Sunday, August 10, 2014

Team USA hitting the road...

To all the parents picking up their children from Newark, we are departing on time we will keep you updated as to our time of arrival.

To all the parents collecting from Boston Logan Airport, Simba will be leaving White Oaks at 1.45pm and he will keep you updated with the estimated time of arrival.

We've had a great weekend, lots of stories to tell and the players have been a joy to coach.

Round 4 - #1's

Girls Under 17's:

Sophie Mehta (ONT) bt Eleonore Evans (USA) 14-16, 11-9, 10-12, 11-3, 11-5

Boys Under 17's:

Spencer Lovejoy (USA) bt Alexi Gosset (ONT) 9-11, 11-9, 8-11, 11-4, 11-6

Girls Under 15's:

Gabriella Martin (USA) bt Danica Deverill (ONT) 11-8, 11-6, 11-6

Boys Under 15's:

Julien Gosset (ONT) bt Willy Ezratty (USA) 11-6, 11-9, 7-11, 11-6

Girls Under 13's:

Eujung Park (USA) bt Brianna Jefferson (ONT) 11-6, 11-1, 9-11, 11-6

Boys Under 13's:

Kedar Nagaraj (USA) bt Dylan Deverill (ONT) 6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 11-7

Team USA wins 22-2!!


Round 3 - #2's

Girls Under 17's:

Haley Scott (USA) bt Amy Commiso (ONT) 11-9, 10-12, 11-6, 8-11, 11-6

Boys Under 17's:

Harrison Gill (USA) bt Husam Hamour (ONT) 9-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7

Girls Under 15's:

Grace Steelman (USA) bt Marlow Benson (ONT) 11-6, 9-11, 12-10, 11-6

Boys Under 15's:

Eric Kim (USA) bt Justin Ghaeli (ONT) 11-9, 7-11, 11-6, 13-11

Girls Under 13's:

Katherine Glaser (USA) bt Molly Chadwick (ONT) 11-5, 11-4, 11-5

Boys Under 13's:

Morgan Huberman (USA) bt Ali Shalaby (ONT) 11-8, 11-6, 12-10



Round 2 - #3's

Girls Under 17's:


Madison Soukup (USA) bt Nicole Kendall (ONT) 14-16, 11-6, 8-11, 11-7, 11-8

Boys Under 17's:

Wil Hagen (USA) bt Akasham Rajagopaul (ONT) 13-11, 8-11, 11-8, 11-7

Girls Under 15's:

Elisabeth Ross (USA) bt Arden McKillop (ONT) 11-9, 11-4, 11-7


Boys Under 15's:

Tucker Martino (USA) bt Jackson Kay (ONT) 11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9

Girls Under 13's:

Sophia Velazquez (USA) bt Haley Jefferson (ONT) 11-7, 11-4, 11-6

Boys Under 13's:

Harry Charlton (USA) bt Amin Khan (ONT) 11-6, 11-1, 11-2

Team USA 12 Team Ontario 0






Round 1 - #4's

Girls Under 17's:


Isabelle Ezratty (USA) bt Charlotte Copas 11-6, 11-1, 11-4

Boys Under 17's:

Samuel Scherl (USA) bt Ravi Seth (ONT) 11-7, 11-6, 11-8

Girls Under 15's:

Brynn Bank (USA) bt Charlote Orcutt (ONT) 11-4, 11-6, 11-2


Boys Under 15's:

Max Finkelstein (USA) bt Sachin Ahuja (ONT) 11-8, 11-3, 11-8

Girls Under 13's:

Lark Ervasti (USA) bt Erica McGillicuddy (ONT) 11-5, 11-3, 11-9

Boys Under 13's:

Dana Santry (USA) bt Arthur Nguyen (ONT) 11-3, 11-3, 11-4

Team USA 6 Team Ontario 0

The 10th Anniversary of The Battle of the Border!

Preparations are complete and the teams descend on the White Oaks squash courts for the 10th anniversary of The Battle of the Border.

The three days training have gone really well and Team USA just hope to replicate the form they've shown so far when it really counts.

We will be playing in memory of Mark Sachvie today, the founder of this event, amongst many others, and a friend we will never forget. Thank you to Cindy, Chris, Nick and Lauren for continuing his legacy.

Matches started at 9.30am EST, keep up to date with all the scores as they come in.

Go Team USA!!




Saturday, August 9, 2014

OntAms makes it to Niagara Falls!

After a long day's training where there was a mix of routines, conditioned games and matches, Team USA and Team Ontario made the short bus journey back to the border to see Niagara Falls. Upon arrival we were greeted by a magnificent rainbow right across the Falls.

Both teams have been able to get to know each other well over the weekend and all the teams separated with their coaches to go play mini-golf, visit the arcades or go see the infamous haunted house. The Falls trip is a great way for the players to take their minds off the big day tomorrow and get to enjoy the occasion.

