By Larry Moko
Maurice Mangino is double trouble for his badminton opponents.
The Grade 12 student from Cathedral has been part of four consecutive boys' doubles championship teams in the sport -- two at the junior level and two at senior.
His latest triumph came Thursday on home court when, along with partner Braeden Nguyen, they captured gold at the 2025 Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic senior high school badminton tournament.
Cathedral won the team title at the two-day competition for a third-straight year.
The top two finishers in each of the boys and girls playing categories advance to the Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference regional finals April 23 at Milton's Bishop Reding gym.
Mangino, who paired with two different players as a junior before teaming up with Nguyen last year, says he enjoys competing.
"I just have the hunger to win," he said.
According to Nguyen, his partner is the more "consistent" player. And both agree they communicate well during matches.
"We play outside of school and during school," Nguyen said. "We just hang out so it makes us a better pair."
Mangino admits having a weakness, however. "I don't have stamina," he said.
That's when Nguyen picks up the slack: "If he's tired we just switch and I can play the back court," Nguyen said.
In this year's city final Mangino/Nguyen defeated Ben Masotti and Andy Lock of the Bishop Tonnos Titans.
"Braeden and Maurice play year round," Cathedral coach Jay Stokl said. "They love the game. They're both fantastic players."
Third place in boys doubles went to Jaxon Marshall and Keiran Major of the St. Thomas More Knights.
Cathedral also took top honours in the girls' singles division. That's where Mekeelah Dillon prevailed over Meia Garzon of More.
It was Dillon's ninth match of the day. In comparison, with a first-round bye, Garzon played only six times.
"It was pretty exhausting," Dillon said. "(Garzon) was in the winners' category and I was fighting my way through the losers' bracket. I had to beat her twice (in the final) because she hadn't lost at all."
It was the first badminton gold medal for Dillon. She picked up silver twice previously -- last year and again when she was in Grade 9. In basketball, however, she was a member of the Gaels powerhouse that won three consecutive OFSAA championships.
The third-place finisher in girls' singles was Zyannah Romaguerra of the St. Jean de Brebeuf Braves.
Opening day winners in mixed doubles were Jiana Lemmen and Christian Maligalig of Cathedral. Alan Varghese of the St. John Henry Newman Cardinals topped the field in boys' singles while girls' doubles went to Ella Maiorano and Mattea Cicerone of Newman.
Tommy Nguyen of Cathedral (boys' singles), Madison Edmunds and Mikayla Kent of Newman (girls' doubles) along with Vanessa Merlos and Danny Do of Cathedral (mixed doubles) have also qualified for GHAC by way of their second-place finishes.
"We've had a pretty solid program in recent years," the Cathedral coach said. "The biggest thing is having the space here at Cathedral which is awesome.
"The program started with Ken John running a badminton club. It grew in popularity. We have so many kids who come out to play and train. The more hours they spend doing it, the better they get."
The OFSAA tournament will be held in Halton next month.
Photos by R.F. (Bob) Butrym, RFB Sport Photography
More photos on HWCDSB Athletics Facebook page
