This year’s U.S. High School Squash Nationals in Philadelphia showcased the strength, depth, and resilience of Buffalo-area programs, with multiple teams making deep runs and bringing home hardware across several divisions.
Nichols School: A Great Nationals Run
Coached & written by Imran Khan
Boys Team – Division 7 National Champions
The Nichols boys delivered one of the most exciting moments of the tournament. After falling behind 0–3 in the Division 7 final against Lancaster Country Day School, the team mounted an incredible comeback to win 4–3 and claim the national title.
Their resilience and composure under pressure defined the weekend, capping off a remarkable run with a championship performance.
Girls Team – Division Finalists
The Nichols girls also made a statement at Nationals, advancing to the Division final after a thrilling semifinal comeback. Down 3–1 against The Masters School (NYC), the team rallied to secure the win and punch their ticket to the championship match.
A standout performance from Lily Belal helped propel the team forward. While Nichols ultimately fell to Nardin Academy in the final, their run marked one of the program’s strongest finishes in years.
Nardin Academy: Division VI Champions (Back-to-Back)
Coached & written by Pamicka Marinello
Nardin Academy continued its dominance on the national stage, capturing the Division VI Championship for the second consecutive year.
The Gators defeated top-seeded St. Luke’s School 5–2 in the semifinals before earning another 5–2 victory over Nichols in the final.
Senior captains Ellie Leonard and Katie Kooshoian led the way with impressive individual records, while senior Mia Basile and junior Zoe Parks—both competing at Nationals for the first time—went undefeated. The team’s combination of leadership, depth, and sportsmanship set the tone throughout the weekend.
Canisius High School: Third Place Finish in Division VI
Coached & written by Mike Ferrick
Canisius delivered a strong and gritty performance, finishing third in Division VI.
Entering the tournament as the 13th seed, the team upset 4th-seeded Episcopal High School in a tightly contested 4–3 opening match. They followed with a 5–2 win over Malvern Prep to advance to the semifinals.
In a hard-fought semifinal, Canisius narrowly fell 3–4 to top-seeded SCH Academy. The team rebounded to secure a 4–3 victory over BCC Squash in the third-place match.
Sophomore Andrew Harris stood out in his Nationals debut, winning all four of his matches. Juniors Cole Hoffman and Joshua Mercurio also played key roles, each finishing with 3–1 records.
A Strong Showing for Buffalo Squash
Across all divisions, Buffalo teams proved they can compete—and win—on the national stage. From championship titles to comeback victories and breakthrough performances, this year’s Nationals highlighted the continued growth and competitiveness of squash in Western New York.