Team USA concluded the 2022 Pan American Junior Squash Championships on a high note, earning two team gold medals to complete a total haul of eight medals Friday, August 5, in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
Playing at an altitude of over 8,000 feet, Team USA competed against seven north, central and south American nations in individual, doubles and team competitions, July 31-August 5.
The U.S. enjoyed mixed success in the individual and doubles competitions that opened the tournament. Hollis Robertson fulfilled his 3/4 seeding to earn individual bronze, narrowly falling short in a five-game semifinal against Ecuador’s two seed. Riya Navani also earned individual bronze, exiting the draw 11-9 in the fifth game of the semifinals. Caroline Eielson earned individual silver by fulfilling her second seeding, losing to Colombia’s 3/4 seed in the final.
3/4 seeds Kyle Broadhurst & Charlotte Bell pulled off an upset in the mixed doubles competition, taking out Canada’s two seeds 11-9, 8-11, 11-9 to reach the final and earn silver medals.
3/4 seeds Andrew Glaser & Hollis Robertson also earned silver medals in the boys doubles draw, upsetting Peru’s top seeds 2-0 in the semifinals. Two seeds Caroline Eielson & Abigail Schuster collected bronze in the girls doubles draw.
Team USA ended the tournament with a flourish in the culminating team competitions. The U.S. boys entered the draw as the two seeds and progressed to the final with 3-0 wins over Canada and 3/4 seeds Ecuador. The boys then upset top seeds Colombia 2-1 in the final to win Team USA’s first boys team Pan Am Juniors gold medal.
The U.S. girls earned the top seeding, and also progressed to the final with a 3-0 semifinal win against 3/4 seeds Ecuador. In the ensuing girls final, Team USA made it double team gold with a 2-1 win over two seeds Colombia, solidifying the program’s first Pan Am Juniors girls team gold medal.
Hollis Robertson earned another accolade in addition to his on court medals, and was recognized for his sportsmanship with the boys fair play award.
“Great results for Team USA today,” said coach Charlie Johnson, who led the U.S. alongside coach Alicia Rodriguez. “The finals were redemption for earlier losses in the singles and doubles competitions. We adapted well to the altitude throughout the week and it showed today in the finals.”
View more images from Team USA’s trip to Bolivia on the US Squash Smugmug page.