Our community has two exceptional reasons to celebrate as local pickleball athletes Marie Aubie and Cole Lester prepare to compete on the national stage later this month.
The pair, both affiliated with the Peterborough Pickleball Association, have earned spots on Team Ontario for the Canadian National Pickleball Championships taking place Tuesday, August 27, at Pickleplex Downsview in Toronto.
Lester will compete in Men's Singles, while Aubie has partnered with Steve Robinson of Whitby for Mixed Doubles competition. The selection places them among the province's elite pickleball talent.
"I am honoured to have been selected for the Team Ontario Masters Team, competing at Canadian Nationals in August," Aubie told PtboCanada. "Both Cole Lester and I have worked hard this past year to improve our respective games despite injuries. The competition at Nationals will be fierce but I know that collectively as a team, we are in the running for a podium finish."
The road to nationals hasn't been without challenges. Both athletes have battled through injuries while training to reach this level of competition.
"The competition level across the province is strong which pushes Marie and I to elevate our games every day," Lester told PtboCanada. "We are both excited to be members of the provincial team heading to the national stage to represent our province, compete at the highest level, and help bring home gold for Ontario."
The achievement carries special significance for Smash Courts in Peterborough, where both athletes serve as coaches. Jodi Allen, owner of the facility, emphasized what their selection means for the local pickleball community.
"To have not one, but two Smash Courts coaches selected again to represent Team Ontario at the Pro level is an incredible achievement for them, Peterborough, and our club," Allen told PtboCanada. "Cole and Marie were selected among the top athletes in the province, to compete against some of the best players in Canada, an accomplishment we couldn't be more proud of."
Allen highlighted the inspirational impact the athletes have on younger players at the facility, particularly summer campers who watch them train daily.
"They are an inspiration to players of all ages, especially our young summer campers who get to watch them train, up close and personal, day after day," Allen told PtboCanada. "Our youth witness firsthand that success isn't handed to you; it's earned through commitment, perseverance, and hard work."
Danielle French, president of the Peterborough Pickleball Association, expressed confidence in what the athletes will bring to the competition.
"The Provincial Team Competition brings together the nation's top provincial talent in an exciting inter-provincial team competition," French told PtboCanada. "Our local exceptional athletes, Cole and Marie, earned their place through dedication, sportsmanship, and outstanding performance. We are confident they will represent our city and province with pride and excellence on the national stage."
The championships will feature a team format where provincial squads compete head-to-head. The event also serves as an evaluation opportunity for the National Development Program Pool, adding another layer of significance to the competition.
As Aubie and Lester prepare to take the court in less than two weeks, they carry with them the support of our entire community and the hopes of bringing home gold for Ontario.