All the training is over now, and preparation for tomorrow's Battle of the Border has begun in earnest with the players making their way back to their rooms after an inspiring talk from the coaches. They will sleep with the mind set that tomorrow they will get the opportunity that so many others would love to have, and that is to represent the red, white and blue.

The Battle of the Border will see each age category play in ranking order, #4 through #1, with a total of 24 matches to be played. Team USA will be looking to get some early W's on the board and to carry the momentum through the morning.

Tune in at 9am EST to see each rounds updates as the scores come in.




Day 2 Starts with a Rap

Not that Team USA needed a pick me up at the start of Day 2, but that's exactly what they got when the Girls Under 13's team sang their rally cry.

Left to Right - Eujung park; Sophia Velazquez; Lark Ervasti; Katherine Glaser

Make way for Team USA!
Because red white and blue will always pull through
So make some noise for the team with no doubt
Because spirit is what we are all about!

You'll be taken a back by how easy we bounce back
Our drives will be so tight you have to defend with all your might
Out trickle boasts are better than most
And our drops are the hardest you've ever met - calling a let will be your best bet

We are so elite even the best teams can't compete
When in doubt, nick it out!
When in attack we show no lack

Who's the team that will battle and fight?
Who's the team that will play right?
Who's the team that will come out with all their might?

Say USA because you know red white and blue will always stay true!
GO USA!!!


The morning of Day 2 saw the players play round robin matches against all of the opposing players, other than the player they will be playing on Sunday.


Friday, August 8, 2014

Day 1 Wrap Up...

Team USA separated into their age group teams for the afternoon session where the coaches talked them through areas for improvement from the morning session. Needless to say, the level went up considerably, with all the players fully recovered from their travel day and they're gearing up for Sunday's Battle.

 After dinner Team Ontario and Team USA took a short bus journey to Queenston Heights, a local parkland close to Niagara Falls. The teams played tennis, football, soccer and bachi ball and everyone seemed to have a great time getting to know their counterpart. It seems we have a competitive bunch - and that includes the coaches!

 Saturday always seems to be the hardest day, with round robin matches in the morning, and a second set of Team USA squad training in the afternoon as the teams put the final touches to their preparations before the big day. Tonight the players are lying low in the knowledge will be another hard but fun day.







Reverse Test Matches

Friday August 8th, the official first day of the 2014 Ontario American Challenge as Team USA and Team Ontario met for the first time ahead of a great weekend's squash.

The first session of the day was the Reverse Test Matches. This format sees each teams #1 play the opposing teams #2 and vice versa, and the same applies with each teams #3 and #4.

There were some very close matches, which bodes well for Sunday's Test Match, although Team USA looked like they were edging a slight majority of them. This will all mean nothing if the performances of the morning session can't be replicated on Sunday.

This afternoon each team will have their own training sessions, with Team USA focusing on variation of pace out of the back court, accuracy of attack and building pressure more effectively.


Team USA - Team Lineups

  Team USA - Girls Under 17's:

#1 Eleonore Evans
#2 Haley Scott
#3 Madison Soukop
#4 Isabelle Ezratty
Coach - Tina Rix
 Team USA - Boys Under 17's:

#1 Spencer Lovejoy
#2 Harrison Gill
#3 Wil Hagen
#4 Samuel Scherl
Coach - Mostafa Essam
 Team USA - Girls Under 15's:

#1 Gabriela Martin
#2 Grace Steelman
#3 Elisabeth Ross
#4 Brynn Bank
Coach - Simba Muhwati
 Team USA - Boys Under 15's:

#1 Willy Ezratty
#2 Eric Kim
#3Tucker Martino
#4 Max Finkelstein
Coach - Alex Stait
 Team USA - Girls Under 13's:

#1 Eujung Park
#2 Katherine Glaser
#3 Sophia Velazquez
#4 Lark Ervasti
Coach - Olivia Blatchford
Team USA - Boys Under 13's:

#1 Kedar Nagaraj
#2 Morgan Huberman
#3 Harry Charlton
#4 Dana Santry
Coach - Chris Hanson

Thursday, August 7, 2014

The 2014 Ontario American Challenge Begins...

Team USA arrived at The Club at White Oaks Resort on Thursday August 7th after a long bus journey from Newark, where we were met by our remaining team mates who journeyed from Boston.

This year's team consists of a number of both returning players, as well as a host of juniors that will be representing their country for the first time. Spirits were high, even with the long travel day that everyone endured, and the players minds turned to more important matter - their squash - after dinner.

The team were shown multiple motivational video clips, from Michael Jordan, to the Brazilian National Anthem (FIFA World Cup) and the New Zealand 'All Blacks' Haka - all in an attempt to get the team pumped up for the weekend ahead. It finished with the now famous, "I believe that we will win" commercial from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Suffice to say, by 10pm the kids are now well and truly exhausted and are resting up ahead of an exciting day tomorrow where Team Ontario will meet Team USA.