Trinity Moshi:

The 2026 Pan American Games have been my most successful international Team USA event to date. I participated in three events and brought home three gold medals!

Although the event yielded amazing results, the most important thing was the bonding and connections that were built between teammates and with other teams. Making great friends made the 90-degree, unconditioned courts bearable and the long days memorable.

If I had one piece of advice for other juniors, it would be to “HAVE FUN!” The moment I decided to enjoy the moment, the competition, and the feeling was the moment all things came together, and I was winning.

Zachary Ingber:

It is a rare and special opportunity to represent my country internationally. On top of that, representing our region on an international scale was a great honor.

The 2026 Pan American Games was an event unlike any I had ever played before. Playing on open air courts in a loud environment was a different challenge than any tournament in the U.S. I had to adapt to the situation and put together good squash quickly.

Another difference I noticed was in the U.S., there is a bit of a pecking order that junior players obey, giving stronger players some easier matches. However in other Pan-American countries, this pecking order does not exist, so I had to be ready to play a hard match from the beginning of the tournament.

Playing a team event was an experience unlike any other. When the heat started to get to me and the squash got difficult, looking back at my team sitting in front of the flag cheering me on kept me fighting. The friendship we developed together as a team while watching matches, on bus rides, in the hotel room, and at meals, is a bond that will last a very long time.

My advice for other NCS juniors is to play as many matches as possible in uncomfortable environments. There is nothing that builds mental toughness as well as uncomfortable environments because you have to constantly problem solve while still putting together your best squash.