Canada's Jennifer Pelletier wins gold at Pan Am Junior squash championships

SAN SALVADOR – Jennifer Pelletier of Richmond Hill, Ont., won a five-game thriller in the women’s singles final to earn the gold medal at the Pan Am junior squash championships.  It was one of three medals for Pelletier as Canada completed the competition with four podium finishes.

In women’s singles, Pelletier defeated Karla Urrutia of Mexico in the championship final 11-6, 11-8, 9-11, 16-18, 11-8.  The 17-year-old Pelletier, a runner-up at this year’s junior nationals, had a first round bye then won her round of 16 in three games,  quarterfinal in four  and her semi in three.

Canadian junior champion Alix Younger of Winnipeg lost to Urrutia in the semifinal.  She also had a first round bye before stringing two wins together to advance to the final four.  Hollie Naughton of Oakville, Ont., was eliminated in the first round.

Pelletier, Younger and Naughton then combined forces for the silver in the women’s team event losing the final to Mexico.  Naughton and Younger also took bronze in women’s doubles and Pelletier and Zachary Leman of Surrey, B.C., were also third in mixed doubles.

In men’s singles, Leman, Tyler Olson of Victoria and Joshua Sekhar of Toronto were all eliminated in the first round.