Country Day Wins First OFSAA Medal for Badminton
A few weeks ago, Rayna Zhou ‘23 and Zhi Wei Zhang ‘25 won a first-ever OFSAA medal in Badminton for CDS in mixed doubles at Trinity College School in Port Hope. Over the three days of play, they only lost once on the first day, placing them in the B main draw. The dynamic duo went on to win all of their remaining matches and advanced to compete in the B finals. They finished with an OFSAA Silver medal, which is an impressive accomplishment when competing against the best in Ontario with national and internationally ranked opponents.
Rayna is responsible for helping to start a Badminton team at CDS upon her arrival in Grade 8. That first year she played up a few times with the Senior School team before taking a two-year hiatus during the pandemic. Having played since she was a young child growing up in China, she started taking lessons and playing recreationally in Grade 5 after playing competitive Table Tennis and Tennis.
Last year in Grade 11, she resumed recreational play for CDS and won CISAA Gold in Senior mixed doubles Badminton with her partner Richie Zhang ’23. In September of this year, Rayna started playing in provincial tournaments once again and has won numerous medals, including a gold and bronze in singles, a gold, silver and bronze in doubles, a gold in mixed doubles and silver in doubles in the championship tournament.
This spring marked her final season playing for CDS. Since there were more girls on the team than previous years and Rayna was recuperating from an injured tailbone, she chose to play doubles instead of singles and has been mentoring her teammate Klara Gong '26. She and Klara advanced to CISAA on May 24th and finished with a 5th place finish.
Her mixed-doubles partner this year, Zhi Wei Zhang ‘25, has played Badminton since childhood as well and joined the CDS team in Grade 9. Last year, and again this year in Grade 10, Zhi Wei won the CISAA Bronze medal in singles. He has also played competitively outside of school for the past five years. In May, Zhi Wei competed in the national championships in both singles and doubles.
"Not only are they provincially ranked players, but they understand what it takes to get to the next level and apply the daily character traits of being committed, dedicated, determined, and resilient during phases of setbacks,” said Coach Josh Collins. “To me, that's where the real proud moments in coaching happen."
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
Junior, Middle and Senior Schools
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
