Eastern girls and western boys win at Junior National Racquetball Championships

The championship rule seemed to be that girls from eastern provinces and boys from western provinces would take home the titles Saturday at the 2007 Canadian Junior National Racquetball Championships at REVS Health Club and Fitness Centre in Burnaby, B.C., as eastern girls won five titles and western boys won four of five titles.

The exception to the rule was in Boys 18 and under, which has been an exceptional division this year with none of the top five seeds in the final. Thus, it was perhaps appropriate that the lower seeded player won the final, as sixth seeded Tommy Murray of Baie Comeau, Que. defeated fourth seeded Joshua Keil of Saskatoon, 15-7, 15-9.

Murray also won the Boys 18 and under doubles title on Friday with partner Mathieu Messier (Mascouche, Que.), defeating Keil and his partner Sean Barclay (Saskatoon). Murray is the first player to win both Boys 18 and under singles and doubles titles since Kam Barteski of Saskatoon in 1998.

In Boys 16 and under, top seed Barret Husulak of Saskatoon ended the dream of third seeded Sebastien Boissonneault (Burnaby, B.C.) to win a national title at his home club. Husulak controlled the match from the start, and won with relative ease, 15-6, 15-8. Husulak was the only Boys number 1 seed to win his division.

Boissoneault did get the better of Husulak in doubles, as he and partner Conrad Cole (Belle River, Ont.) defeated Husulak and Devyn Liebel (Saskatoon) for the Boys 16 and under doubles title late Friday.

Logan Hordyski of St. Albert, Alta. won the all Alberta battle in the Boys 14 and under final, as he defeated Kevin Caouette of Edmonton, 15-7, 15-6. Hordyski and Caouette teamed up to take the Boys 14 and under final.

In Boys 12 and under, Ashton Duda of Regina defeated Anthony Schonberger (New Westminster, B.C.), 15-7, 15-11.

The girls' champions were not only different from the boys' champions in being from the east rather than the west, but also because the top seeds won their divisions.

Denise Haynes of Clare, N.S. defended her Girls 18 and under title. She beat Christine Richardson of Regina, 15-6, 15-6.

Frédérique T. Lambert of Montreal is the champion of Girls 16 and under and 14 and under, in which she was the defending champion. In 16 and under, Lambert defeated Richardson, 15-11, 10-15, 11-6, and beat Brigitte Richard of St Basile Le Grand, Que. in the 14 and under final, 15-10, 15-9.

Michèle Morissette (Baie Comeau, Que.) was also a double winner Saturday, as she captured the Girls 10 and under and 12 under titles. Morissette defeated Melody Kwong of Vancouver, B.C. in the 12 and under final, 12-15, 15-8, 12-10. In 10 and under, she beat Courtney Johnston (Saskatoon) 15-3, 15-13.

One hundred and sixty seven players competed in 22 divisions of both singles and doubles at REVS Health Club and Fitness Centre in Burnaby, B.C.