The Cayman squash community is gearing up for a momentous event as the annual Junior Caribbean Area Squash Association Championships returns.
This highly anticipated tournament, set to run from 29 June-5 July at the South Sound Squash Club, is the premier junior squash event in the Caribbean.
This year’s event is set to break records by drawing around 200 players from across the region and will feature three stages: individuals, doubles and teams.
Julian Jervis, a Cayman national player and coach, said he was excited about the event, noting the personal significance of the tournament.
“This will be the first time it has returned to Cayman since 2016, which was my final year in junior competition,” he told the Compass.
Jervis recalled Cayman’s strong performance in 2010 and 2016, when Cameron Stafford and Jervis, respectively, claimed the U19 title in front of their home crowd.
As a coach, Jervis holds high hopes for the Caymanian contingent. Kaylee Pierre, the reigning U13 champion, will compete for the U15 title this year and despite this move, he still remains confident in her ability to secure the overall win.
He also highlighted the significant improvements across all his players, anticipating they will “shock the competition” and cause several upsets in every age group.
In addition to Pierre, other notable returning Cayman players include Milanna Lamontagne, 2024 plate winner, and Ylon Chambers, 2024 plate runner-up, at last year’s Junior CASA tournament held in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
Debuting for Cayman at this year’s competition are Beryl Arch, Chad Franklin, Claudia Bullmore, Milana Thompson, Adriano Vera, Maximillian Woolf and Gaven Ramos.
Jervis emphasised the event’s growing reputation as one of the best squash tournaments, drawing parents and fans who eagerly await its return each year.
He also pointed out the rising quality of players in the Caribbean, with many now competing on the US college circuit and achieving international success. One such player is Delilah Pease, from BVI, who won the Canadian Junior Open title last December in the girls under-11 category.
Looking ahead, Jervis is eager to see how the tournament’s anticipated electric atmosphere will affect player performance.
“The place will be rammed with people and very loud cheering from the loudest parents, coaches and fans around the Caribbean,” he said, stressing the importance of this high-pressure environment for player development.
Jervis also touched on the broader growth of squash, with its inclusion in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He expressed ambition for Cayman to become a strong contender in the sport, inspired by other small countries that have upset the international status quo.
His advice to aspiring young players is: “Squash is an individual sport and therefore it offers the opportunity to let your own work ethic show what you’re about. Squash isn’t selective in who can achieve success, anyone can play squash and make use of their talents and strengths to complement their game. It is truly just about hard work. Those who spend the most time and give the most attention to the game will always win out in the end. Get playing early and often and spend as much time on court by yourself as you can.”
The upcoming tournament is free to attend, with the full schedule available on the Cayman Islands National Squash Association’s Instagram page.
Cayman Islands players for the upcoming tournament:
Individuals
Girls U11 – Sophia Aldea and Beryl Arch | Boys U11 – Chad Franklin
Girls U13 – Sienna Scarpa | Boys U13 – Ylon Chamber and Bodhi Philip
Girls U15 – Claudia Bullmore and Kaylee Pierre | Boys U15 – Levi Jack, Maximilian Wolf and Adriano Vera
Boys U17 – Gaven Ramos and Charlie Makin
Girls U19 No. 1 – Milanna Lamontagne | Girls U19 No. 2 – Milana Thompson
Boys U19 No. 1 – Brodey McComb | Boys U19 No. 2 – David Hughes
Doubles
Men’s: Charlie Makin and Levi Jack
Women’s: Kaylee Pierre and Sienna Scarpa
Mixed: Brodey McComb and Milanna Lamontagne
Teams
Boys: Chad Franklin, Bodhi Philip, Adriano Vera, Charlie Makin, Brodey McComb and David Hughes
Girls: Beryl Arch, Sienna Scarpe, Kaylee Pierre, Milanna Lamontagne and Milana Thompson