By James Zug
Ninety players from around the U.S. and Canada took part in the 27th annual National Junior Doubles in April 2013 in girl’s, boy’s and mixed age divisions. First run by Wilmington Country Club’s pro John Righter starting in 1986, the NJD has been the pet product of current WCC pro Ed Chilton since 1992.
“It’s always fun to watch juniors have the ‘aha’ moment when they catch the doubles bug,” Chilton said. “Doubles is more social
than singles, and although there is a national championship on the line, players do not have to worry about singles rankings or ratings. It is a nice time to relax with friends, new acquaintances, and learn and excel at squash doubles.” Large crowds were on hand to watch the matches. Among them was Jim Hense of Baltimore, who has donated seven of the permanent trophies for the NJD.
The twins William & Andrew Aube did not drop a game to win the boy’s U11. In the girl’s U13 Caroline Spahr & Haley Aube defeated defending champions Danica Deverill & Lindsay Kurancina in four games. Deven Kanwal & David Rubin upset boy’s U13 favorites, top seeds Dylan Deverill & Liam Marrison, in four games to win the division. In the three-team girl’s U15, Samira Baird & Julia Buchholz played a perfect tournament winning 3-0 against both opponents. Boy’s U15 top seeds Sean Oen & Christopher Dalglish won in three over Eric Kim & Peter Miller. The boy’s U17 was dominated by Senen Ubina & Jarett Odrich who dropped only one game the entire tournament to eventual second place finishers, Carson Spahr & Graham Gozigian. Sawyer Chilton & Diane Tyson also made it through the weekend without dropping a match taking the girl’s U19 title. Randy Beck & Mason Blake were undefeated in the boy’s U19 despite close, five-game matches from second and third place challengers Peter Ferraro & Philip Kelly, and Kevin Flannery & Jamie Ruggiero. In one match Beck & Blake lost a fourth game almost at love (it was 11-0 before they got on the board), before righting the ship in the fifth.
In the mixed U13, Caroline Spahr & Deven Kanwal teamed up to defeat Lily Zelov & Spencer Yager in a three-game final. Maximo Moyer & Emily Beinkampen defeated Julia Buchholz & Griffin Glendinning in a four-game final to win the mixed U15. Jarett Odrich & Kayley Leonard won the mixed U17 final against Sawyer Chilton & Carson Spahr. Sarah Hopton & Trevor Wentzell held off Charlotte Copas & Matthew Hopton to win the three-team mixed U19 round robin.
