A strong field of National Capital Squash juniors competed at the US Squash National Championships and Silver National Championships. It is an honor to gain entry into either event — congratulations to all NCS juniors who competed in these championship events!

Kira Keating was the sole NCS junior to compete in the National Championship, open to the top 32 players in the nation. This year’s championship was held at Princeton University. Kira won 5 matches in GU19 to win the consolations, good for ninth place. She trounced two players she had never beaten before.  Her only loss was a round of 16 match that had two tie breakers and her opponent went on take to fifth place.

Silver National Championships (Philadelphia)

Nghi Nguyen won the GU19 Silver Championship over her Potomac School teammate Isabel Young in a thrilling five game match. Both players had rankings high enough for qualification in the National Championship, but for various reasons could not play in it.  Instead both played up an age division and reached the finals in the Silvers. Nghi was just the second player in NCS history to win a Silver National title, which Jacqueline Barnes previously did twice.

Theo Mendez took the eventual BU19 champion to 11-9 in the fifth game in a quarterfinals match. Theo then cruised to victory in the classic plate to capture fifth place.

Zach Najera reached the quarterfinals of BU17, where he lost in a heartbreakingly close match, 13-11 in the fifth, to a player who made the finals.

Annika Townsend reached the GU11 semifinals where she had to withdraw in game three due to an injury.

Alex Snape gained entry to the BU15 division by writing US Squash to point out a ranking error in the cut list. After taking one of the last two spots in the event, he reached the BU15 consolation semis, where he lost 11-8 in the fifth to the eventual consolation winner.

GU17 Taylor Nides scored a first round upset over a higher seeded player before winding up with a solid 17th to 24th finish. BU11 Eric Lovallo also had a solid 17-24 finish.

Also competing were Katie Correia and David Katzman. The Silver Nationals are closed to the top 32 ranked players, and the next best 32 ranked players gain entry to this elite event.