Better Bodies was a busy place on the weekend. Aside from the people working out, the squash courts at the back of the facility were overflowing with people to take part in the Andrew Bielz Memorial Tournament.

It was the first year of the tournament. Bielz passed away during last year’s squash league. Formerly known as the Early Bird Tournament, the Andrew Bielz Memorial kicks off the squash season.

Bielz’s son Aaron was playing in the tournament and said his dad loved the sport.

“Squash was a big part of his life,” said Aaron. “Tuesday, and Thursday nights ladder league he really enjoyed it.”

Aaron said he was blown away by how many people were participating in the Andrew Bielz Memorial Tournament.

“It means a lot to see (all these people here),” said Aaron. “I can’t believe 50 people came out to this and it’s pretty great to see the community come out.”

Aaron said his dad loved to see people come together and have a good time and that if he is looking down on the tournament he hopes it makes him happy.

A fierce competitor on the court, Aaron said he had some good matches with his dad over the years.

“We had some gruelling games, a couple where he definitely crushed me,” said Aaron. “I had to really work to maybe get that half win on him. He didn’t let up.”

Seeing all the people who turned out to play on the weekend, Aaron said, was pretty emotional.

“It’s still pretty heavy, we lost him to cancer, it’s been a year now,” said Aaron. “It’s still with me and my family a lot. (The tournament) is a good way to remember him.”

All the proceeds from the tournament went toward the Canadian Cancer Society and Squash Yukon was able to donate $1,177.

President of Squash Yukon, Stephen Buckler, reflected on what Andrew Bielz meant to the squash community.

“He definitely was involved,” said Buckler. “He was always in the league, always in all the tournaments and came to the socials. He was a great guy to have around.

“He was always talking squash strategy and he was so intense on the court. But outside of the court, he was such a great guy. When he passed away quickly and it hit the community hard.”

Buckler said Squash Yukon wanted to honour Bielz last year but did not want to impose. Buckler said they were approached this year by the family about honouring Andrew and they were happy to remember him with a tournament.

During his years playing squash in the Yukon, Buckler remembered some of his matches against Andrew.

“When I first started playing after coming back from university we were around the same level,” said Buckler. “He was very hardcore to play against. He took it very seriously and I was just getting back into it.

“It was cool talking to him, talking strategy because he wasn’t a junior and I was. He was asking me ‘is this the right way’. That’s how he was. He was always critiquing his game and talking strategy and technique.”

Buckler said Andrew never bested him in his matches but they were always close.

The tournament which drew 50 people, compared to the 36 or so participants the Early Bird typically had means there is plenty of brackets of winners to get through. Let’s see who won.

In the Men’s Open bracket Julien Revel defeated Jeff Muirhead three games to one. Ehsan Idrees earned third downing Peter Mather.

Terri Cairns needed all five games in the match to defeat Will Chetcuti in the Mixed A final. The battle for third also went the distance and Lori Muir outlasted Alex Jobin.

The trend of tightly contested matches continued in the Mixed B category. Oshea Jephson downed Sean Lee 3-1 and Jason Pedlar beat Gurmaan Rai 3-2 to secure third.

Isaac Maddocks downed Katie Mercier in straight games to win the Mixed C final. Rannon Johnson cruised past Muhammad Javed 3-0 to get the bronze position.

Carly Bohman needed four games to down Brian Pehora in a tight Mixed D championship game. Inga Petri came third, dropping Darwin Murray 3-1.

The final category, Novice, decided the winner on a points system. Noah Kurzynski earned the top spot with six points, going undefeated. Martin Farrow tallied four points for second and Antionette Greenoliph came third.

With league play beginning soon, the next event will be the Reservoir Dogs Tournament. The price of entry for the tournament is two bottles of wine and the winners will get a nice stock of vino just in time for the holidays.