Jackson Wylie Awarded 2026 Chris Robertson Junior Player of the Year
- Apr 7
- 6 min read
Squash Australia has named Jackson Wylie the recipient of the 2026 Chris Robertson Junior Player of the Year Award (Male), recognising a year defined by sustained excellence, competitive maturity, and consistent high-level performance across Australia’s junior squash circuit.
Presented as part of the national 2026 awards, this honour marks not only a standout season, but the emergence of a player capable of competing — and succeeding— against the strongest juniors in the country.
This national recognition highlights the strength of The East Coast Squash Academy’s emerging junior talent and reinforces the effectiveness of structured, high-performance development pathways in shaping athletes capable of long-term success.
The announcement also coincides with a major milestone for his coach, Aaron Frankcomb, who was named the 2026 Keith Walker Coach of the Year — further reinforcing the calibre of the development environment supporting Wylie’s progression.
Consistency at a High Level
Wylie’s achievement represents more than individual success — it reflects the emergence of a new generation of high-performance athletes within Australia’s squash system. His performances across national competitions have demonstrated not only technical excellence, but a level of composure and maturity rarely seen at the junior level.
While many junior athletes display talent, fewer demonstrate the level of ownership required to convert that potential into consistent results. Wylie’s approach has been defined by a disciplined engagement with the training process — applying feedback, maintaining focus, and remaining accountable to long-term development goals.
Rather than relying on isolated moments of brilliance, his performances are built on repeatable habits: deliberate practice principles, structured preparation and the ability to remain composed through extended, physically demanding matches.
Skill Development Within a Proven System
A significant factor in Wylie’s progression has been his training environment at The East Coast Squash Academy. Under the guidance of former World #38, Aaron Frankcomb, development has been approached as a long-term process, where technical skill, physical conditioning, tactical understanding within strategic planning are combined with mental toughness, sports psychology frameworks, rather than treated in isolation.
Aaron Frankcomb reflected on Wylie’s development:
“What clearly stands out with Jackson is his consistency in applying what he’s learning while he’s learning it. That is a high-level skill requiring self-awareness that few possess. On top of that, he shows up every single day to do the (hard) work that needs to be done and has taken full ownership of his development. All of this builds a solid mental and physical foundation to perform under pressure.”
Wylie highlighted the impact of this environment on his development:
“I think the most important factor for any athlete in any sport is the environment around them. For me, I'm very fortunate and lucky to be constantly surrounded by my coach, Aaron, who constantly pushes me to my boundaries to determine what I need to overcome to become a better squash player. When I was younger, I was not what people who call ‘talented at squash’.
I struggled to compete at a State or National level. That changed when I started getting coached by Aaron, my level grew exponentially. Within 15 months, I finished second at the Australian Junior Championships. His deep knowledge and understanding of the game with a structured coaching process is without a doubt amongst the best in the world. That is what has helped me understand the game from a new strategic perspective not just on court, but with whatever other aspects I want to develop. The key is that he’s always holding me accountable to the bar I need to be training at."
Positioned For The Next Stage
Receiving the Chris Robertson Award represents a significant milestone in Wylie’s career, while also marking a transition point as he begins to look beyond junior competition toward higher levels of the game.
Looking ahead, Wylie remains focused on continued progression:
“This is my last year in Juniors so the main focus for me in 2026 is to transition to the professional circuit which means I need to get my ranking high enough to compete in the higher-level professional events. In anticipation of this, I’ve recently returned from a 4-month training stint in the UK, where I was based in Pontefract; coached by David Campion and James Willstrop and surrounded by some of the best players in the world. The experience exposed me to a whole new level of training and squash. It made me realise that there's still so much more improvement needed in order for me to reach my goals. My current main goal is to qualify for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, which will be a massive milestone for me to achieve, and I know it will mean a lot for the people who have been with me on my journey.”
A Reflection Of Collective Investment
While the award recognises individual performance, Wylie’s development reflects the influence of a broader support network — including his coaches, family, and his wider local community.
Reflecting on that support, Wylie added:
“I’ve been very fortunate to have so many amazing people throughout my journey who’ve helped get me to where I am today. Firstly, I want to start by thanking my parents. They’ve sacrificed the past couple years to really support me to get where I am today, and I know I wouldn’t be here without them.
Jackson also highlighted the importance of his training environment and club community:
I also want to thank everyone at my local club, Elanora Squash & Fitness, which has not only provided and training base where I’m able to keep improving, but also to the members who’ve constantly supported my journey from the begining to today.
I also want to thank my coaches from my early beginnings, Kathy Doherty, Tim Doherty and Darroll Allarrt, who inspired me to pursue squash and I know that I would not be here today without their encouragement in those formative early days.”
Wylie also recognised the role of his current coaching environment:
“I also need to thank my current coach Aaron Frankcomb who inspires me to keep pushing myself to not only become the best squash player I can be, but also become a better person. I know I'm going to achieve many great things working with him in the future and I wouldn’t be here today without his help.
Lastly, but importantly, I want to thank my sponsors Tecnifibre and True Protein who continue to support me throughout my journey. Although squash is an individual sport, it requires a whole team for any athlete to achieve their goals. I’m super grateful knowing that I have an amazing team behind me who support my journey."
As one of Australia’s most promising junior athletes, Wylie’s recognition signals both current excellence and future potential for The East Coast Squash Academy — reinforcing the importance of disciplined development, high-performance programs, and a long-term commitment to player improvement and development
About The East Coast Squash Academy
The East Coast Squash Academy was founded in 2013 when Aaron Frankcomb retired from the Professional Squash Tour, with a vision to expand the presence of squash across the Greater Sydney area while delivering a structured, high-performance development pathway.
Since its inception, the Academy has achieved significant results, including attracting junior players with aspirations of progressing to the professional (PSA) tour. Its junior program has consistently held one of the largest contingents of players on the NSW Squash Junior ranking list, with representation across NSW junior state teams, Australian junior teams, and senior national pathways.
The Academy has developed multiple NSW and Australian Junior Champions, and at its peak engaged over 500 children in weekly squads and training programs. Participation and memberships have grown substantially, with tournament engagement reaching record levels.
It has also supported eight full-time senior players who achieved career-high rankings inside the top 60 on the Men’s PSA Tour, while its leading female professional reached a world ranking of 106.
Through delivering over 100 hours of weekly programming, the Academy has played a key role in increasing court utilisation and supporting the growth of squash centres across Greater Sydney, including Energize Health and Fitness, Norths Fitness, Sydney CBD Squash Club, Elanora Squash & Fitness, Sydney Uni Sports & Fitness, and the University of New South Wales.
Contact Details:
Tel: 02 9957 5105
Website: www.EastCoastSquashAcademy.com.au
Facebook: East Coast Squash Academy
