cathedral, the Dalys defeated Kiki Barbati and Sofia Bialach of the Bishop Tonnos Titans, 21-7, 21-12, in the final. It was a rematch of their junior championship matchup of two years ago.
“Because me and Keira have played so many sports together for so long, we kind of know what each other is doing,” Nicole said. “That really helps. I play front court and Keira plays back court.”
Later this spring, the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic girls’ touch football championship tournament will take place. And the two-time defending champions in that sport are none other than the Cathedral Gaels, led again by the Dalys.
“We’re going for a three-peat,” Nicole said.
The senior girls’ singles badminton title went to Leah Vadakken of Tonnos for the second consecutive year. She downed Mekeelah Dillon of Cathedral, 21-8, 21-11, in the final.
“I just played point to point instead of getting worked up,” Vadakken said.
The top two in each division of the two-day senior tournament advance to the Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference finals April 24 at Milton’s Bishop Reding Catholic Secondary School.
“I lost in the first round at GHAC last year,” Vadakken said. “I was a little bit nervous. GHAC is really tough.”
Third place in girls’ doubles went to Ella Maiorano and Mattea Ciceron of the St. John Henry Newman Cardinals who topped another pair from Newman – sisters Elizabeth and Isabella Sestric.
Juliet Ishak of the ACMT Jaguars finished third in the girls’ singles division by getting past Cynthya Coleman of the St. Thomas More Knights.
Cathedral ended up first in the team standings for a second-straight year. More was second.
Photos by Cathedral High School
More photos on the HWCDSB Athletics page here