By Akeem Greene
For the second day in a row, Nicholas Verwey was pushed to the limit to defend his title as Louis DaSilva, coached by the well-accomplished Nicolette Fernandes, produced a sublime performance on the final day of the Woodpecker Junior National Squash Championships, powered by ENet.
Saturday’s final matchday at the Georgetown Club Court was another test of mental fortitude, strength, and skill.
In theory, Verwey had already won the title after he and Michael Alphonso Jr. produced a classic marathon the night before.
However, more was at stake for DaSilva, the 2023 Caribbean U-17 champion. Ideally, he wanted to finish in the top two in U-19 to safeguard a spot on the national team for the Caribbean Championships in June.
Though he also competed in the U-17 at nationals, he will be over age for the category when Junior CASA arrives and will be elevated to the U-19 division in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
Louis DaSilva was the most outstanding male player at the Woodpecker National Junior Squash Championships
DaSilva’s dream was on the doorstep to reality when he won the first two sets 15-13, 11-9 and needed one more to seal the unfancied triumph.
However, just as he did against Alphonso, Verwey dug deep to find a stirring response to DaSilva and won the final three sets 11-7, 11-6, and 11-7.
It was an ordeal for both young men.
After an arduous week of squash, they found further resolve to match each other’s prowess for most of the exciting encounter, which ended in a resounding applause for both athletes.
Apart from winning the U-17 and third in the U-19, DaSilva was deemed the most outstanding male player at the championship.
Likewise, Kaylee Lowe, who won the Girls U-15 title and placed third in the U-17 and U-19, was the most outstanding female player.
Kaylee Lowe was the most outstanding female player at the Woodpecker National Junior Squash Championships
Dejé Dias, Chairperson of the Competitions Committee at the Guyana Squash Association, reiterated that moving the national championships up the calendar aimed to reduce clashes with the regional examinations and provide a more extended preparation period for the players.
He stated that a training squad will be announced in the coming days, after which players will commence regular sessions after Easter.
Dias further revealed that Guyana would host the Senior Caribbean Area Squash Championships in August.
Guyana is the defending champions for senior CASA and would have last hosted the event in 2019, which they won.
The ENet National Senior Squash Championships will run from March 17 – 23.
Players and officials in all smiles after the Woodpecker National Junior Squash Championships
Boys U-11
First – Zion Hickerson
Second – Rafael Braithwaite
Third – Noah Kear Downes
Girls U-11 & U-13
First – Zoey McDonald
Second – Tehani Munroe
Third – Tandisa Munroe
Boys U-13
First – Ethan Bulkan
Second – Zion Hickerson
Third – Egan Bulkan
Girls U-15
First – Kaylee Lowe
Second – Emily Fung-A-Fat
Third – Jnae Singh
Boys U-15
First – Justin Ten Pow
Second – Richard Rodrigues
Third – Ethan Bulkan
Girls U-17 & U-19
First – Safirah Sumner
Second – Rylee Rodriges
Third – Kaylee Lowe
Boys U- 17
First – Louis Da Silva
Second – Shiloh Asregado
Third – Joshua Verwey
Boys U-19
First – Nicholas Verwey
Second – Michael Alphonso
Third – Louis Da Silva
Most Outstanding Girl
Kaylee Lowe
Most Improved Girl
Emily Fung-A-Fat
Most Outstanding Boy
Louis Da Silva
Most Improved Boy
Blake Edwards
Heart of a Champion
Matthew Daby
