US Squash has named the roster that would have represented Team USA on the world stage in Australia at the 2020 WSF World Junior Championships, following the recent announcement of the formal cancellation of the event that was previously postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020 World Juniors would have staged the biennial Men’s World Junior Team Championship and annual Men’s and Women’s World Junior Individual Championships. Due to the cancellation of the 2020 U.S. Junior Championships, team selection was based on each player’s selection points standing through and including the the Mid-Atlantic JCT held in February 2020.
US Squash congratulates the following players for their accomplishment in being named to represent Team USA (displayed in order of selection point average):
Junior Men’s Team:
Nicholas Spizzirri (Team and Individual)
Dillon Huang (Team and Individual)
Thomas Rosini (Team and Individual)
Dana Santry (Team and Individual)
John Paul Tew (Individual)
Arav Bhagwati (Individual/U17 Developmental)
Coaches: Alex Stait and Luke Butterworth
Junior Women’s Team:
Marina Stefanoni
Meghna Sreedhar
Serena Daniel
Lucie Stefanoni
Molly Stoltz
Kristen Weil (U17 Developmental)
Coaches: Scott Devoy and Aisling Blake
“We have some tremendous young talent coming through in both the boys’ and girls’ teams that keep U.S. squash at the forefront on the international stage,” said Scott Devoy, U.S. Junior Women’s Head National Coach. “While this summer didn’t work out the way anyone wanted, we are looking forward to seeing these players given opportunities to challenge the world’s best again soon. US Squash is working on opportunities to recognize that talent and provide opportunities to train and compete at the highest level. It has been a challenge, but one that I know a lot of players have taken the time to really work on their games and we will hit the ground running.”
Both squads feature a balance of experience and youth. The U.S. Junior Men’s Team features an experienced group of four graduating seniors in Spizzirri, Huang, Rosini and Santry. Rosini, the 2019 U.S. junior champion, was set to make his third consecutive World Juniors appearance and second in the team competition having earned a bronze medal at the 2018 Men’s World Junior Championship. Huang, the 2019 U.S. finalist, was also set for his third consecutive World Juniors appearance, and first in the team competition. Brunswick teammates Spizzirri and Santry were set for their second World Juniors appearance and debuts in the team competition; Spizzirri held the BU19 No. 1 ranking throughout the 2019-2020 season. Tew and Bhagwati, the U17 developmental player, were both set for their World Juniors debuts in the individual competition.
The girls’ individual squad was led by three-time U.S. junior champion and three-time world individual quarterfinalist Marina Stefanoni. Stefanoni would have been one of the top seeds in the individual competition, and would have marked an incredible fifth appearance at the World Juniors. While Stefanoni matriculated at Harvard University in the fall of 2020, she remains age eligible for the 2021 World Juniors. Daniel, a graduating senior, and Lucie Stefanoni would have made their second consecutive appearance in the individual competition. Sreedhar, Stoltz, and Weil, the U17 developmental player, were all set for their World Juniors debuts.
“Representing Team USA at the World Juniors is the pinnacle of a junior squash career,” said Kevin Klipstein, US Squash President & CEO. “Sadly, for many of these players this would have been their last, or only opportunity to do so. We celebrate their hard work and dedication to make the team, and take pride knowing they would have been great ambassadors for the U.S. in Australia. We also recognize and applaud those who may have been able to make the squad with strong performances at nationals, but did not have the opportunity to do so. We wish the entire graduating class the best of luck in the next chapter of their squash careers, and look forward to supporting their continued pursuit of excellence.”