Bob Tkachuk
The 2010 edition of the men’s annual Boxing Day squash tournament will go down as the most talent-laden in the 20-year history of the one-day event.
The two pools could not have been more exciting, with both winners storming back from 2-0 deficits to win 3-2 over their respective opponents in the championship finals.
More unique was that brothers won the two events.
The ‘A’ event saw former Fort Frances resident Ben Andrusco defeat current Northwestern Ontario champ Bob Shine of Thunder Bay).
Andrusco lost the two first games but roared back with two victories to even the best-of-five match at 2-2.
Then in the fifth and deciding game, Andrusco trailed 9-6 but persevered to win 13-11 and capture the Boxing Day title.
Andrusco had defeated Toby Munro 3-1 and John Sivonen 3-0 to face Shine, who had beaten Bob Tkachuk and defending champ Jason Kabel 3-0 to reach the final.
The consolation ‘A’ champ was Colin Drombolis, who overcame Steve Boileau 3-2 in a very close battle.
Drombolis lost his first match to Munro, then swept junior Anniss Seid to meet Boileau.
Boileau lost his first to Kabel, then swept Tkachuk to advance.
Meanwhile, the men’s ‘B’ division was no less contested, with Anthony Andrusco coming back from two-down like his brother to capture a 3-2 victory over a greatly-improved Dave York.
Andrusco clearly was spent after his match.
Andrusco defeated Ryan Brady 3-2 and Salem Seid 3-1 to reach his final against York.
York swept young Shawn Brady 3-0, then ex-junior Chad Faragher 3-1 to face Andrusco.
The ‘B’ consolation also was tight, with junior Robert Stevens—sticking to his plan—edging Chris Faragher 3-2 in a see-saw encounter.
Stevens had lost to Chad Faragher, then swept Brady to play Chris Faragher.
Faragher lost to Salem Seid in first round but bounced back with a 3-1 win over Ryan Brady to follow his path to the final.
Next up for the Sunset Country Squash Club is the Subway junior event Jan. 7-9 at the Winnipeg Squash Racquet Club.
