For those members unfamiliar with junior tournaments, the US Junior Open (USJO) is one of the top three tournaments in the world by strength of the draw. Most draws have nearly 128 players. A US player may not enter if not ranked in the top 100 and only the best 48 US players who apply gain entry.

There are only five US Junior Championship Tournaments (JCT) per year, and only the top 32 players who enter each division get to compete. Draws are usually similar in strength to the US Junior Championships at the end of the season.

Gold Tournaments attract many JCT-level players, and most weekends in season there is one Gold-level tournament somewhere in the nation. Draws are limited to the top 32 who apply.

Top USJO Finishes

Isabella Tang reached the GU15 final at the US Junior Open, an especially remarkable accomplishment given that it was her first year as a GU15. At the West Coast JCT, she finished in 5th while playing up an age group to GU17. She is ranked #3 in the USA in GU17.

As a #17 seed, Rohan Gondi scored several upsets on the way to a 5th place finish at the USJO, losing only to the tournament’s eventual winner in a competitive quarterfinal. He also took 5th at the West Coast JCT and is now ranked a personal BU19 best at #6 in the USA.

Nathan Rosenzweig, who is playing #1 at perennial squash power St. Paul’s School (NH), finished a personal best 11-12 at the USJO and reached the semis of the West Coast JCT in November. He’s ranked #5 in the USA.

Eric Tang, now ranked #11 in the USA, finished 13-16 in the USJO BU13.

Trinity Moshi turned in three strong performances since November. She made her first appearance in a GU15 JCT final in November. Last month, she took 17th place at the USJO and 5th at the Canadian Junior Open. She is now ranked #3 in the USA.

Akaisha Bhatia also posted strong results in the last two months. Playing up an age group, she won her first GU17 Gold at the Philadelphia area’s Hunter Lott tournament, which traditionally has one of the strongest fields in the country. A week later, she finished 11-12 at the West Coast JCT in November. Bhatia capped the year with a strong 21-24 finish at the USJO, again playing in GU17. She reached the #1 GU15 ranking in the USA last month.

Calla Yim finished 21-25 at the USJO and sixth at the Groton Gold. She is now ranked #9 in GU17 in the USA.

GU17 Makeda Moshi finished 37-40 at the USJO and is ranked #25 in the USA.

Zachary Ingber notched a personal best 13-16 BU15 JCT finish at the West Coast JCT. He is now ranked #18 in the USA.

Kian Patnaik placed 34th at the USJO despite just aging into the BU15s. He also reached two Gold quarterfinals last month.

Inigo Jordan, playing in his first USJO, finished 41-48 in a strong and nearly full 128-player BU15 draw. He continues to improve rapidly, reaching three Gold quarterfinals since November, capped by a 5th place finish at the New Jersey Gold last month. As a result, Jordan is soaring in the rankings, from 69th in September to 31st today. He just qualified for his first-ever JCT, which he will play this month at the McArthur Squash Center at Boar’s Head Sports Club.

Notable Gold Level Accomplishments

BU19 Daniel King rang up four semi-final appearances in Gold tournaments in the fall before scoring his first-ever Gold title at the New Jersey Gold. He did it in dominating fashion, with consecutive 3-0 wins.

Uma Patnaik reached the New Jersey Gold GU17 final last month, matching a personal best finish but in a stronger draw. She closed the year by reaching the New Year’s K Team Junior Gold semis.

Christian Keng scored third place in the BU17s at the Chicago Gold and fifth at the New Jersey Gold.

Caroline Burg competed in four tournaments last month. She started with a 5th place finish in GU17 at the Chicago Gold, then 6th at the New Jersey Gold, and 41-48 at the USJO. She closed the year with a personal best third place trophy at the New Year’s K Team Junior Gold.

Khadija Elhaddad reached the GU17 semis at the New Jersey Gold.

Shreya Vadlamani notched two personal bests in GU15 Gold events with third-place finishes in the Chicago and Groton (Boston area) Gold tournaments. She also finished well into the top half of the USJO draw.

Radha Vadlamani took 6th place in GU15 at Groton.

BU 17 Sami Garside garnered a solid 6th place finish at the New Year’s K Team Junior Gold, a notoriously competitive Gold in Stamford, CT.

Gabriella Bitar reached the GU13 quarterfinals of the Houston Gold.