Team USA defeated Canada 14-10 to reclaim the Battle of the Border trophy in the international tournament’s fourteenth year at perennial hosts, White Oaks Resort in Niagara-on-the-lake, Canada.
Although the main focus was on the ‘Battle’ on the Sunday, the weekend consisted of multiple different sessions as the coaches balance creating teamwork within their own team and developing friendships with the opposing teams, as well as some fun evening activities and a trip to the Niagara Falls on Saturday evening.
With the National Team programming for US Squash continuing to grow, the Battle of the Border remains one of the focal points as it best prepares players for the World Junior Championships. For many players, the Battle of the Border is the first introduction to representing Team USA in international competition in the U13, U15 and U17 age divisions. This year was the third year that Team Canada participated, a graduation from Team Ontario in years gone by, and Team USA knew they would have to be at their best to beat a well prepared Canadian team. The “Battle of the Border” was initially founded as a Team Ontario vs. Team USA format in 2004 by U.S.-based Bryan Patterson and the late Mark Sachvie.
The Team USA delegation was led by U.S. National Coaches Christina Brownell, Moustafa Hamada, Jamie Sutcliffe, Madeline Perry, Omar El Kashef and Atilla Agh.
Results:
GU13 (4-0)
#1 – Christa Kay (USA) beat Iman Shaheen 11-7, 11-3, 12-10.
#2 – Quincy Cline (USA) beat Grace Huang 11-2, 5-11, 11-7, 11-8.
#3 – Jhansi Bhavsar (USA) beat Maddison Laine 11-5, 11-8, 11-8.
#4 – Zayna Usman (USA) beat Maddie Martin 11-2, 11-7, 11-6.
BU13 (4-0)
#1 – Hollis Robertson (USA) beat Alexander Yuzpe 11-9, 11-6, 10-12, 11-8.
#2 – Lachlan Sutton (USA) beat Patrick Walford 11-5, 5-11, 11-9, 11-6.
#3 – Avi Agarwal (USA) beat Daniel Deverill 14-12, 11-7, 11-9.
#4 – Mason Menin (USA) beat Jacob Marrison 11-8, 11-7, 11-9.
GU15 (3-1)
#1 – Lucia Bicknell beat Maureen Foley (USA) 4-11, 11-9, 15-13, 12-10.
#2 – Annabelle McTaggart (USA) beat Molly Chadwick 15-17, 11-0, 11-6, 11-7.
#3 – Joy Qu (USA) beat Taylor Mackay 11-8, 11-6, 11-3.
#4 – Aubrey Lennon (USA) beat Jania Dweek 11-6, 16-14, 12-10.
BU15 (1-3)
#1 – Nikhil Ismail beat Shaam Ghambir (USA) 12-10, 11-3, 11-4.
#2 – Ryan Chen (USA) beat Dylan Deverill 11-9, 9-11, 4-11, 13-11, 11-6.
#3 – Seif Elfiky beat Auggie Bhavsar (USA) 9-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 11-3.
#4 – Liam Jinks beat Rohan Iyer (USA) 11-13, 14-12, 11-5, 5-11, 11-9.
GU17 (2-2)
#1 – Olivia Robinson (USA) beat Emma Jinks 11-4, 10-12, 8-11, 11-8, 12-10.
#2 – Charlotte Orcutt beat Eujung Park (USA) 11-7, 11-4, 11-3.
#3 – Jesse Brownell (USA) beat Marlow Benson 11-8, 11-3, 8-11, 9-1, 11-9.
#4 – Patricia Debele beat Sophia Velazquez (USA) 11-2, 11-5, 9-11, 12-10.
BU17 (0-4)
#1 – George Crowne beat Max Velazquez (USA) 12-10, 9-11, 11-7, 13-11.
#2 – Liam Marrison beat Nicholas Robinson (USA) 9-11, 9-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-9.
#3 – Elliot Hunt beat Cullen Little (USA) 11-9, 11-3, 11-6.
#4 – Abdelrahman Dweek beat David Rubin (USA) 11-3, 10-12, 8-11, 11-5, 11-5.