Another year has come to a close with Team USA emerging as the champions. Congratulations to all players and coaches for a fantastic trip this year filled with laughs, games, competition, and life-long memories.
You can see all of the photos and videos from the trip by clicking on any of the thumbnails on the right hand side of the page.
Overall match results from the Battle of the Border can be found by clicking here.
We wish all of you the best for the rest of the summer and look forward to seeing you next season!
Monday, August 13, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Travel Update - 9:45pm EST
Past all of the traffic. Should be smooth from here on out. For Newark, parents should meet players in the back where the bus originally picked them up.
For Trenton, meet players in front of the Trneton Transit Terminal, where players were original dropped off.
We apologize for the delays, the border crossing was delayed due to traffic and weather and the. At Stroudsberg we hit some more serious traffic. Thank you for your flexibility and understanding.
Newark - 10:30pm EST
Trenton - 11:45pm EST
For Trenton, meet players in front of the Trneton Transit Terminal, where players were original dropped off.
We apologize for the delays, the border crossing was delayed due to traffic and weather and the. At Stroudsberg we hit some more serious traffic. Thank you for your flexibility and understanding.
Newark - 10:30pm EST
Trenton - 11:45pm EST
Travel Update - 9:00pm EST
Hitting some traffic outside of Stroudsberg, PA.
Newark - 10:20pm EST.
Trenton - 11:35pm EST.
Newark - 10:20pm EST.
Trenton - 11:35pm EST.
Travel Update - 7:30pm EST
On course from the earlier update:
Boston - done.
Newark - estimated at 10:00pm EST
Trenton - estimated at 11:15pm EST.
Boston - done.
Newark - estimated at 10:00pm EST
Trenton - estimated at 11:15pm EST.
It's Official, the Threepeat! And, Travel Updates
Team USA pulled away with the rest of the competition to win this years challenge 16-8. Full match results will be posted on Monday.
Quick Travel Update for parents;
Boston - on time
Newark/Trenton - the bus was delayed 2 hours at the border crossing, so please note these locations will have delayed pickups. Estimated time of arrival in Newark is 10pm EST and Trenton is now 11;15pm EST. For more information, feel free to call your player on the bus to receive further updates, or our staff is available by phone at 646.389.0465.
Quick Travel Update for parents;
Boston - on time
Newark/Trenton - the bus was delayed 2 hours at the border crossing, so please note these locations will have delayed pickups. Estimated time of arrival in Newark is 10pm EST and Trenton is now 11;15pm EST. For more information, feel free to call your player on the bus to receive further updates, or our staff is available by phone at 646.389.0465.
Results Update - 11:30am EST
Team USA is now winning 12 to 7, and needs one more match to clinch the title! Individual match results can be found by clicking here (Note: Jacob Ellen (BU15) just won his match to bring the total to 12 matches for Team USA).
2012 Ontario-American Challenge Underway!
Both teams came fired up to play today and the format for the challenge is basic: whichever team wins the most matches overall is the champion (24 matches total, 13 matches clinches the victory). If matches are split at the end, the tie breaker is overall number of games won.
The match order goes by order of strength, 4 - 3 - 2 - 1. Six courts run simultaneously as players from each age group cheer on their teammates throughout their matches.
At 10:35am EST, Team USA has had an explosive start and are currently winning 8-2 overall. Individual match results will be posted shortly.
The match order goes by order of strength, 4 - 3 - 2 - 1. Six courts run simultaneously as players from each age group cheer on their teammates throughout their matches.
At 10:35am EST, Team USA has had an explosive start and are currently winning 8-2 overall. Individual match results will be posted shortly.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Trip to Niagara
After a long day of squash, Team USA and Team Ontario boarded their coach bus for their annual trip to Niagara Falls! For some, this was their first time seeing the Falls, but even for those who had seen them before were still impressed by the pure beauty and power of this attraction.
All geared up in Team USA's new Yellow Team Shirts, the players then explored Niagara and enjoyed haunted houses, fudge and candy shops, arcades, mini-golf, laser tag, and the spectacle that is Niagara Falls. Players of all ages grouped together, some with their new friends from Ontario, and let loose after a lot of squash over the last few days and in preparation for their last competition.
