Canada Wraps Up Successful World Juniors With 7th Place Finish
by Danny Da Costa
July 18, 2012 - DOHA – Canada completed a successful 2012 Men’s Junior World Squash Team Championships with a 7th place finish defeating the United States of America 2-1 today in the 7-8th final. Canada entered the event as the 10th seeds and along the way they defeated: Zimbabwe, Belgium, Brazil and the United States of America.
This year’s Canadian Team featured Cameron Seth (Elora, Ontario); Tyler Olson (Victoria, British Columbia); Zachary Leman (Surrey, British Columbia), and Tyler Lee (Edmonton, Alberta). The Canadian Team reserve player was Joshua Sekhar of Etobicoke, Ontario. Jonathan Hill of Calgary, Alberta was this year’s Team Canada Coach. He also guided Canada to a 3rd place finish at the 2010 World Jr. Team Championships in Ecuador, which was Canada’s best ever finish at a Junior World Team Championship.
In today’s 7-8th place playoff versus the United States of America, the Canadians fell behind 1-0 when American number 3 Devin McLaughlin defeated Canada’s number 3 player Zachary Leman 11-5, 11-3, 6-11, 6-11, 11-8 in 54 minutes. Team Canada National Coach Jonathan Hill said, “the first match began a little rough with both players a little nervous and tired from their previous matches. Devin jumped ahead 2-0, with Zach fighting back to tie the match at 2-2”. The fifth game went back and forth but Devin McLaughlin took the match 11-8 in the fifth to put the United States of America up 1 – 0 against Canada.
The second match featured Canada’s number 1 player Cameron Seth who rallied from 2 games to 1 down to win 11-8, 12-14, 7-11, 11-3, 11-5 in 66 minutes over his American opponent Dylan Murray. The match featured great athleticism from both players, however the Canadian found his stride in the fourth and fifth games to level the match 1 – 1.
Harvard University sophomore Tyler Olson saved his best tournament performance for last, to lead Canada over the United States of America in the deciding match over number 2 player Edward Columbia 3-0, 12-10, 11-3, 11-7 in 37 minutes. Coach Hill commented, “Tyler’s short game was laser perfect and he was relentless with his retrieving of Edward’s shots to the front wall”.
The Canadian’s were happy to wrap up a very successful week in Doha, Qatar with a win against the United States of America. Coach Hill commented, “I am extremely proud of our team, placing 7th in this very tough teams tournament”.
7TH/8TH: CANADA 2-1 USA
Zachary Leman 2-3 Devin McLaughlin 5/11, 3/11, 11/6, 11/6, 8/11 (54m)
Cameron Seth 3-2 Dylan Murray 11/8, 12/14, 7/11, 11/3, 11/5 (66m)
Tyler Olsen 3-0 Edward Columbia 12/10, 11/3, 11/7 (37m)
Final Top 10 standings (seed):
1. Egypt (1)
2. Pakistan (2)
3. India (4)
4. England (3)
5. Hong Kong (5)
6. Japan
7. Canada (10)
8. USA (6)
9. New Zealand (11)
10. Kuwait (12)
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