The 2026 U.S. Parent-Child Squash Doubles Championships brought an exciting weekend of national competition, family tradition and Buffalo squash pride to the courts this April. Hosted at the Buffalo Tennis & Squash Club and the Buffalo Club, this year’s event saw nearly double the participation of last year’s championships in Philadelphia — a testament to the enthusiasm of the Buffalo squash community and the strong support from local players and families.
A major factor in the event’s success was the early commitment from Buffalo-area teams, helping build momentum for one of the largest Parent-Child Nationals in recent years. Tournament committee chair Richard Lynn worked closely with Brian Donaghy and the team at US Squash to bring the national championship to Buffalo and showcase the city’s deep doubles squash tradition.
The Father-Son Open division featured the tournament’s largest draw with 14 teams and delivered some of the weekend’s most dramatic matches. Defending champions Chris and Carson Spahr battled through a thrilling five-game semifinal against Xan and Andrew Matuch to earn a return trip to the finals. Waiting for them were top seeds Dominic and Josh Hughes, who mounted an incredible comeback after trailing 7-12 in the fifth game to win 15-13 and capture the national title.
In the Father-Daughter division, David and Caitlyn Vahlsing successfully defended their championship, dropping just one game throughout the event. They defeated Peter and Petra DeRose in the finals to repeat as national champions. Caitlyn also teamed up with her mother to win the Mother-Daughter title without dropping a game all weekend.
The Mother-Son division featured an all-Buffalo final and proved to be one of the most exciting draws of the tournament. Anne and Trey Denman defeated Elizabeth and Bo Gurney in a hard-fought five-game match to earn their first national championship together. Theresa and Max Hodin rounded out the podium with a third-place finish.
Additional highlights from the weekend included:
- Father-Son Century: James and Michael Woods of Denver captured the title, while Phil and Charlie Barth finished third.
- Father-Son Under 11: Christopher and James Lowell earned the championship.
Beyond the competition, the weekend showcased everything that makes the Buffalo squash community special — passionate players, welcoming clubs, dedicated volunteers and multi-generational family connections to the game.
Thank you to all of the players, families, volunteers, tournament organizers and supporters who helped make the 2026 U.S. Parent-Child Squash Doubles Championships such a memorable success for Buffalo and for doubles squash nationwide.
