An Unexplained Fizzle

For the second time in five years, the boys Under 19 final of the US Junior Open ended in a default. Trevor McGuinness of Philadelphia, who had looked lively in his defeat of Mark Froot of Boston in the semi final, defaulted the boys Under 19 final Tuesday, leaving the event without a climax. The default was not announced or explained, the trophy presentation simply began quietly after the girls Under 19 final concluded. (Hey USSRA, how about some more severe ranking penalties for people who torpedo a tournament in this fashion?)

NO matter, the two preceding matches — the girls Under 19 and the boys Under 17, provided excellent, entertaining and competitive squash enough for the spectators on hand.

In the boys Under 17s, Antonio Diaz Glez, from Mexico, displayed impressive and mature squash, in overcoming a game but outmatched and less fit Todd Harrity. Antonio, who had difficulties with Harrity when they place an accelerated pace, simply slowed things down to his liking, displaying total control and an ability to place the ball, at a measured pace, anywhere in the court.

Harrity was unable to counteract what Diaz Glez was doing, did not try to reply with a faster pace, and ended up doing almost all of the running. Though Harrity survived to win the first game, he was already looking labored and winded before the first game was over. He looked exhausted in the second. And although he regained some level of control and composure from there out, at the end it was an extremely capable and squash-smart Diaz Glez who took the anticlimactic fourth game and went home with the trophy.

In the girls Under 19 final that followed, between Neha Kumar and Amanda Siebert, it was a fascinating contrast in styles and strengths that unfolded. Both players chose to attack to the front. And it wasn't at first clear who would have the advantage, for totally different reasons. Siebert, who was quicker, faster to the front, and possibly fitter, seemed to think that the attacks to the front were in her favor. But Toronto's Kumar had the accuracy advantage. And Neha was faster than she seemed — her uncanny anticipation allowing her to be at the place Siebert was aiming for almost before Siebert knew that was where she had chosen to attack. And Kumar's accuracy was not limited to the front corners. She was accurate in everything she hit; keeping Siebert just that little bit off balance so that Siebert's balls were just that little tiny bit looser, giving Kumar the opportunity to hit winning shots.

RESULTS:   US Junior Open, Yale University, New Haven CT

BU19
Finals:
[4] Christopher Sachvie (CAN) def [1] Trevor McGuinness (PA) default.

BU17:
Finals:
[4] Antonio Diaz Glez def [2] Todd Harrity (PA) 7-9 10-8 9-1 9-6

BU15:
Finals:
[5] Arjun Gupta (CAN) def [3] Nick Sachvie (CAN) 3-0

BU13:
Finals:
[8] Mario Yanez (MEX) David Wardle (UK)

GU19
Finals:
[1] Neha Kumar (CAN) def [2] Amanda Siebert(CT) 3-1

GU17
Finals:
[1] Emily Park (NY) def [3] Julie Cerullo (NY) def [2] 3-0

GU15
Finals:
[1] Laura Gemmell (CAN) [6] Graciala Lopez (MEX)

GU13
Finals:
[1] Skyler Bouchard (DE) [2] Anna Harrison (CT)