The nation’s top juniors set to represent Team USA at the 2022 WSF World Junior Championships this summer–the first World Juniors held since 2019–convened for its first training squad session, May 20-22, at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center.
The biennial World Junior Men’s Team Championship, which hasn’t been held since Team USA’s record-equalling bronze medal finish in 2018, will serve as the focal point for the event, which will follow the annual World Junior Men’s and Women’s Individual Championships, August 11-21, in Nancy, France.
Of the twelve young men and women representing Team USA, eleven are set for their World Juniors debuts with Lucie Stefanoni, the top-ranked GU19 player in the country, returning for her second tournament after her 2019 debut. Reigning junior national champions Caroline Fouts and Avi Agarwal will represent Team USA on the world stage for the first time.
The Junior Men’s Team will be led by Head Coach Luke Butterworth and Assistant Coach Simba Muhwati, and the Junior Women’s Team will be led by Head Coach Scott Devoy and Assistant Coach Aisling Blake.
View the full U.S. roster below:
Junior Men’s Team
Avi Agarwal (Team and Individual)
Tad Carney (Team and Individual)
Rehan Luthra (Team and Individual)
Arav Bhagwati (Team and Individual)
Rishi Srivastava (Individual/U17 Developmental)
Zane Patel (Individual/U17 Developmental)
Junior Women’s Team
Caroline Fouts
Lucie Stefanoni
Khushi Kukadia
Emma Trauber
Sonya Sasson
Jhansi Bhavsar
The weekend’s training regimen utilized all areas of the Specter Center, including additional guidance from Ong Beng Hee, the Ganek Family US Squash Head National Coach, and Fitness Coach Brigita Roemer.
“It was absolutely fantastic to be in the Specter Center for our first squad,” Butterworth said. “Being at the home of US Squash in the world’s best facility can only be an inspiration to the players. From the courts where we put the work in, to the high performance center where we are able to focus on our strength and conditioning to the conference room where we could plan and assess our goals–it’s a truly amazing place to be.”
The entire Junior Men’s Team will compete in the individual competition, with Agarwal, Carney, Luthra and Bhagwati entering the ensuing team competition with hopes of matching bronze medal finishes in 2018 and 2016.
“All six boys have competed at the British open at least once so have strong international experience under their belt and judging by this past weekend’s squad they are all very hungry for what’s to come,” Butterworth said. “Our goal as always is to put our best foot forward in competition by preparing the best we can physically, tactically and mentally so that we can compete at the highest level. We will head to France knowing we have put in our all on the training courts to be in the best position to achieve success and maybe even upset the apple cart a little.”
Butterworth will lead the Junior Men’s Team for the first time as head coach, following Alex Stait’s record-setting tenure.
“I’m extremely proud to be announced as the Junior Men’s Head Coach,” Butterworth added. “I have worked my way up the coaching pyramid from Regional Squads, Battle of the Border, British Junior Open and more recently the assistant at the 2019 World Juniors so to lead the team this year is a true honor.”
Team USA’s next training squash will take place at the Specter Center, July 13-17, leading into the tournament. Seeding and draws will be released closer to the tournament.
For more tournament coverage and information visit wsfworldjuniors.com.