GEORGE TOWN, Cayman, CMC – Cayman Islands junior squash has announced its arrival on the international scene with a series of standout performances at two of the world’s most prestigious tournaments: the Canadian and US Junior Opens.
The campaign began in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, from December 13-16, where a five-strong Cayman contingent delivered a stunning collective effort.
Maximillian Woolf, Claudia Bullmore, Gavon Ramos, Kaylee Pierre, and Brodey McComb combined for a remarkable 12-match wins.
Woolf led the charge with five victories, while Pierre, McComb, and Bullmore each secured two wins, and Ramos added one. This success propelled McComb to a plate final, with both Pierre and Bullmore advancing to the quarter-finals.
“Our juniors at the Canadian Open provided the bonus of exceeding expectations,” said assistant national coach Julian Jervis, who accompanied the team.
The challenge intensified at the famed US Junior Open, considered among the world’s premier junior tournaments, where Woolf, Pierre, and debutant Sienna Scarpa faced elite competition in their respective age divisions.
While match wins proved elusive against the world’s best, the trio earned widespread respect for their courage and grit.
“They impressed other countries and their coaches,” Jervis noted. “More importantly, they returned hungry for more and keen to improve. They saw that the top juniors use the same tactics we practise at home; they commit more time, effort, and focus, which are 100% free. That was the most important lesson.”
Jervis highlighted the unique challenge for athletes from a small island: a lack of regular exposure to higher-level competition.
“It’s hard to see the bigger picture day-to-day,” he explained. “That’s why these trips are everything. They push the goalpost and provide the vision that motivates the kids to be their best.”
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