Greenwich Squash Wins 2026 U.S. Middle School Championship

GREENWICH, CT — A team of local middle school student-athletes won the Greenwich Squash program’s first middle school national title this past weekend at the 2026 U.S. Middle School Team Squash Championships, held at the Arlen Specter U.S. Squash Center in Philadelphia, Pa.

More than 90 schools and programs and 500 players competed in the tournament. Greenwich Squash captured the Division II championship, finishing ahead of 15 other teams.

The roster included Aiden Anderson Rahimtula, David Anderson Rahimtula, Arjun Ankalkoti and Keegan Hart from Eastern Middle School, along with Ryan Chass and Brett Lin from Western Middle School.

The Greenwich Squash middle school program includes more than 50 students from the town’s three middle schools and six elementary schools.

During the tournament, Greenwich defeated Brunswick School’s B team 4-1, Greens Farms Academy 3-2 and The Haverford School 4-1 to advance to the championship match against The Shipley School.

The teams split the first four matches before Ankalkoti secured the deciding win in the final match.

Co-parent managers Nikki Anderson, Caitlin Wardell and Jerry Wu said the championship reflected contributions from all team members.

"We came into Nationals as the No. 1 seed and that put pressure on us, but the kids remained focused on their goal and were able to leave Philadelphia with big smiles, trophies and a championship banner," Anderson said in a news release.

"Nationals weekend is a whirlwind with practices, team meals, and homework that still needs to be completed, but our kids were fantastic. We are so proud of them," Wardell added.

Wu said Greenwich Middle School’s second team — Dante Amoa, Thomas Lange, Sikander Tiwana, Caroline Wardell, Maddie Wu, Sydney Wu and Chloe Yan — also competed throughout the weekend and supported their teammates.

Program directors Cora Towle and David Chass said the victory marked the fourth national championship in Greenwich Squash history. Previous titles include the high school boys Division IV championship in 2024, the girls Division IV championship in 2019 and Eastern Middle School’s Division II championship in 2012 before the middle schools combined their programs.

Coach Elliot Ridge said, "The kids were amazing– it’s not easy to face the pressure and challenge of being a top seed, but they stepped up when they needed to and supported each other throughout the tournament. It was so much fun to watch them play their hearts out and dig deep for every point. I am unbelievably proud of each and every one of them."

Greenwich Squash is a parent-volunteer led program that promotes squash in the town’s public schools. Its teams compete in the FairWest Public School Squash Association, which serves schools in Fairfield and Westchester counties and surrounding areas.

During the 2025–26 season, the league included approximately 500 high school players and 200 elementary and middle school participants.