By Robby Berner
In what has become one of the most anticipated weekends on the elite junior calendar, 25 US squad members traveled to White Oaks Resort and Spa in Ontario, Canada, to take on the Ontario junior team in the annual “Battle of the Border Challenge.” The squad members represented the top four, age-eligible juniors in the Boy’s and Girl’s U13, U15, and U17 age groups for the 2006-2007 season.
After flying into Buffalo International Airport, Team USA traveled across the border into Canada. After a Friday night welcome dinner, the juniors got a chance to catch up with their Canadian counterparts, and Saturday was a day of friendly international training, with the teams playing practice matches in a round-robin format before heading off to a fun-filled evening at Niagra Falls.
On Sunday morning, the US juniors stepped up to the Canadian challenge. US Junior Champions Amanda Sobhy and Katie Tutrone led the way in their respective divisions, as both the Girls’ U15 and Girls’ U13 completed clean sweeps. The Boys U13 also routed the Canadians 4-0, illustrating the development of American junior squash at the youngest levels.
The win on Sunday capped off a fun, eventful and productive weekend for all the juniors involved. The weekend concluded with Mark Sachvie presenting the “Battle of the Border Challenge” trophy to Vijay Chitnis, Junior Development Director of US Squash, and to the American juniors. Congratulations to all who participated.
Under 13
Caroline East
Devin McLaughlin
Elena Ubina
Gabriella Garr
Katie Tutrone
Michael East
Olivia Fiechter
Sam Conant
TJ Dembinski
Under 15
Amanda Sobhy
Amy Smedira
Dylan Murray
Edward Columbia
Megan Murray
Tarryn Harbooth
Taylor Tutrone
William Douglass
Under 17
Chloe Blacker
Danny Greenberg
Jason Michas
Pia Trikha
Sarah Mumanchit
Tyler Smith
William Sullivan
Yarden Odinak
