TEAM USA - Training in Rye NY and Greenwich CT   
[also week five update]        [also week six update]         [week seven update]

The first full team training week took place in Greenwich Connecticut with special events hosted by team assistant coach Preston Quick.  The team trained at the Apawamis Club in Rye NY, and the Field Club in Greenwich CT, with terrific match play with some of the best local players in singles and doubles. The Squash training included rock climbing, sessions with Narelle Kriezek, squash matches (against great players like Chris Walker and Laurent Elriani--world number 59), swimming, matches with the local camp players, and fitness training with the best local trainers including "Kevin's teacher." Fundraising activities included a reception  hosted by Peter Briggs from the Apawamis Club who remains a stalwart support of the Junior Men's team. The Team extends its many thanks to the Endresen and Plimpton families for housing the Team and hosting all the great Team "bonding" dinners.

The US Junior Men's Squash Team - climbing wall cross-training exercise.

Team "Adoption" by St. Mary's School, Palmerston North, NZ

In a show of international spirit and camaraderie, several elementary and middle schools in Palmerston North have "adopted" different countries to serve as local representatives during the two week event, and will join traveling families and friends as cheerleaders for the team. Team USA will be sponsored by St Mary's School. Suneal Singh, the school's Principal, has passed along names of students who are "email pen pals" of Team USA players. The school children are eager to meet and greet the team, and plan to attend as many matches as possible to show their support of their adopted team. 

Player Profile - Todd Brewster Harrity [aka "The Todd"]

Todd "The Todd" Harrity is the fourth and youngest player to make the team after a stellar year playing "up" in the BU19s [he played in the Junior Open in the BU17s where he advanced to the finals].  "The Todd" will enter his sophomore at The Episcopal Academy, high school of teammate Trevor McGuinness and alum Dave McNeeley, and has played on the boy's varsity squash team since eight grade. He was selected this year to the first team for MASA conference, Inter-Ac conference and All Main Line Times teams. Next year, he will take over the top position on the team and has a great shot at matching his undefeated record this year.

"The Todd" trains at the Merion Cricket Club with Head Pro Scott Devoy, a talented "kiwi" who has instructed "The Todd" on the finer points of beating New Zealanders. His reserved and quiet demeanor belies his "eye of the tiger" instincts as he always places incredible pressure on his opponents with his wide array of shots and offenses. "The Todd"'s racquet skills are probably the sharpest of all the players on the team, and he easily clinches victories with his precision volley drops, tight rails and sharp attacks. "The Todd" has a string of junior singles and doubles titles in the BU13s, 15s and 17s.

"The Todd", from Wayne, Pennsylvania, hails from a family of top squash players including his uncle, the exceptionally talented hardball singles and doubles national champ Tom Harrity, who "The Todd" plans to teach the art of softball singles when he returns. "The Todd" is eligible to play on the 2008 team that will compete in Switzerland, and with his current #8 ranking in the BU19s will likely capture a spot on that team with ease. In the meanwhile, the team expects great success from this extraordinary talent who likes cookies.

Tournament Tidbits - World Championship Singles Winners

Prior to 1980 there was no individual event to accompany the unofficial team events, which tended to be played in conjunction with existing junior open championships. No player from the United States has won the individual yet, although any one of the squad of 8 players has a good chance at being the first. Prior Junior Men's Individual World Champs include:

2006    To be decided at
Palmerston North,
New Zealand
July 2006              
2004    Ramy Ashour (Egy)              
2002    James Willstrop (Eng)          
2000    Karim Darwish (Egy)            
1998    Ong Beng Hee (Mas)             
1996    Ahmed Faizy (Egy)              
1994    Ahmed Barada (Egy)             
1992    Juha Raumolin (Fin)            
1990    Simon Parke (Eng)              
1988    Del Harris (Eng)               
1986    Jansher Khan (Pak)             
1984    Chris Robertson (Aus)          
1982    Sohail Qaiser (Pak)            
1980    Peter Nance (Aus)