The Virgin Islands National Men’s Squash Team beat Cayman Islands at the 2025 Men’s Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Championships in Guyana on November 29, 2025, to secure qualification for the CAC Games in the Dominican Republic in the summer of 2026. Photo: Provided

National Champion Joe Chapman, left, played the silver medalist at last year’s Caribbean Championships, Julian Jervis, and won 3-1. Photo: Provided

Individual Plate Champion Danny Henderson of the Virgin Islands in action at the 2025 Men’s Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Championships in Guyana on November 29, 2025. Photo: Provided

This is possible after the VI National Men’s Squash Team beat Cayman Islands at the 2025 Men’s Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Championships in Guyana on November 29, 2025, to secure qualification for the CAC Games in the Dominican Republic in the summer of 2026.

Needing to beat Cayman Islands to secure qualification, the Virgin Islands had a 1-0 lead without breaking a sweat since Cayman Islands were unable to field a number 5, and so this gave the VI a 1-0 lead in the 5-person tie.

Victory for Henderson brothers, Reich & Chapman

Individual Plate Champion Danny Henderson was first on court, and he showed an assuredness beyond his years, cruising to a 3-0 victory to take the VI 2-0 up and just one match away from victory.

Luca Reich was then up against Christian Dube. Both players were evenly matched and were trading blows back and forth. Christian Dube earned a game ball at 10-9, but Reich fought back to not only save the game ball but to win the proceeding 2 points to take the crucial first game 12-10.

Game 2 followed a very similar pattern with both players sharing the points up until 9-9. Reich once again showed steady nerves to claim the important points and earn a 2-0 advantage!

In the 3^rd game, with adrenaline pumping, Reich never looked back and stormed to the finish line to take the game 11-4, the match 3-0, and this gave the VI an unassailable 3-0 lead in the team event.

The VI played out the remainder of the matches even though they were guaranteed the win.

Joe Chapman shows his class

National Champion Joe Chapman played the silver medalist at last year’s Caribbean Championships, Julian Jervis, and won 3-1.

Oliver Henderson then went on for the final match of the encounter, and also won 3-1 against a tricky opponent!

The other member of the VI team, Rory Thornton, was not required to play due to the Cayman Islands being short of one player.

The 9 teams to have qualified for the 2026 CAC Games are Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, Barbados, Guyana, Bermuda, Jamaica, the Virgin Islands, and the hosts Dominican Republic.

Venezuela, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Cayman Islands, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and St Lucia, and the Bahamas failed to secure qualification.