That being said, as Team USA arrived back at the hotel, the tone was set by the coaches for tomorrow's matches: this is why we're here and this is what we train for. Regardless of the outcome of matches and all of the play from earlier on in the weekend, tomorrow morning decides this year's champion of the Ontario-American Challenge. Most of all, it's not always important how you start, it's how you finish - represent your country proudly and give it your all!
Fueled by this inspiration (as well as having some heavy legs from all of the activities from the last few days), Team USA made their way to bed with their focus set on their opponents for tomorrow.
All geared up in Team USA's new Yellow Team Shirts, the players then explored Niagara and enjoyed haunted houses, fudge and candy shops, arcades, mini-golf, laser tag, and the spectacle that is Niagara Falls. Players of all ages grouped together, some with their new friends from Ontario, and let loose after a lot of squash over the last few days and in preparation for their last competition.
That being said, as Team USA arrived back at the hotel, the tone was set by the coaches for tomorrow's matches: this is why we're here and this is what we train for. Regardless of the outcome of matches and all of the play from earlier on in the weekend, tomorrow morning decides this year's champion of the Ontario-American Challenge. Most of all, it's not always important how you start, it's how you finish - represent your country proudly and give it your all!
Fueled by this inspiration (as well as having some heavy legs from all of the activities from the last few days), Team USA made their way to bed with their focus set on their opponents for tomorrow.
Fitness Testing and Round Robin Matches
Saturday morning began with some Olympic style fitness testing, with combined results from Team USA versus combined results from Team Ontario to determine the winner. The six fitness drills included:
1. The 10 yd -20 yd - 10 yd shuttle run.
2. The Octopus Run - Each player picks up ball boxes from each corner of the court and brings it back to the middle, and then brings all of the ball boxes back out to each of the corners.
3. Hurdle Drill - Jumping over a set of hurdles distributed around the court.
4. Star Drill (6 point test) - Touch each corner of the court (including middle of each side) and return to the T, twice.
5. Relay Race - Forward and backward runs using the racket as a baton.
6. The "L" Drill - Players run down a channel on a side of the court, shuffle across the front of the court, run back down the channel, shuffle back across the court, and run back to their starting position to finish the drill.
Times were close between each team across the board, however, Team USA emerged as the faster squad winning five out of the six events!
Zane Mcgee-Lowdermilk (BU17) proved to be the fastest player in the bunch having the fastest times overall for both teams. Other honorable mentions go to Zandra Ho (GU17) who led the GU17s to their fast pace and Haley Aube (GU13) who had the fastest times in GU13 in the Shuttle Run and Star Drill!
Congratulations to Team USA for their quick feet and reflexes to win this year's Olympic Fitness testing!
Full testing results can be found by clicking here.
After the testing, players had opportunities for more match play with Round Robin matches. Players had Reverse Challenge Matches yesterday (1 vs. 2, 3 vs. 4), and today, players will play two more matches against their opponents, except for the player they will play in the Ontario-American Challenge match tomorrow (ex: #2 played #1 yesterday, and today they play #3 and #4 - tomorrow they will play the opposing #2). After one of these matches in the morning, players will take a brief break to have lunch and rest for their second match in the afternoon.
Even with all of the squash going on, players are starting to get excited for their trip in to Niagara Falls tonight where they will get the change to see the Falls and enjoy the carnival-like atmosphere with their teammates and new found friends.
1. The 10 yd -20 yd - 10 yd shuttle run.
2. The Octopus Run - Each player picks up ball boxes from each corner of the court and brings it back to the middle, and then brings all of the ball boxes back out to each of the corners.
3. Hurdle Drill - Jumping over a set of hurdles distributed around the court.
4. Star Drill (6 point test) - Touch each corner of the court (including middle of each side) and return to the T, twice.
5. Relay Race - Forward and backward runs using the racket as a baton.
6. The "L" Drill - Players run down a channel on a side of the court, shuffle across the front of the court, run back down the channel, shuffle back across the court, and run back to their starting position to finish the drill.
Times were close between each team across the board, however, Team USA emerged as the faster squad winning five out of the six events!
Zane Mcgee-Lowdermilk (BU17) proved to be the fastest player in the bunch having the fastest times overall for both teams. Other honorable mentions go to Zandra Ho (GU17) who led the GU17s to their fast pace and Haley Aube (GU13) who had the fastest times in GU13 in the Shuttle Run and Star Drill!
Congratulations to Team USA for their quick feet and reflexes to win this year's Olympic Fitness testing!
