Once again, Harvard University hosted an MSRA Junior Tournament. Tim Wheaton, Harvard’s AD, saw to it that all the infrastructure necessary to a well run tournament was in place. We are very grateful for the gracious hospitality. The players and parents always know that Harvard is a great forum.

There were 182 entrants in this tournament, the second Millet Junior Tournament, named for Frank Millet, the legendary squash coach at Milton Academy, but in a real sense in recognition and honor of all the squash coaches who brought the game along through the years to the quality and popularity it enjoys today. Being a selection tournament, it draws the highest ranked players from across the country. Over three hundred matches were played. Conor O’Malley from U. S. Squash was the tournament director, and Tom Poor and his crew ran the show.

GU13: Sabrina Sobhy(1) and Margaux Losty(2) met in the Finals, each having won their prior matches, 3-0. Losty won the first game, 9-7. Sobhy settled down after that and won the next three, 4,2,3. Kimran Bajwa(6) finished 3rd, and Jenny Scherl(5) finished 4th. Emmy Uible won the Consolation, and Lauren Leizman won the Plate.

GU15: Amy Smedira(1), Winner, lost only one game in her four matches. Her opponent in the Finals, Katie Tutrone(3), Finalist, faced stiff competition through the Draw, and it took a five game match to prevail in the semis. Claudia Regio(2), who lost to Tutrone in the semis, finished 3rd. Haley Mendez(5) won 4th. Olivia Fiechter(4) won the Consolation, and Gabriella Garr won the Plate.

GU17: The trip from Bellevue, Washington was well worth it for Yarden Odinak(1), Winner, besting each of her opponents, 3-0. However, Elizabeth Eyre(3), Finalist, was not to yield easily, pushing each game to the limit. The first went to 10-9, the second, 10-8, and the third, 9-6. This Finals match was well played on both sides of the ball. Drops, volleys, cross courts, tight rails with good pace, lobs, all were used. Each player had good anticipation, and chased each ball down. Rallies were long and fast. The match was a demonstration of how well the game can be played by two fit, talented and determined players. Stephanie Vogel(4) finished 3rd, Hallie Dewey finished 4th. Vidya Rajan won the Consolation, and Abigail Jenkins won the Plate. Throughout this Draw, some great squash was played.

GU19: Amanda Sobhy(1), Finalist, met little resistance on her way to the Finals, and such was the case for Julie Cerullo(2), Winner, both players, veterans of Junior Squash. Cerullo won the first game handily, 9-2. Sobhy, an excellent shotmaker and strategist, didn’t seem on her game. However, in game two, she came alive, and the game was electrifying. Cerullo was not caught off guard, and rose to the uptick in competition. Each rally, each point was hard won. Neither player pulled away. Finally, it was 8 all. Set two was chosen. Back and forth, hand out after hand out. The pauses between serves lengthened, as each player was reaching into her reserves. Sobhy prevailed, 10-8. Cerullo left the court to use the ninety second break to recoup. How it happens, why it occurs, no one can explain; is it mental, physical, both? Sobhy yielded in games three and four, 2 and 1. Katie Ballaine finished 3rd, and Katherine Giovinazzo finished 4th. Alexis Saunders(4) won the Consolation, and Alli Rubin(8) won the Plate.

BU11: In pool A, Claude Smith won his three matches, but not before two of his opponents took him to four games. Ryan Murray won two of his three matches, one of which was a five game seesaw battle. Carson Spahr won one of his three matches, but the two in which he did not prevail were very close, one lasting four games, and the other, five games. James Bell, the fourth player played valiantly, learned a great deal and will surely be back stronger than ever. In pool B, Senen Ubina won both his matches. Will Ruggiero won one match. Zach Meszoely played strongly, but did not prevail.

BU13: Mason Ripka(1), Winner, met little resistance throughout. Max Martin(3), Finalist, met stiff opposition in the semis from Benjamin Leisman(4) who took two games. Jordan Brail(5) finished 3rd, and Leisman(4), 4th. Kevin Flannery(11) won the Consolation, and Cheraaq Bajwa(13) won the Plate.

BU15: There was no seeding in this Draw. Dylan Murray, Winner, is an exceptional player, highly ranked nationally and internationally, made his way through the Draw with little resistance. Taylor Tutrone, Finalist, likewise found little resistance through the Draw. Edward Columbia played well, and was beaten by Murray, and finished 3rd. William Douglass finished 4th. Sam Conant won the Consolation. Guy Davidson won the Plate. This was a strong Draw with very good play throughout.

BU17: None of the players were seeded in this Draw. Gary Power and Tyler Smith dominated in the Draw, and would face each other in the Finals. The first game, each was probing the other’s game, patiently playing in a somewhat watchful manner, not risking much. Smith prevailed, 9-5. Game two opened with Power coming on aggressively, picking up the pace; he won 9-3. Game three was the highlight of the match. Long, intense rallies. The speed picked up, causing several let situations, contested sometimes even by the prevailing player, who thought a stroke would have been the right call. All was done in an appropriate manner. It merely indicated the intensity. Game three went to Smith, 10-8. Power won games four and five, 4 and 3, Power, Winner, Smith, Finalist. Brandon McLaughlin won 3rd, and Zuhaib Mohiudinn took 4th. Christopher Jung won the Consolation and Tom Mullaney won the Plate.

BU19: Todd Harrity(1), ranked#1 in the country came to play. His play is very precise and patient. He makes very few errors. Every ball that can be, is volleyed, quickening the pace. The Draw of twenty-five players contained some of the very best and highest ranked in the country. Harrity(1) won all his matches, 3-0. Chris Callis(2), ranked #2 in the country, met more resistance on his way to the Finals, needing four games in two of his matches. Harrity(1) just poured it on until his opponent, even as talented as Callis(2) makes an error. Harrity(1), Winner, prevailed, 3,2 and1. Alex Domenick(3) finished 3rd, and Thomas Mattson(4) finished 4h. Nick Sisodia won the Consolation, and Sam Clayman won the Plate in a stirring five game match against Adam Vartikar.