Photo credit: Paige Stewart
Canada, hosting the event for the first time, struck gold on the final day of the Pan American Junior Squash Championships with success in the Women’s Team event in Toronto.
The 17th staging of the championships – including singles, doubles and team events – was held at the Mayfair Lakeshore Racquet Club, where Canada recovered from a match down in the women’s team final to beat Ecuador 2/1.
In the Individual category, Brianna Jefferson made it the furthest out of the Canadian athletes, finishing tied for the Bronze Medal with Lucia Bautista Sarmiento of Colombia. Brianna was on a winning streak before ultimately falling to Silver medalist Meagan Best of Barbados in the semi-finals. Maria Paula Moya of Ecuador captured the Gold Medal with a strong performance throughout the competition.
Brianna further contributed to the success of Team Canada in the Mixed Doubles event with partner Nikhil Ismail where they tied for a Bronze medal. The pair had an intense battle in the semi-finals but were defeated by Meagan Best/Khamal Cumberbatch of Barbados. Best/Cumberbatch went on to win the Gold medal over David Costales/Maria Paula Moya of Ecuador who bring home the Silver.
By Wednesday it had finally come time for the highly contested team event. Teams from 12 different countries fought to gain a spot on the podium and make their supporters proud back home. On the girls’ side, in an amazing turn of events, the Canadian squad made the host nation proud by conquering their opponents from across the Americas and becoming the 2019 Gold Medalists! The Canadian girls had to defeat Ecuador, who put forth a great fight and were able to bring home a Silver medal. USA and Mexico tied for 3rd place in the girls’ team event. The girls team consisted of Charlotte Orcutt, Brianna Jefferson, Erica McGillicuddy and Molly Chadwick along with coaches Jonathan Hill and Janet MacLeod.
The Canadian boys were able to make it all the way to the 5/6 playoff, where they faced Peru for a second time in the draw. The matches were close, with our young men giving it their all, but ultimately losing, finishing a solid 6th place in the tournament. The boys team consisted of Nikhil Ismail, Neel Ismail, Douglas Kosciukiewicz and Emilio Carrillo.
On top on Team Canada’s impressive results, they were also presented the “Fair Play Award”. Referees voted on the country that best displayed good sportsmanship both on and off the court. What made the award even more meaningful, is that referees could not vote for a team from their resident country.
In the companion event, the Slaight Music International Junior Squash Showcase, Canadian Emilio Carrillo defeated the competition in the boys draw and captured Gold. Ecuador’s Maria Falconi was crowned champion of the girls’ event.
Lolly Gillen, Tournament Chair of the 2019 Pan Am Junior Championships was moved by the experience at large and had this to say about the experience, “Something magical occurs, when athletes, coaches, delegates and referees from 12 different countries, live together under one roof for eight days. Extraordinary friendships are forged, and the sense of a Pan American family becomes a reality. Once again, Mayfair Lakeshore, renowned for both its facilities and the professionalism of its staff; raising the bar for execution and presentation. Hats off to Reinaldo Rivas, who totally redefined the role of technical director; excelling in every aspect, and to tournament referee David Howard’s for his dedication and commitment. A big thank you also to volunteers, Anne Brayley, Catherine Fournier, Cathy Orcutt, Molson Robertson, Nanette Sanson, Kelly Anne Zander, and especially to Richard Rogers and Gabby Renaud. Honourable thanks to Gary Slaight of Slaight Music, for his unwavering financial support of squash, and to Jeff Deverill for chairing the Pan Am Junior's first every companion event; the Slaight Music International Junior Squash Showcase. Thanks also to the FPS for having faith in Squash Canada, and for giving us the opportunity to host this event. This entire experience has been exhausting, emotional and beyond amazing. The fairy tale ending; Team Canada winning gold in the Girl's Team event, on top of two bronze medals, and also capturing the Fair Play Award, brought a cascade of tears to my eyes. I can’t express my sincere appreciation enough; for the parents, and for the incredible commitment and years of hard work, each and every one of these athletes have invested into training to achieve these results. The championships were truly remarkable and junior squash is rocking in Canada!!!!”