Full testing results can be found by clicking here.
After the testing, players had opportunities for more match play with Round Robin matches. Players had Reverse Challenge Matches yesterday (1 vs. 2, 3 vs. 4), and today, players will play two more matches against their opponents, except for the player they will play in the Ontario-American Challenge match tomorrow (ex: #2 played #1 yesterday, and today they play #3 and #4 - tomorrow they will play the opposing #2). After one of these matches in the morning, players will take a brief break to have lunch and rest for their second match in the afternoon.
Even with all of the squash going on, players are starting to get excited for their trip in to Niagara Falls tonight where they will get the change to see the Falls and enjoy the carnival-like atmosphere with their teammates and new found friends.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Team Squad Training and The Night Off
Friday afternoon was another opportunity for some Team USA Squad Training where all age groups had valuable 90 minute training sessions focusing on creativity and imagination on court, game-like scenarios with feedback, mental toughness exercises, and opportunities to hit with these world class national coaches.
Team USA stepped up their intensity throughout the practice and after the hour and a half session, the kids were ready for a break! Most of the team went for a supervised swim at the hotel pool while others took a much needed afternoon nap.
The team reconvened for a barbecue dinner at the hotel with Team Ontario followed with an evening to relax and have fun. Players enjoyed the outdoor garden area at the hotel and got to know Team Ontario a little better, while others played cards, ping-pong, swam, and watched the Olympics.
Knowing tomorrow morning will have some fitness testing, Team USA headed to bed on the early side in order to be ready for their big day tomorrow.
Team USA stepped up their intensity throughout the practice and after the hour and a half session, the kids were ready for a break! Most of the team went for a supervised swim at the hotel pool while others took a much needed afternoon nap.
The team reconvened for a barbecue dinner at the hotel with Team Ontario followed with an evening to relax and have fun. Players enjoyed the outdoor garden area at the hotel and got to know Team Ontario a little better, while others played cards, ping-pong, swam, and watched the Olympics.
Knowing tomorrow morning will have some fitness testing, Team USA headed to bed on the early side in order to be ready for their big day tomorrow.
Meet Team Ontario and Offense/Defense
After a healthy breakfast, Team USA suited up and made the way to the courts for team pictures and a quick warm up session before meeting Team Ontario for the first time (pictures and videos available by click any of the photos on the right hand side of the page).
Players met their opponents, and soon to be new friends, and divided up by age group to play a perennial favorite game enjoyed by both teams called Offense/Defense. In Offense/Defense, teams play Three-Quarters Court with three players from each team (within each age group) while sending one player over to an adjacent court. The player sent over to the adjacent court is on their own with the intention of playing defensively and lasting as long as they can. The defensive player plays every point and does not switch out, while the three players on the other team are on the offensive and try and score 11 points as quickly as possible. The first side to score 11 points wins that round, and ultimately whoever wins the majority of the 4 rounds wins the game. If there is a tie, there are some unique ways to break the tie, such as Rock-Paper-Scissors, Dance-Offs, or even a Team Ontario inspired "Kicking Game" where a squash ball is put on top of a cup and players try and kick it above the service line from the T!
The BU13 Match was one that went to a 2-2 tie and to decide the ultimate winner, the epic, albeit unique, Kicking Game was used. Each team went back and forth, neck and neck to determine the winner. The last USA player to kick would determine whether they won, or lost. Willy Ezratty (BU13) was that player, and here is the video of his last kick.
And it's good! The BU13s emerged victorious. Ultimately, this is one of those games that everyone enjoys as their first experience playing with their opponents for the weekend and uniting teams together in their first competitive setting.
Next activity scheduled was the Reverse Challenge Matches where teams played their 1 vs. 2, and 3 vs. 4, in a best-of-five match PAR 11. Both Team USA and Team Ontario are looking strong and it's shaping up to be one of the most competitive Ontario-American Challenge weekends to date!
Players met their opponents, and soon to be new friends, and divided up by age group to play a perennial favorite game enjoyed by both teams called Offense/Defense. In Offense/Defense, teams play Three-Quarters Court with three players from each team (within each age group) while sending one player over to an adjacent court. The player sent over to the adjacent court is on their own with the intention of playing defensively and lasting as long as they can. The defensive player plays every point and does not switch out, while the three players on the other team are on the offensive and try and score 11 points as quickly as possible. The first side to score 11 points wins that round, and ultimately whoever wins the majority of the 4 rounds wins the game. If there is a tie, there are some unique ways to break the tie, such as Rock-Paper-Scissors, Dance-Offs, or even a Team Ontario inspired "Kicking Game" where a squash ball is put on top of a cup and players try and kick it above the service line from the T!
