Two hundred and thirty junior players entered the tournament. Once again Harvard University provided the Murr Center squash courts. Tim Wheaton, Harvard’s AD, coordinated everything with the sponsoring committee, MSRA Jr Committee, so everything would run smoothly. We thank AD Wheaton and Harvard University for making its facility available to the community once again. A strong contingent of players from Squashbusters entered. Squashbusters is an inner city squash and acadenic program devoted to encourage students to excel in squash, academics and citizenship. The vast majority of players were from Massachusetts and the neighboring states, but there were entrants from Florida, Georgia, California and Oregon.

BU13: There were thirty one entrants in this division. Anders Larson(1) met little resistance until the semis when it took four games to defeat unseeded Atticus Kelly. Arhum Saleem, from Georgia was unseeded. He first faced Benjamin Krant(2). Saleem won that match in four. He then met Chaaraq Bajwa(3) in the Semis. Bajwa(3) took the first game 9-6; Saleem won the 2nd 10-9. Saleem took the next two 9-6, 9-3. In the Finals, Larson(1) beat Saleem 10-8 in the 1st game, Saleem won the 2nd 9-2. Larson(1) won games 3 and 4, becoming the Winner and Saleem, the Finalist. Kelly won 3rd place, and Bajwa(3) won 4th. Krant(2) won the Consolation, and Leyton Johnson won the Plate

BU15: There was a full draw of 32 in this division. Edward Columbia(1) won his first two matches quite easily, but then met unseeded Eric Cameron from Oregon in the Quarters. The first game, from the first serve to the last point, was a close hard fought contest. Each rally was long, and shots that surely seemed to be winners, were returned. Set two was called when the score reached 8 all. Rallies continued endlessly, and a certain mental and physical fatigue seemed to wend its way into each contestant. The score went to 9-8, then 9-9. One point to the win. It was Cameron to serve. The rally began, but not with the speed and luster of its predecessors. Finally, a ball Columbia could not reach, Cameron, was up, one game to love. Ninety seconds later, the players returned to the court. Columbia(1) won the next three games easily. Pehlaaj Bajwa(3) in his first three matches, only yielded one point. In the Semis, Bajwa(3) played Nicholas Greaves-Tunnell(2). This was the best match of this division. From the outset, it was obvious that the talents and style of play of each would produce a fine match. Bajwa(3) won game one, 10-8. The game had been close all the way, and gave no sense of what would come. Greaves-Tunnell(2) seemed to have Bajwa(3) figured out and won games two and three rather easily. However, Bajwa(3) pushed back and won game four. Even, at two all, the match came down to one game. Bajwa(3) took control of the game and kept moving his opponent around, and won game 5, 9-2, and went on to the Finals. Columbia(1) played flawlessly. Bajwa(3) was still recovering from the five game match he had played the day before. Columbia(1), Winner, won in three; Bajwa(3) was Finalist. Greaves-Tunnell(2) finished third and Liam Quinn(4) finished fourth. Eric Cameron won the Consolation, and Harrison Liftman won the Plate

BU17: This draw of 42 was the largest of the tournament. Liam McClintock(1), US Squash #1 in BU15, played up in this tournament. He faced Julian Kirby(2) in the Finals. Kirby(2), older and over six feet, and McClintock(1), thirteen and just over five feet did not seem to promise a very competitive match. Kirby(2) could volley a lot of shots, and McClintock(1) would have to scramble to reach balls. Game one began with each player testing the other and settling into his game. As the game progressed, it became evident that McClintock(1) was a worthy opponent. As a matter of fact, he won game one, 9-5. Unfazed, Kirby(2) came back, pushed hard, took command, and won games two and three handily, 9-2, 9-0. For those who expected game four to go as two and three did, McClintock(1) refused to fold. He came back refreshed and took game four, 9-4. The stands were abuzz as to what was taking place. Long rally followed long rally, each point coming hard. Two all, they entered the court for the final game. Once again great shots, great shot selection on both sides. Neither seemed to be able to put away his opponent. Slowly, Kirby(2) began to pull ahead. As he had done throughout the match, McClintock would literally throw himself forward onto the court to reach a ball. No one, except the two players, wanted to see the match end. Kirby(2) finally prevailed, 9-4, and was the Winner, McClintock(1), Finalist. Jack Ervasti(3) and Taylor Foehl(5) lost in the Semis and played each other for third and fourth place. Ervasti(3) prevailed in three. John Lamont from Montreal won the Consolation. Alexander Greaves-Tunnell(4) won the Plate, and Ronald German won the 2nd loss Consolation.

