The Dartmouth Fall Foliage Junior Tournament draws players from far and wide, Illinois, California, Florida and Canada. This afforded a mix of players that might not otherwise meet and compete. There were many highly nationally ranked players, including 17 in the top 10, and several ranked #1.

Each player was guaranteed a minimum of three matches. They began on Saturday, October 6, allowing the players to attend school on Friday. Some players had four matches, two on Saturday and two on Sunday. The food was good and plentiful, and the efficiency of the tournament staff fit the matches very comfortably in the two day format. When not playing, it was a short walk to the center of town with a plentiful supply of shops and eateries for the players and parents.

In the BU19, there were several highly ranked players. William Morris, seeded #1, won with pretty much ease, losing only one game to Adam Vartikar, in the Semis. Tyler Smith, #2 seed was the finalist. Vartikar beat Jason Michas, for 3rd place. Adam Engel from Canada won the Consolation.

The BU17 was a strong draw. In the round of 32, all matches were 3-0. Things began to heat up in the round of 16. The #1 seed, Will Sullivan won all his matches 3-0, until he met Omar Sohby in the finals. In his semi-final, Sohby played Alexander Ma, #2 seed. It was a grueling five game match. There were many long rallys with each player attempting to set up a kill shot. Sohby prevailed and then got set to play Sullivan in the Finals. Sullivan won the first game rather handily. Things turned around, and Sohby won the 2nd and the 3rd games. In the 4th game, the rallies became long and tactically challenging, each player hitting tight rails and drops just above the tin. Sullivan won games 4 and 5. Ma beat Alexander Greaves-Tunnell, for 3rd in 3-1, a match that produced some great squash. Sam Haig won the Consolation.

The BU15 draw had several highly ranked players, including U S Squash #1, Liam McClintock, #1 seed, and he was favored to win. Taylor Tutrone, from Baltimore, #2 seed, met McClintock in the finals. Tutrone, a few hours earlier had played and won a five game match against Sam Conant. There’s always the question as to whether a hard five game match diminishes, even ever so slightly the skill of a top player. That was not evident in the play of Tutrone in the Finals. McClintock was indefatigable, chasing down every ball, sometimes throwing himself forward to get a ball, only to recover, pick himself up and retrieve the next shot. The BU15 final was classic squash, long rallys, no loose shots, well thought out strategy, patiently waiting for the opponent to afford the opportunity for a kill shot. McClintock won 3-1.
Sam Conant and Edward Columbia played for 3rd, Columbia prevailing. Tanveer Dhanjal won the Consolation.

Joe Hall, from Toronto, unseeded in the BU13, made it to the semis where he met Benjamin Leizman, #1 seed, from Ohio. It was a five game match, in which both played fine squash. Hall really put Leizman to the test who won all his other matches 3-0. James Fulham, was the Finalist, losing to Leizman, 3-0. Hall won 3rd, and Atticus Kelly finished 4th. Brandon Lai won the Consolation. It’s interesting to see the quality of play increasing in the BU13 and GU13 draws. The racquet work and strategy demonstrates the dedication the younger players are devoting to the game.

Natasha Kingshott, a member of the U. S. Squash junior girls team and presently ranked #1, had little difficulty in winning the GU19 draw. The tournament seemed a warm up for the selection tournaments to come later. She’s a very gracious, courteous player, and represents the country well when she competes abroad. Hannah Conant was the Finalist, and played very well, but could not break Kingshott’s steady, relentless game. Alli Rubin and Katie Harrison both lost in the semis, and played for 3rd, 4th, with Harrison winning in three. Taylor Tully won the Consolation.

GU17 draw included a number of nationally highly ranked players, including Amanda Sohby, #1. Prior to meeting Sohby in the Finals, Stephanie Vogel had a five game semi-final match against Jacqueline Shea. It was a very well played match on both sides of the ball, each player winning two long games, before Vogel prevailed in the 5th. In the Finals, Sohby prevailed rather easily 3-0, with Vogel being the Finalist. Jacqueline Shea and Dori Rahbar had made it to the semis, and then played each other for 3rd and 4th; Shea prevailed. The Consolation match was not played, therefore, it was shared by Sarah Crosky and Anna Harrison.

The GU15 was a strong draw of highly ranked players, and the high level of play throughout was evident. It took Katie Tutrone five games to beat Haley Mendez in the semis. Tight rails with good pace, drop shots traded, high lobs to take off some pressure, nicks hit, and great cross courts and boasts. Each player had the full array of shots, and each employed excellent strategy. It was a pleasure to watch.
Megan Murray, who was to meet Tutrone in the Finals, beat Catherine Jenkins in 4 in the semis. The steady play of Murray in the Finals was too much for Tutrone; Murray had full control of the match from the very beginning, winning 3-0. Mendez won 3rd beating Jenkins in three.

There were only eight entrants in GU13, but four are ranked in the top ten. As they played, the highly ranked players won their matches 3-0, yet one could see the level of play of the newer players elevate, so although they did not win, they learned a great deal, and will practice with ever more determination. Olivia Fletcher, #1 seed, and ranked #1, easily made it to the Finals where she prevailed in three over Sabrina Sohby, #2 seed and ranked #4. Bailey Bondy and Carolyn Gillette each lost in the semis, and faced one another for 3rd and 4th. Bondy prevailed. The Consolation match was not played, shared therefore between Lindsey Dewey and Lauren Leizman.

Sunday, October 7, mid afternoon the last match finished, prizes awarded, goodbyes said, tournament director, Nadine Power, and her team turned to the clean up. Players and families departed. Another very successful Dartmouth Fall Foliage Junior Tournament.