Costa Rica’s Araya and Varela Capture Back-to-Back

NORCECA U23 Gold at Seven Mile Beach

SEVEN MILE BEACH, Cayman Islands, June 22, 2025.-  Costa Rica’s Julian Araya and Jhostin Varela successfully defended their title, claiming back-to-back gold medals at the NORCECA U23 Beach Volleyball Tour with a decisive 2-0 (21-19, 21-15) win over El Salvador’s Christopher and Yoel Guardado in Sunday’s final at the iconic Seven Mile Beach.

Araya and Varela showed composure throughout the competition, overcoming a thrilling semifinal against the USA’s Ayden Keeter and Carson Barnes. After dropping the first set and facing two set points in the second, the Costa Rican duo rallied for a remarkable comeback, winning 2-1 (15-21, 26-24, 15-10) to advance to the gold medal match.

Asking what it took to get to the final and win, Jhostin remarked “It was hard work, after winning a couple of weeks ago in the Dominican Republic, we trained for this”.

“It’s been many days and hours of practice, training hard to be in good condition is difficult and we are very proud of winning another gold medal” Julian added.

The Guardado twins of El Salvador also earned their place in the final with a gritty 2-1 (18-21, 21-15, 15-12) victory over Canada’s Brandon Burnside and Reed Venning, staying calm under pressure to force and win a decisive third set.

In one of the most exciting matches of the tournament, Keeter and Barnes bounced back from their semifinal disappointment to take the bronze medal with a hard-fought 2-1 (18-21, 21-17, 15-12) win over the Canadian pair Burnside/Venning. The match was packed with momentum swings and drew strong applause from the local crowd.

In the battle for fifth place, Canada’s Charles Ellinas and Colin Lash delivered a dominant performance, defeating Julian Briston and Clarique Ward of St. Kitts and Nevis in straight sets, 2-0 (21-9, 21-16).

Seventh place went to the Cayman Islands’ Stephen Watson and Dylan Lynee, who secured a close victory over Daniel Delgado and José Guevara of Guatemala. The local pair held on in the second set to win 2-0 (21-13, 23-21).

For ninth place, Miguel and Morrison of Trinidad and Tobago staged an impressive comeback to defeat Nkoya and Taylor of Barbados in three sets, 2-1 (17-21, 21-17, 15-13).

Jamaica’s Blake and Softley claimed eleventh place with a solid 2-0 (21-16, 21-17) win over the Aruban duo of Coutinho and Kock.

The U.S. Virgin Islands’ Anderson and Rojas finished in thirteenth place after defeating Van Dam and Chisholm of the Cayman Islands in straight sets, 2-0 (21-15, 21-17).In the final placement match, Cayman Islands’ Duty and Cardenas closed the tournament with a 2-0 (21-19, 21-15) win against Brown and Wathey from the U.S. Virgin Islands to secure fifteenth place.

Results Classification 5/8: Ellinas/Lash CAN d Watson/Lynee CAY 2-0 (22-20, 21-15); Bristol/Ward SKN 2-0 d Delgado/Guevara GUA (21-19, 12-21, 15-8)