BU19: Twenty-five players faced each other in this Draw. The top four seeds met in the Semis. Gary Power(1), who was playing up, played Harry Smith(4), beating him in four. Will Sullivan(2), also played up, and beat Adam Vartikar(3) in a very physical five game match. In the Finals, Sullivan(2) took game one quite easily, 9-2. The match then changed. As hard as Sullivan(2) worked, Power(1) used precision in shot selection and execution and won the next three games quite decidedly, and was Winner, and Sullivan(2), Finalist. Smith(4) and Vartikar(3) vied for 3rd, 4th, Vartikar prevailing in five. James Wilson won the Consolation. Chris Doucette won the Plate.

GU13: There were fourteen entrants in this Draw, and the quality of play showed the advance the younger players are making in squash. The trip from Florida for Chloe Chemtob(1) proved worthwhile. It took her four games to defeat Kimran Bajwa in the Semis; otherwise she prevailed rather steadfastly and was Winner. Unseeded Lindsey Dewey, from Connecticut was Finalist. Kimran Bajwa won third, defeating Samantha Chai, who finished fourth. Hannah McCormack(2) won the Consolation, and Lekiara Gray won the Plate.

GU15: This Draw had twenty-three players. Kate Calihan(1) yielded only three points in her matches leading up to the Finals. Her opponent, Gabriella Garr(2) only yielded six. It was all to change in the Finals match. Garr(2) took command early and won games one and two, 9-6 and 9-5. Calihan(1), although playing well, seemed mostly defensive. She apparently gained some focus, because she came back. Game three was an uphill battle for her, but she won 9-7. Games four and five went to Calihan(1), Winner and Garr(2), Finalist. Meyha Sud(4) and Erin Golueke(3) played for 3rd and 4th, and Golueke(3) prevailed. Ariel Posner won the Consolation, and Sarah Hargreaves won the Plate.

GU17: In this division, there were thirty-nine players. Sommer Carroll(1) and Courtney Jones(3) each made her way to the Finals, winning the prior matches 3-0. Carroll(1) won the first game 10-8; Jones(3) won the second, 10-8. Each game was won with tenacity. There were few loose shots, tight rails with good pace, some lobs to relieve pressure, hard low wide cross courts. Games three and four went to Carroll(1), Winner, 9-7,9-6, with Jones(3), Finalist. Dori Rahbar(4) and Sarah Loucks(6) played for third/fourth place. Each had lost in the Semis, and now wanted third place. Each is a tenacious player, and this match displayed that tenacity. Throughout, the rallys were great squash. Shots were made seeking weakness in the opponent’s game. None was found. Rahbar(4) won games one and three, 9-3 and 9-6; Loucks(6) won games two and four, 9-5 and 9-3. Just looking at the scores, one might surmise the each game was won rather easily, but that was not the case. The pace of the match was extremely fast; there were a number of handouts and long rallys. Game five was a classic, even though both players seemed physically spent and perhaps mentally exhausted. However, as happens so many times with elite athletes, the reserve kicks in, stirred by the desire to win. The lead kept shifting, each point yielded begrudgingly. The final score was 9-7, Rahbar(4). Grateful applause greeted them as they exited the court. Laura Caty won the Consolation. Corey Schafer(2) won the Plate, and Brittany Luby won the 2nd loss Consolation.

GU19: Twenty-two players were in this Draw. Stephanie Vogel(2) yielded in four to Taylor Booth(3) in the Semis, and the went on to take 3rd place defeating Courtney Bogle who finished 4th. Rhetta Nadas(1) met little resistance on her way to the Finals. There she met Taylor Booth(3). Nadas(1), Winner, overcame a very worthy opponent, Booth(3) was Finalist. Kyla Sherwood won the Consolation, and Shanna Hsu won the Plate.

Many parents expressed their thanks for a well run tournament, and several pitched in with the cleanup and folding and stacking chairs. The players met a lot of old friends and made some new ones. Good luck to all, and particularly the U19s, seniors now in high school, who will go on to college this coming Fall.