ROAR! This summer, the Bearcats made their mark on the international squash scene with impressive performances at prestigious junior tournaments.

Oscar Okonkwo ’25 Shines at World Junior Squash Championships

Oscar Okonkwo ’25 represented Team USA at the 2024 World Junior Squash Championships in Houston, Texas, held from July 12 to July 23. Selected as one of the top five BU19 players in the nation, Oscar showcased his talent on an international stage.

In the individual tournament, Oscar triumphed in his first match, defeating Germany’s Finn-Lennart Koch, the European #4, with a score of 3-1. However, he faced a tough challenge against Canada's top player, Jacob Lin, and was defeated 1-3. His journey continued in the consolation bracket, where he was bested by Oliver Dunbar from Australia. Ultimately, Oscar finished in the 64-49 bracket range.

While Oscar did not compete in the team portion of the event, Team USA secured a tie for third place with Colombia, earning a bronze medal. Looking ahead, Oscar plans to requalify for next year's team and aims for the gold at the 2025 World Junior Championships, with the location yet to be announced.

Elise Kang ’25 Excels at Junior Pan-Am Games

Elise Kang ’25 participated in the Junior Pan-Am Games held in Quito, Ecuador, from June 16 to June 22. Seeded in the 5/8 bracket, Elise demonstrated impressive skill in the individual tournament. She advanced to the semi-finals after defeating Ella Cao from Canada and Paula Rivero from Argentina. In the semi-finals, Elise faced compatriot Charlotte Sze and was narrowly defeated.

In the doubles tournament, Elise and her teammate Ava Lin reached the quarter-finals but were overpowered by the team from Paraguay. However, Elise’s efforts shone in the team event, where she went undefeated at the second-string position against Colombia and Argentina, helping Team USA secure the gold medal. As the second highest-rated player in the GU19s, Elise aims to continue representing the USA on the international stage in the coming season.

Jude Cha ’28 Triumphs at European Junior Open

Jude Cha ’28 made a remarkable mark at the European Junior Open in Wroclaw, Poland, held from June 28 to July 1. Seeded in the 5/8 bracket, Jude delivered an outstanding performance by defeating the #2 seed from Poland in the semi-finals and the #1 seed from Spain in the final to win the tournament. This monumental victory will bolster his seeding in the upcoming US Junior Open and British Junior Open, positioning him as a formidable contender.

Rising Stars Compete at Dutch Junior Open

Several talented players competed in the Dutch Junior Open in Amsterdam from July 4 to July 7, an event considered the third-largest junior squash tournament after the US Junior Open and the British Junior Open. 

Rohan Gupta ’26: Nearly defeated the #1 seed in the quarter-finals, narrowly losing 3-2. He finished in 6th place in the BU17 category. 

Jude Cha ’28: Reached the semi-finals, where he faced the #1 seed and lost 3-0, securing a 4th place finish in the BU15 category. 

Makeda Moshi ’26: Achieved an 18th place finish in the GU17 category. 

Elise Kang ’25: Finished in the 19/20th bracket in the GU19 category. 

Ellis Chung ’25: Ended in the 21-24th bracket in the GU19 category.