by Chris Smith, US Junior Men's Coach and MSRA Junior Committee Member

Recently, the amazing work of the MSRA Junior Committee caught the eye of the US Squash office, who approached the Committee with a request to run one of their four "Selection Events" this season.  Most Local SRAs run one junior event a year, but the MSRA agreed to add another major event to its already packed calendar, bringing its total to four events. To run this event, the Junior Committee had to agree to do this event not even one week removed from running the Mass Junior Open.

After adding the event to the MSRA junior calendar, the committee sat down to figure out a name for the tournament. The committee agreed that the event name should represent squash in Massachusetts, which is full of sportsmanship, integrity, and love of the sport, while honoring someone who has given the sport so much.  Frank Millet's name was the obvious choice, and so the Frank Millet Junior Championships was born.

After the Mass Junior Open became the largest junior squash tournament in the history of squash in our state, the MSRA Junior Committee quickly turned around and put on yet another huge event at the Murr Center January 13-15.  US Squash's selection events have capped draws at 32 with the top 32 rated players who enter getting accepted into the draws.  These events always draw the best competition from around the country.  The best players get the necessary head-to-head results against the higher rated players.  What truly makes these events a "selection" event is that each year, the U19 draws are worth points for selection to the US Junior Team-this year being a Junior Women's Worlds year.  With points and a trip to Hong Kong this summer to compete in the World Junior Championships on the line, it was the GU19 that was the showcase draw of the event.

178 of the nation's best turned up in Cambridge to play in 8 divisions-the biggest draw being the Boys U13 with 31 players.  Local squash star Liam McClintock was given the #1 seed due to his Railstation rating and lived up to his billing, fending off all his competitors to take the title.  He took Michael East of Maryland in the finals.  TJ Dembinski of Hamden, CT took 3rd place over William Douglas of Brooklyn, NY.  Our own Edward Columbia took the consolation draw.

In the GU13 draw, Claudio Regio of Bellevue, WA took the title over Katie Tutrone of Baltimore, MD.  Maria Urbina took 3rd over Rachel Leizman, and Olivia Fiechter took the consolation

The Boys U15 gave us more local success, as Julian Kirby upset #2 seed Dylan Murray in the semis, 3-2.  Julian fell in the final 3-1 to Gary Power of East Lyme, CT.  Sam Conant of Philly won the consolation.

The GU15 was Amanda Sohby's for the taking, a simple path to the championship, as she only lost one game all weekend.  2nd place went to Greenwich's Hallie Dewey, 3rd to Amy Smedira from Ohio, and the consolation went to Hallie's sister Charlotte.

In the BU17 draw, Thomas Mattsson from the Lawrenceville School in NJ came out with the title.  He overcame Danny Greenberg from Philly in the finals 3-0. Christopher Hanson from Greenwich, CT took Charlie Wagner from Portland for 3rd place. Stephen Harrington of Philly took the consolation. 

The GU17 draw gave Boston another chance to show its local talent off a little. Casey Cortes, the #5 seed, defeated #1 seed Katherine Giovinazzo from Staten Island 3-2 in the semis. Casey followed that match up with another 3-2 upset win over #2 seed Sarah Mumanachit from PA in the final.  Giovinazzo took 3rd place while Boston's Alli Rubin took the consolation draw.

The BU19 draw provided some of the best squash in a MSRA tournament in some time. 3 of the 7 members from last summer's US Junior Men's team that competed in New Zealand at the World Championships were the 1, 2, and 3 seeds. Chris Callis and Todd Harrity, both of Philly, met in the final true to their seedings, with Chris taking a 3-2 win for the championship.  Boston's Ryan Dowd knocked out national team member Reed Endresen in the quarters before falling to Callis in the semifinals.  DC's Peter Sopher won the consolation.

The GU19 showcase draw provided more amazing squash; they all brought out their best, as the nation's best junior women fought for national team spots.  With points on the line, Logan Greer of Philly took a 3-1 win in the finals over Olivia Blatchford.  Olivia, who is only 14, had just won the British Junior Open GU15 draw a couple weeks earlier. The two are clear favorites to make the Junior Women's National Team.  Julie Cerullo of Brooklyn took 3rd place, and Alexis Saunders took the conso draw.

The event was another MSRA Junior Committee success; special thanks to the volunteers who made the event happen: Libby McClintock, Bill Nimmo, Jim Sullivan, Barbara and Gary Rubin, Mike Loucks, Lenny Bernheimer, and Tom Poor.  This stellar crew proved  that Boston knows how to put on amazing squash events.  The USSRA asked us to do it again next year.

Outlasting everyone at the event was Mr. Frank Millet himself, who coached his Milton players throughout the tournament as well as absorbing every ounce of one of the best tournaments in the country.

Link to photos