PETERBOROUGH-Two Peterborough athletes have been chosen to represent Team Ontario at the Canadian National Pickleball Championships.
Pickleball Ontario recently announced the athletes who will represent Team Ontario on August 27, 2026, during the Canadian National Pickleball Championships at Pickleplex Downsview in Toronto.
Team Ontario finalized its selections based on performance data from the 2026 regional series and from the 2026 Pickleball Ontario Provincial Championship, which just wrapped up on August 2, 2026, at Pickleplex Downsview. Selected provincial team members will compete head-to-head against other provinces in a team format, which also doubles as an evaluation for the National Development Program Pool.
Cole Lester will compete in the Men’s Singles division and Marie Aubie in Mixed Doubles.
“I am honoured to have been selected for the Team Ontario Masters Team, competing at Canadian Nationals in August,” says Marie Aubie. “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 competition level across the province is strong which pushes Marie and I to elevate our games every day,” says Cole Lester. “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.”
“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, states Jodi Allen, Owner, Smash Courts, Peterborough. “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. 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. Our youth witness firsthand that success isn’t handed to you; it’s earned through commitment, perseverance, and hard work.”
“The Provincial Team Competition brings together the nation’s top provincial talent in an exciting inter-provincial team competition,’ says Danielle French, President, Peterborough Pickleball Association. “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.”