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Final Results - Click Here
Men’s Individual Semi-Finals:
[1] Leonardo Vargas (MEX) bt Spencer Yager (USA) 11-5, 13-11, 8-11, 11-6
Juan Carlos Vargas (MEX) bt [2] Jeremías Azaña (ARG) 11-9, 2-11, 8-11, 13-11, 11-9
Final:
[1] Leonardo Vargas (MEX) bt Juan Carlos Vargas (MEX) 10-12, 12-10, 11-9, 11-8
Women’s Individual Semi-Finals
Maria Moya (ECU) bt Lucia Bautista (COL) 6-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-8
Meagan Best (BAR) bt [2] Brianna Jefferson (CAN) 11-5, 11-5, 11-7
Final:
Maria Moya (ECU) bt Meagan Best (BAR) 6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8
Men’s Doubles Semi-Finals:
Rafael Gálvez & Martin Leon (PER) bt [1] Jeremías Azaña & Dylan Tymkiw (ARG) 11-4, 11-5
[2] Nicolas Serna & Andres Villamizar (COL) bt Diego Agreda & Vladimir Iglesias (ESA) 11-6, 11-6
Final:
Rafael Gálvez & Martin Leon (PER) bt [2] Nicolas Serna & Andres Villamizar (COL) 5-11, 11-7, 11-10
Women’s Doubles Semi-Finals:
Nina Mital & Molly Stoltz (USA) bt Katya Aceituno & Erika Parker (ESA) 11-6, 11-9
Lucia Bautista & Amalia Rios (COL) bt Maria Caridad Buenano & Fabiana Garcia (ECU) 11-8, 11-4
Final:
Lucia Bautista & Amalia Rios (COL) bt Nina Mital & Molly Stoltz (USA) 6-11, 11-6, 11-10
Mixed Doubles Semi-Finals:
[1] Maria Moya & David Costales (ECU) bt Valentina Portieri & Francisco Paita (ARG) 11-6, 11-5
Meagan Best & Khamal Cumberbatch (BAR) bt [2] Brianna Jefferson & Nikhil Ismail (CAN) 11-5, 11-4
Final:
Meagan Best & Khamal Cumberbatch (BAR) bt [1] Maria Moya & David Costales (ECU) 11-6, 9-11, 11-7
Men’s Team Sem-Finals:
MEXICO bt USA 2/1
Leonardo Vargas lost to Maxwell Orr 7-11, 10-12, 6-11
Juan Carlos Vargas bt Spencer Yager 13-11, 12-10, 11-9
Axel Maldonado Juarez bt Conner Stoltz 11-6, 5-11, 12-10, 11-5
ARGENTINA bt COLOMBIA 2/1
Jeremías Azaña bt Nicolas Serna 11-6, 11-5, 11-5
Dylan Tymkiw bt Andres Villamizar 11-9, 13-11, 5-11, 11-9
Lisandro Ortiz lost to Juan Jose Torres Lara 11-9, 6-11, 7-11, 8-11
Final:
ARGENTINA bt MEXICO 2/1
Jeremías Azaña lost to Leonardo Vargas 7-11, 7-11, 3-11
Dylan Tymkiw w/o
Francisco Paita bt Axel Maldonado Juarez 11-7, 10-12, 7-11, 11-0, 11-4
Women’s Team Semi-Finals
ECUADOR bt MEXICO 2/1
Maria Moya lost to Mariana Narvaez Dardon 10-12, 11-13, 9-11
Maria Caridad Buenano bt Miriam Alejandra Ortiz Rubio 11-7, 11-7, 11-9
Emilia Falconi bt Paola Franco 11-4, 13-11, 12-10
CANADA bt USA 2/1
Charlotte Orcutt bt Binney Huffman 11-8, 11-7, 11-5
Brianna Jefferson bt Renee Chan 11-6, 3-11, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9
Molly Chadwick lost to Molly Stoltz 9-11, 5-11, 11-6, 9-11
Final:
CANADA bt ECUADOR 2/1
Charlotte Orcutt lost to Maria Moya 7-11, 7-11, 6-11
Brianna Jefferson bt Maria Caridad Buenano 10-12, 11-7, 11-8, 6-11, 11-6
Erica McGillicuddy bt Emilia Falconi 11-6, 11-8, 11-4