McGill University Squash made history on March 14-16 by hosting the Jesters Canadian University and College Squash Championships, an event that shattered previous participation records and showcased the university’s growing influence in collegiate squash.
The three-day tournament, organized by McGill Men’s Captain Mo Kamal in partnership with Squash Quebec, drew 77 participants from across Canada, nearly tripling last year’s attendance of 25 players. This turnout blew the 2023 tournament—which got cancelled due to lack of interest—out of the water. Most impressively, this year’s event featured both men’s and women’s draws at the Open, A, and B levels. This is a significant improvement from last year when no women’s category was offered.
“We had players from [Prince Edward Island], Manitoba, [University of British Columbia], everywhere,” Kamal said in an interview with The Tribune. “Some schools sent their coaches too, and there were people watching—it was truly a spectacular event.”
The tournament proved triumphant for McGill, with three students claiming national championships in their respective divisions. Kamal captured the men’s open title, Sarah Aki won the women’s open category, and Aly Gaber secured the men’s B division championship. This marked the first time in tournament history that players from the same school won both the men’s and women’s open divisions.
For Kamal, who recently began competing on the professional circuit and is currently ranked 495th in the world, the victory was particularly meaningful.
“It’s my first national title since I was 12, so it also meant more because I was able to win it at home,” Kamal said.
Women’s Captain Chloe Stoneburgh emphasized the importance of the tournament’s inclusive structure, particularly its offering of categories beyond just the elite circuit competition. Making it open to all levels drew more participants, more matches, and more even contests.
“It was rare to have that many people to play against who are your level,” she told The Tribune. “I’ve never had so many evenly-matched matches in a weekend. It was such an amazing experience.”
Stoneburgh noted that the unprecedented women’s participation was especially impressive.
“There were so many women playing, which is rare not only for university squash but for any level of squash,” she said.
Beyond competition, the event strengthened relationships between Canadian university squash programs. Representatives from other schools expressed support for McGill’s ongoing efforts to join the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) conference, where many Canadian university squash teams compete. This past season, McGill Squash has been fighting for recognition by McGill Athletics to qualify for the OUA. With all of their successes in both the league and the weekend’s event, they are heading into next season with significant momentum.
“Having coaches and alumni from other universities coming to us and asking how they can help us get into the OUA was really great networking,” Stoneburgh explained. “People were saying, ‘We will vouch for you,’ and honestly, that means the most to us.”
The tournament featured multiple social components, including a banquet that fostered connections between competitors.
“Everyone was thrilled. There was such positive energy,” Kamal reflected, describing the atmosphere throughout the weekend. “The vibes were really high on and off the court.”
Even beginners found success at the event; Kamal highlighted how one participant who had only started playing after a McGill introductory workshop this January finished third in her division.
With its record-breaking attendance, unprecedented participation from women athletes, and strong McGill performance, the tournament’s success offers promising momentum for the university’s squash program.
The presence of coaches and supporters from established OUA programs at the event created valuable advocacy channels. These connections could provide McGill with formal endorsements when petitioning university administration and athletic governing bodies for recognition.
Kamal shed light on the emotions of the tournament’s conclusion.
“It was phenomenal, you know, the buildup of emotions plus the team cheering me on—it was special,” he said. “It just shows how far we have come and what we can continue to do.”
