Cayman’s junior squash players are all set for tough competition when they head off to Barbados next week to represent the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean Area Squash Association’s annual Junior tournament, but they go well prepared and with high hopes for success.
For many of players, this will not be their first time they have represented Cayman in the CASA tournament, as many have been playing squash for a number of years.
Coach Mark Chaloner teaches the junior squash players at the South Sound Squash Club and says the squad has worked extremely hard this year to get themselves into peak fitness in preparation for the tournament.
“The squad has been comprised from the results of the National Junior Championships, which were held earlier this year,” he advises. “Since then they have all had added training to develop their skills and improve their fitness to give them the best chance possible to achieve better finishing positions than in previous tournaments.”
Chaloner says the juniors have benefitted greatly from input from the community.
“Excellent sponsors such as Maples, Carey Olsen, Baker Tilly, CNB, AON, The London & Amsterdam Trust, RSM and Butterfield have sponsored the junior team throughout the year, which has proved to be a huge help as far as getting a larger number of junior players to CASA this year. It is great that we are able to take 18 youngsters to Barbados, giving them important exposure to greater competition which will hopefully, in turn, help them gain a deeper knowledge of squash and help them gain important life skills from the responsibility of representing their country abroad.”
Julian Jervis, 17, has been playing squash competitively for five years and has represented Cayman in a number of overseas tournaments. He is seeded number 3/4 in his U-19 division. His one aim is to win the title, he says.
Julian’s younger brother, Jace, 10, has been playing squash for 18 months and is also competing at the CASA tournament, playing in the U-13 category. This is Jace’s first ever international tournament and he says hopes to gain valuable experience, make new friends and follow in his older brother footsteps one day.
The 2015 Junior CASA will be Lara Conolly’s last year playing Junior Squash. The 18 year old has been the Cayman girl’s number one Junior player since 2010 at U-15, 17 and 19 levels. Lara says she has made many friends, travelled to several tournaments and thoroughly enjoyed representing her country. In Barbados this year she is looking forward to improving her last ranking and meeting new and old squash friends from the region.
Twins Daniel and Sean Murphy have also represented their country in many international squash tournaments and both have been playing squash for eight years and are competing in the U-19 division.
Daniel says: “I hope to play my best squash in every match, progress as far in the tournament as possible and help Cayman win the team event.”
Sean adds that he is hoping to have very competitive matches with all the other Caribbean squash players and place as best as possible.
At 17, Mischa Kluyver is playing in CASA’s U-19 category this year.
“Squash has always been a part of my life, but only recently have I truly made it a big part of my life,” she says. “I have been playing seriously now for two years, and I love the game. In this year’s CASA tournament, I hope to play my best, play some good rallies and use the skills that I have improved on this past year.”
Ally Artuch has been playing squash for five years and this is her fourth time representing Cayman at CASA. She will be playing in the U-19 and would like to improve her game as much as possible.
Gyles Luke, 16, has been playing squash for seven years. Another seasoned international player, Gyles says he hopes to have a different experience to all his other times at CASA as this will be his first time going to Barbados.
Christian Dubè, 16, is a 10 year veteran of the game and is competing in the U-17.
“My goal is to play the best squash possible in both the individual and team event. I also hope to get competitive matches and to develop my squash skills during the tournament,” he says.
Isaiah Robinson, 15, has been playing squash for five years, four of which he has represented Cayman at CASA.
“It is my first year playing U-17 and I hope to come bring home a trophy,” he says.
Emma Turnbull, 15, has been playing squash competitively for six years and is competing in the U-17 category. This is her second time representing Cayman at CASA. Emma hopes to do the best she can and gain great experiences out of the trip.
Kali MacLean, 15, is also competing in the U-17 category, having played squash competitively for six years and then some years before that with her family.
Kali says: “I’m really looking forward to meeting new people. I think the experience will be really useful as it will allow me to compare myself with other players from the region in my age group.”
Jasun Sairsingh, 14, started playing squash at age nine and is competing in the U-15 category.
“I’m hoping to place in the top three of my age group and I’m looking forward to making new friends and meeting up with friends from prior years.”
Sisters Vanessa (14) and Lauren Fullerton (12) are playing in the U-15 and U-13 categories, respectively.
Both girls are looking forward to representing Cayman well and hopefully bring home a win.
Twins Jade and David Pitcairn, 13, are competing in the U-15 category.
Chaloner says both played at CASA last year in Bermuda and they surpassed their expectations as far as placings last year. As a result, they’ve both put in a tremendous amount of effort in training this year.
Although Pierce Terry is just 11 he has been playing squash for six years and will be competing in the group event at CASA. His main aim is to gain international experience and to have fun.
Countries competing in Junior CASA other than Cayman are: the host nation, Barbados, Bermuda, Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad, OESC (Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines). The Junior CASA Championships take place from July 17 to 26th.