Shawnigan Lake School had two big wins at the B.C. Open Squash Championships in Vancouver last month.
Grade 8 student Justin McGaw of Central Saanich won the men’s B draw in a very competitive event.
This AAAA tournament is one of the biggest of the year and the win means McGaw will now play in the men’s A division.
McGaw took up squash just four years ago, playing against his father who is an avid player at the Victoria Squash Club.
Since starting at Shawnigan this fall, the 14-year-old said his abilities have improved a lot, thanks to guidance from internationally-renowned coach Mike Johnson, who heads the school’s squash program.
“I also play rugby with the other Grade 8s, and that has helped my strength and conditioning,” McGaw said.
He added he benefits from some tough competition from Ashley Clackson, an intern at Shawnigan and a winning player in her own right.
In the provincial tourney, Clackson finished third overall in the prestigious Women’s Open event. She has won five national junior awards and is one of B.C.’s top women squash players.
The Victoria native graduated in May from Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., which she attended on a full squash scholarship and competed in the tough Ivy League circuit.
Johnson was her coach when she did a training stint in England, and he contacted her when he came to Shawnigan.
“The school is so lucky to have Mike,’’ said Clackson. “He’s coached top players all over the world,” says Clackson. “There’s a solid group of boys here playing at a good level. I predict there will be some more good action this season from our students.”
