JUNIORS STAR ON COURT
THE junior squash stable of Cairns coaching duo Marc Forster and Steve Finitsis is destined for big things in 2019, after the talented crop cleaned up at the Smithfield Dental Cairns Junior Squash Championships.
More than 45 juniors from Cairns, Innisfail, Ingham, Townsville and Mackay descended on Sportsworld Fitness Centre at the weekend for the two-day tournament.
Finitsis said local players took their game to another level at the championships, which was a qualifying tournament for possible selection into the Northern Region Redbacks representative team.
Josh Penfold was one of eight Cairns players who won nine divisions on the weekend.
The second-ranked U17 boys’ player in the country showed his prowess on Sunday afternoon, defeating the No.1 ranked Wes Dyer of Mackay.
Interestingly, Penfold would be defeated by Dyer in the U19 boys final later that day.
Originally from the Sunshine Coast, Penfold moved to Cairns two months ago to train under Forster and Finitsis.
He said the results of the training were displayed at the weekend.
“It felt great, especially after I had to come back from 5-0 down in the third game,” said Penfold. “It was a struggle but I just kept pulling it back.”
Finitsis said Penfold was “a natural”. “He’s very athletic and very skilful,” Finitsis said.
“We’re just working on a few things now so we can get the very best out of him.”
Cairns’ juniors will now turn their focus to next month’s Townsville Junior Squash Championship.