Eight American juniors are set to represent Team USA at the 2018 Pan American Junior Championships, June 17-24, at the Capital Squash Center in Brasilia, Brazil.
2018 marks the fourth year since Team USA revived the Pan American Juniors national team delegation. Twelve nations from North and South America will compete for twenty-one medals starting with the boys’ and girls’ individual competitions, boys’, girls’ and mixed doubles competitions, and boys’ and girls’ team competitions.
Both squads include two U19 and two U17 players, with all eight Americans set to make their Pan American Juniors debuts. The boys’ team includes Cullen Little (U19), Liam Rotzoll (U19), Myles McIntyre (U17) and Nick Spizzirri (U17). The girls’ team includes Claire Aube (U19), Haley Aube (U19), Jesse Brownell (U17) and Ashley Manning (U17).
The players will be led by coaches Fabio Cechin and Fernanda Rocha.
“We have a great mix of experience and youth with our players this year,” Cechin said. “Team USA has brought strong teams to this competition over the past few years, and as always our goal is to be on the podium again.”
“I’ve been lucky to get to know these players through the Battle of the Border and Regional Squads,” Rocha said. “I’m excited to bring them together for a bigger international competition such as the Pan American Junior Championships. It is a fantastic experience, not only squash-wise but also culturally, and I’m confident of another strong U.S showing.”
Last year in Paraguay, Team USA earned a total of five medals, including girls’ team silver, boys’ team bronze, girls’ doubles bronze and girls’ individual silver and bronze.
Cechin, originally from Brazil, and Rocha, originally from Argentina, look forward to leading the teams in their native South America.
“I’m thrilled to make it down to Brasilia and coach alongside Fabio,” Rocha said. “We have both played for our countries in the senior Pan American Championships and can relate to the honor of representing your country. Nothing can’t replicate that feeling and we couldn’t be more proud of being part of Team USA with this group.”
“I’m looking forward to spending the next ten days with an amazing group of young players and Coach Rocha,” Cechin said. “There’s going to be lots of squash between the three competitions. I hope our players adapt quickly and well to the warm conditions, and also have fun being surrounded by the World Cup atmosphere in Brazil.”
Follow results on the Pan American Juniors tournament page.