The BU13 Match was one that went to a 2-2 tie and to decide the ultimate winner, the epic, albeit unique, Kicking Game was used. Each team went back and forth, neck and neck to determine the winner. The last USA player to kick would determine whether they won, or lost. Willy Ezratty (BU13) was that player, and here is the video of his last kick.
And it's good! The BU13s emerged victorious. Ultimately, this is one of those games that everyone enjoys as their first experience playing with their opponents for the weekend and uniting teams together in their first competitive setting.
Next activity scheduled was the Reverse Challenge Matches where teams played their 1 vs. 2, and 3 vs. 4, in a best-of-five match PAR 11. Both Team USA and Team Ontario are looking strong and it's shaping up to be one of the most competitive Ontario-American Challenge weekends to date!
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Travel Day Complete!
After a day of trains, planes, and automobiles, Team USA arrived at White Oaks with a smile on their face! The team got settled in their rooms and enjoyed a buffet dinner and some team meetings, focusing on what it means to represent the USA, individual vs. team effort, and above all else, having fun!
Groups of players and coaches got together to discuss these topics and table spokespeople reported back to the group. Memorable moments came from Pierson Broadwater (BU17) as he represented his tables topics by simply stating that "Team USA wins as a team and loses as a team. For anything and everything over the course of the weekend, we are one."
Coach Chris Gordon spoke about what it has meant to represent Team USA on an international level and recounted times where individually he may not have the strength, however, when he has his teammates cheering him on, when he knows he's representing more than just himself, and when he knows he's playing for the United States of America, he has found the strength to succeed.
Inspired by the meetings, Team USA took to the court for the first time and players had their first team training session with drills and games to finish off the travel day.
Players retired after squash for their 10pm curfew and got a good nights rest in preparation for a weekend of fitness, fun, competition, and friendship.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Getting Ready!
Tomorrow marks the start of the 2012 Ontario-American Challenge! As a quick reminder to all participants, please remember your Passport and your Border Crossing Form for the trip as they are both needed to enter Canada with the team!
Best of luck to all players this year and keep watching on the Blog for updates throughout the trip.
Go USA!
2012 Ontario-American Challenge Team:
(Note: players listed in alphabetical order by last name)
GU13
Haley Aube
BU13
Nicholas Cummings
Will Ezratty
Eric Kim
Tucker Martino
BU15
Jacob Ellen
Harrison Gill
Spencer Lovejoy
David Yacobucci
BU17
Spencer Anton
Pierson Broadwater
Zane Mcgee-Lowdermilk
Arhum Saleem
STAFF
Best of luck to all players this year and keep watching on the Blog for updates throughout the trip.
Go USA!
2012 Ontario-American Challenge Team:
(Note: players listed in alphabetical order by last name)
GU13
Haley Aube
Gabriela Martin
Baila Mudgil
Grace Steelman
GU15
Eleonore Evans
Isabelle Ezratty
Lindsay Stanley
Grace Steelman
GU15
Eleonore Evans
Isabelle Ezratty
Lindsay Stanley
Casey Wong
GU17
Zandra Ho
GU17
Zandra Ho
Christina Huchro
Lindsey Scott
Selena Maity
BU13
Nicholas Cummings
Will Ezratty
Eric Kim
Tucker Martino
BU15
Jacob Ellen
Harrison Gill
Spencer Lovejoy
David Yacobucci
BU17
Spencer Anton
Pierson Broadwater
Zane Mcgee-Lowdermilk
Arhum Saleem
STAFF
Dan Heinrich - Team Manager
Christine McKenna - Team Manager
Chris Smith - Head Coach
Graham Bassett - Coach
Scott Devoy - Coach
Kelsey Engman - Coach
Chris Gordon - Coach
Jacques Swanepoel - Coach
Christine McKenna - Team Manager
Chris Smith - Head Coach
Graham Bassett - Coach
Scott Devoy - Coach
Kelsey Engman - Coach
Chris Gordon - Coach
Jacques Swanepoel - Coach
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