2017 Junior Nationals Age Group Draws Set

The 2017 New Zealand Junior National Age Group Championships are set and there is sure to be some fierce battles amongst our most talented and youngest players. Over 180 players will descend on the Burnside and Squash HQ clubs to try and claim their glory which may one day see them competing with similar honors on the international stage.

The Under 19 Girls sees Kaitlyn Watts taking the top seed with Watts having had a successful season to date competing in the World Junior Championships in Tauranga and also claiming the Aon New Zealand Junior Open title in April, she will be looking to top off a successful year with Under 19 title. Nadia Hubbard and Rhiarne Taiapa take second and third seedings in the draw and with their experience from the World Junior Championships this year they will be looking to try and topple Watts should they make it to the final. Fourth seed Zoe Dykzeul will face Watts in the semi-finals where she will also be looking for her opportunity to claim the title. In the Under 19 Boys Matthew Lucente and Gabe Yam debut in this age group for the first time as the 1st and 2nd seeds. Lucente claimed the 2016 Under 17 title and will be looking to put a big effort in to put his name on this trophy for the first time. If seedings holding true Lwamba Chileshe (3rd Seed) and Quinn Udy (4th Seed) will be putting big efforts in to get to the final to try and seal a title, all boys competed in the World Junior Championships in Tauranga earlier this year.

The Under 17 Girls sees another New Zealand representative Anika Jackson seeded to take the title but Winona-Jo Joyce, Georgia Robcke and Annaleise Faint round out the top 4 seedings and will be looking to put their best foot forward and try to take this title for themselves. The Under 17 boys sees Glenn Templeton seeded top as he moves up an age group after taking the Under 15 title for the last 2 years. Templeton will be wanting to make some big moves to take this title with Willz Donnelly, Campbell Webster and Kobe Fleming rounding out the top 4. These boys have competed well throughout the season and it is anyones title up for grabs.

Natalie Sayes has several Junior Titles to her name and the Under 15 Girls title is firmly within her sights with her taking the top seed in the draw. Jena Gregory the second seed will be looking to take a win over Sayes as she did earlier this year at the North Island Age Groups to clinch the National title. Manaia Jade Peeti and Dileesia Henare take third and fourth seedings with the intention of making their way through to the finals to claim this title. The Under 15 Boys is sure to be another heated affair with Leo Fatialofa seeded to take the win, but he knows there will be stiff competition from his fellow Aucklander Elijah Thomas who is second seed in the draw. Riley-Jack Vette-Blomquist from Northland and Tarin Love from Auckland are seeded third and fourth and will also be looking to make their way to the final.

Sophie Hodges is the top seed in the Under 13 Girls event with Ella Lash taking the second seed. Petra Curd-McCullugh and Moriya Karati round out the top 4 and will all be looking for strong performances over the weekend. In the Under 13 Boys Apa Fatialofa is seeded to take the title but he is sure to have strong competition from Noah Thomas, Freddie Jameson and Tom Marshall who are seeded in the top 4 and will be wanting to make sure it is their name that is engraved in history.

Our youngest age groups sees Anabel Romero Gemmell primed to take the top seed in the Girls Under 11 but with Grace Spencer, Hayley Rhodes and Kaianne Henare all in the top 4 there is sure to be some great battles from some of our youngest players. The Boys Under 11 is sure to be a heated affair with Reece Holmes and Matthew Growcott to do battle again this year and both eyeing up this National title. Zac Pattinson and Liam Smith round out the top 4 also seeking a title win.

All draws can be found on the Junior Nationals page of the Squash NZ. Please check carefully if your match is at Burnside Squash Club or Squash HQ.

Draws may be updated so please refer to your emails and the website regularly for change of times and draws.