Couckuyt repeats as racquetball national champ

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This article was published 28/05/2025 (311 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Whoever said defending a national champion title is hard work has never heard of Kaitlyn Couckuyt.

And Kaitlyn Couckuyt knows about hard work.

The 16-year-old, Grade 11 Vincent Massey High School standout is coming home as a national champion and going right back to work. Volleyball season just ended and her house league and AA softball teams are heating up.

It is early summer after all, so the multi-sport star is also winding down her competitive racquetball season with another title to her name, proving to be the top of her class nationally.

Couckuyt won her second straight 16U girls’ racquetball national title on the weekend, her third national title in a row after winning the 14U division two years ago.

A member of Canada’s junior development team, Couckuyt will return to the world stage in December for the World Championships. No stranger to international competition, it will be nearly a year after competing in the same event last year in Guatemala City.

Couckuyt went a perfect 3-0 in her matches at nationals, dropping only one game to Grande Prairie’s Ariana Buller.

“Just to know that I’m going back to Worlds to represent Team Canada is a pretty incredible feeling,” said Couckuyt.

“I had expectations going into nationals and one of those was to win again. I’d played everyone in my pool before, so I knew what to expect. I didn’t want to worry, just trust my skills and all the work I’d put into that.”

It wasn’t easy at times either, but Couckuyt didn’t mind. She put her head down and went to work.

“I definitely had some tough matches, even though the scores might not really reflect that, but my opponents definitely put up a challenge, and it was a good opportunity to play people from across the country that I don’t often get to play against,” said Couckuyt.

Couckuyt’s coach Kurtis Cullen said he often rides the emotional roller coaster of all of Brandon athletes competing under his watch, but perhaps none more than Couckuyt this past weekend.

“I think Kaitlyn would be the first to admit she may have caused me more stress than ever this weekend,” said Cullen, mostly because he knew her likelihood of being a repeat champion depended on travel.

Couckuyt was playing club volleyball in Edmonton until last Wednesday, then jumped on a plane to Ontario. She was to start competing the next day in Burlington.

Thankfully, he had full faith in her ability on the court and wasn’t reliant on faith in the airline industry.

He’s also confident her repeat national title is a stepping stone in what will be as long and successful of a journey as she wishes.

“I’ve told her the ceiling is as high as you want this to go and I will help you as much as I can,” said Cullen.

“We kind of had it as our goal because she did it last year, but she knows she deserves to be there because she’s put in the work and effort. She works incredibly hard.”

Cullen also brought home some hardware, as the Brandonite won the men’s open doubles division along with Coby Iwaasa, the No. 2 ranked player in the country.

Cullen was also presented Marc Caouette Award, a recognition for a community coach that makes significant contributions to programs for youth aged 21 or under.

Cullen’s work to grow the scene here in Brandon resulted in being recognized with the national award, and is also reflected in the success Brandon-based athletes have seen in the sport in recent years.

His commitment to the sport was on full display again this past weekend, as he competed in multiple divisions against the best players in the country while also coaching the Brandon contingent of players taking part in the national event.

That meant logging 12-hour days while battling against other top-ranked national challengers.

“It’s tough to maintain that while competing at that level but I’m committed to the athletes and their success. I was there officially as the junior provincial team coach, and we played in six finals on the last day and won all six, so it brings me so much joy to see their success.”

So like always, Cullen and local athletes like Couckuyt will hit the court to continue pursuing the next step, whatever that might be.

“I feel that playing one sport would be difficult for me,” said Couckuyt.

“Having that variety, mixing up my training schedule, and the benefits that come with the strength and conditioning, all the different parts combine and carry over into one another.”

Leading up to nationals , she trained in the gym four times a week and on the court four to five times per week.

She also coached young athletes just starting out in the sport.

“When I was asked to give back and coach some of the younger age groups it instantly was a yes for me. I want to give back to those younger athletes because that was me at one time,” said Couckuyt.

“Especially showing younger girls and what they can do and what’s out there is important to me. Being part of that journey and having the chance to give back is really cool to see.”

» mpackwood@brandonsun.com

 

Brandon Racquetball Association competitors at the Canadian National Championships in Burlington, Ont. and placings:

Kurtis Cullen

• Men’s Open Doubles – First (Partner Coby Iwaasa of Lethbridge, Alta.)

• Men’s Open Singles – Fourth

Leyton Gouldie

• Boys 18U Singles – First

• Men’s Open Doubles – Second (Partner Asher Pocsai of New Hamburg, Ont.)

• Mens Open Singles – Seventh

Kaitlyn Couckuyt

• Girls 16U Singles – First

Madison Sopel

• Junior A Doubles – Second (Partner Jace Buller-Aubin of Grande Prairie, Alta.)

• Girls 16U Singles – Third

Jialin Li

• Coed “C” Singles – First

• Boys 14U Doubles – Second (Partner Oren Gouldie of Brandon)

Oren Gouldie

• Boys 14U Singles – First

• Boys 14U Doubles – Second (Partner Jialin Li of Brandon)

• Coed “B” Singles – First

Emma Sopel

• Girls 14U Singles – Third

• Junior “C” Singles – Third

• Girls 14U Doubles – Third (Partner Halen Pocsai of New Hamburg, Ont.)

Halin Li

• Junior “A” Singles – First

• Boys 14 U Singles – Fourth

• Boys 14U Doubles – Consolation winner (Partner Buster Macpherson)

Buster Macpherson

• Boys 14U Doubles – Consolation winner (Partner Halin Li)

Also competing but not advancing to the medal rounds were Tony Cao and Gavin Bi in junior divisions and Steven Sopel in the adult division.