Tu and Barnes Turn Persistence Into OCAA Podium Finish

For Ryan Tu and Maxwell Barnes, the path to the OCAA podium was not a straight line. It was built over time through setbacks, long hours of training, and a partnership they had to fight for.

Tu’s journey with the Condors started with disappointment. In his first year at Conestoga, he tried out for the badminton team and did not make it. Then, even after earning a spot the following season, he was left out of the championship lineup and did not get the chance to compete. “I trained so much just to not play,” Tu said. “That was tough.”

He stepped away from the sport for a short time, but it did not sit right with him. “I felt like I was running away,” he said. “I knew I still had more to give.” He returned with a different mindset, focusing on putting in the time rather than worrying about results. By his final season, that commitment began to pay dividends.

Barnes’ turning point came in a different way. After falling short of qualifying for the OFSAA championship in high school, he arrived at Conestoga unsure of what to expect. Early on, he balanced badminton with other interests, but one match changed everything. Facing one of the top college players in Canada in his first tournament, he was quickly overwhelmed. Instead of discouraging him, it pushed him. “I got completely outplayed,” Barnes said. “But that’s when it clicked. I realized I could get to that level if I really committed.”

From there, both athletes made the same decision. They chose to invest fully in the sport.

Their doubles partnership was not something that was guaranteed. The pairing was not the original plan heading into the season, and they had to push for the opportunity to play together after seeing success at an early tournament.

Once they were paired, everything started to come together. “We just trust each other,” Tu said. “If one of us makes a mistake, the other is there to cover it.” Their styles complemented each other naturally, with Tu controlling the front court and Barnes playing from the back. Just as important was the time they spent building chemistry off the court. They trained consistently, sometimes multiple times in a day, often starting early in the morning and continuing into the evening. “We were playing a lot,” Tu said. “Some weeks it was 10 sessions or more.”

That commitment carried into the championship.

From the beginning of the season, both athletes had set their sights on reaching nationals. They knew that meant going through some of the top teams in the province.

Throughout the OCAA Championships, they proved they could compete. They pushed strong opponents in long rallies and showed they could match the level of the top programs. “There were moments where we realized we could keep up with anyone,” Tu said. “We just had to clean up the mistakes.”

After a semifinal loss to Fanshawe, their focus shifted quickly. There was still a podium finish within reach.

In the bronze medal match against Humber, they came out strong. Late in the first set, they held a significant lead, but it slipped away. “We were up and somehow lost it,” Barnes said. “That was hard.” With their season on the line, they regrouped. Their coaches helped settle them down, simplifying the approach and reinforcing what had been working. They responded by forcing a third set.

That final set brought a different kind of pressure. With no other matches taking place, all attention in the gym was on their court. “It was just us playing,” Barnes said. “Everyone was watching.” Even in that moment, they stayed composed. The rallies remained tight, and neither side gave much away.

On the final point, Tu saw his opportunity. “I saw the shuttle come up and I knew,” he said. “I just put it down.” As the point ended, so did the match. Tu and Barnes celebrated together, the weight of the moment setting in immediately. “It was very emotional,” Tu said. “All the work, all the time, it paid off.”

For Barnes, the feeling was just as powerful. “It felt like everything lifted,” he said. “I’ve never experienced something like that before.”

The win was not just about the result. It was about everything that led up to it. The early mornings, the sacrifices, and the decision to stay committed when it would have been easier not to. For Tu, the bronze medal is a meaningful way to close his time with the Condors. From being cut in his first year to finishing on the podium, his journey reflects the value of sticking with something through the difficult moments. For Barnes, it is motivation. With one more season ahead, he is already focused on what comes next. “I just keep thinking about how much better next year can be,” he said.

Together, they leave behind more than a result. They leave a story of persistence, trust, and growth that reflects what the Condors program is all about.

Congratulations to Ryan Tu and Maxwell Barnes on an OCAA medal well earned!

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