The Central Squash Team made a strong statement over the weekend at the National Graded Championships, hosted at North Shore Squash Club in Auckland, with seven of their nine players making it to the finals—and a flurry of national titles and runner-up finishes to show for it.

From Day 1, Central signalled they meant business. Rebecca Bennett, Jayden Bailey, Jessie Harding, Madison Lee, Lily Alabaster, Joe Waetford, and Laurie Potter all kicked off their campaigns with straight-set wins. Despite tough losses for David de Villiers and Jesse Perkins, the team maintained strong momentum heading into Day 2.

Saturday proved even more successful as Joe, Lily, Jayden, Madison, Rebecca, Laurie, and Jessie H all advanced to their respective finals. Jesse P narrowly missed out in a five-set thriller after an epic comeback attempt, while David bounced back with a solid three-set win.

Finals day was nothing short of electrifying. Madison Lee took out the F Grade Ladies title in four, while Lily Alabaster staged a remarkable comeback from two games down to win the D Grade Ladies crown in five. Laurie Potter delivered a composed four-set victory to secure the C Grade Ladies title, and Rebecca Bennett battled through five grueling games to claim the B Grade Ladies title.

Joe Waetford and Jayden Bailey both walked away with runner-up finishes in the F and B Grade Men’s divisions respectively, while Jessie Harding fell just shy in the E Grade Ladies final—losing 13/15 in a heartbreaking fifth game. David de Villiers showed resilience, grinding out a five-set win to claim the D Grade Men’s plate.

The team’s collective efforts not only brought individual glory, but also earned Central the coveted District National Trophy, awarded to the district that accumulates the most points through game wins and title victories.

District Chair and Team Manager Nat Lane praised the unity and support among the group: “This was more than just a competition—it was a team effort through and through. The support the players showed each other all weekend was incredible, including from our injured team member who made the trip up just to cheer everyone on. It’s that kind of commitment and camaraderie that makes Central so special.”

With top-level squash, unmatched team spirit, and a trophy to bring home, the Central team’s performance at Nationals is one to remember.