On a weekend when temperatures were setting records for warmth in January, the 2007 edition of the Massachusetts Junior Open set a new record with 240 entrants and 500 matches, all played in slightly less than 48 hours. The setting was the Murr Center at Harvard, an institution which has set many records of its own in the world of intercollegiate squash.
Each of the eight age divisions had three draws, insuring each player at least three matches. A player losing his first match in the main draw went to the Consolation draw; the loser there went to the Plate. Hence, with 24 draws and the ensuing blizzard of matches, there was plenty of action.
25 players entered the GU13 draw, headlined by Emily Kelly from snowbound Denver and Dana Rapisarda from Brooklyn. Kimran Bajwa, the daughter of Harvard’s coach, was a surprise semi-finalist before Emily stopped her in three. Dana marched through the bottom half without losing a game. The final was a four game tussle in favor of Dana. Kimran took 3rd place over Charlotte Cabot; Mikaela Johnson won the Consolation in five over Lily Grant and the SquashBuster’s Gloria Nwaoha won the Plate.
The smallest draw of the tournament was the GU15 with 23. The New York invasion continued with top seed Julianne Chu, second seed Jesse Pacheco and Kate Calihan from Rochester. 12 year old Hunter Sechrest, also from New York City, decided to play in this division after dominating the GU13 in November’s New England Open. She did well, falling to 4th seed Serena Fagan in the quarters, then went on to win the Consolation. Serena in turn bowed to Julianne while in the other semi-final, Kate lost the 5th game, 10-8, to Jesse who plays for St. George’s School in Newport, RI. That match seemed to take the starch out of Jesse, for she lost the final in three to Julianne. Once again, a SquashBuster took the plate with Alicia Forde’s victory.
Stephanie Vogel from West Hartford was almost the story in the 30-draw GU17. She upset top-seeded Mariana Tellez of St. George’s in the quarters, squeezed by Alli Rubin in the semis and came up just a point or two short in the finals against Taylor Booth from New York. Taylor had won over Casey Cortes in the other semi-final after Casey had pulled out a five game win over Corey Schafer. Casey again went to five to take 3rd from Rubin. Corey in turn had a busy time, going to the Consolation to beat Sommer Carroll in five, then five again over Sarah Loucks before bowing in the final to Eliza Calihan. SquashBusters continued their domination of the Plates with Judy Braga’s win.
The draw of 28 in the GU19 was the largest for this age group in MSRA history. Many of the players in the upper age groups are students at area secondary schools, hence needed some allowance for Saturday morning classes. Rhetta Nadas is the top player at Nobles and eased into the final with hardly a hitch. In the other half, St. George’s #1 Samantha Buechner had an equally easy time. After dropping the first game, Samantha came back to take the next three and the title. Groton’s Morgan Smith took 3rd over Elena Laird. Courtney Bogle from New York won the Consolation and Monete Johnson, another SquashBuster, won the Plate.
Again a visitor from New York prevailed in the BU13. Guy Davidson encountered little resistance in the 36 player draw, winning all his matches in three. John Fulham from Wellesley had no trouble either in reaching the final in this large draw for this age group. Henry Bell took 3rd over Tripp Kaelin. Atticus Kelly narrowly defeated Ben Krant from Williamstown in five in the main draw, then met him again in the Consolation final, this time winning in three. Stephen Monrad defeated SquashBuster Jamie Ryans in the Plate final.
As is often the case in these junior events, the BU15 draw of 39 was the largest. In this one, there were no New York invaders amongst the seeds, but Montreal’s John Lamont dispatched many local players before being halted in the semis by top seed Julian Kirby. John went on to win 3rd over Sam Sokolsky-Tifft in four games. Meanwhile, Liam McClintock, 12 ½ years old, sliced through the lower half without losing a game. The final was a close four game struggle with Julian finally emerging the winner. Another Bajwa, Pehlaaj, won the Consolation over Edward Columbia and normalcy returned to the Plate when Steven Vo, a SquashBuster, won four matches and the trophy.
Playing up an age group is not unusual as advanced juniors go for more competition and experience in a higher level. Gary Power, 14, from East Lyme, CT has done this often and again this week-end in the BU17. He’s usually been successful and was again although severely tested in a four game final by Will Sullivan. Rochester’s Alex Greaves-Tunnell lost 3rd to Toronto’s Michael Badali, both of whom had lost three game semi-final matches. Groton’s Sam Clayman defeated Barrett Takesian from Milton for the Consolation title while two Brooks School teammates vied for the Plate with Brewster Lee winning in three.
One fellow not attending a local school was Yuri Franca, a visitor from Brazil spending a year in Cambridge. 24 others in the BU19 draw would have had more of a chance if he’d stayed home, for he cruised through the tournament without the loss of a game. He defeated William Morris of St. Paul’s who in turn had not lost a game before the final. Harry Smith of Middlesex defeated Milton’s Andrew Bernard for 3rd and Jamie Wilson won the Plate.
It was an intense week-end for players and committee members alike. The 13 courts at Harvard’s Murr Center allow tournaments of this size to be held in one venue which is much preferable for all. The growth of the Massachusetts Junior Open has been remarkable, and hopefully will not outgrow the courts at Harvard. It was a great week-end of squash with congratulations going to all who played, watched and administered.
Link to photos
