Squash Helps Students Gain Ivy League Admission

BOSTON -- It's a game to some, but for others it's a ticket into any Ivy League school.

NewsCenter 5's Bianca de la Garza reported that for some, squash is serious business.

At Cross Courts in Natick squash players are using their skills to get themselves into prestigious schools. Every Ivy League school has a squash team.

"Squash is definitely giving kids these days an upper hand. They may be great students but if they don't have anything else that differentiates them from someone else, they may not stick out," said Warren Cross of Cross Courts.

Natick High School senior Corey Schafer had excellent grades, but she said squash is the reason she got admitted to her top choice college.

"I'm going to Dartmouth," she said.Squash enthusiasts said younger kids are picking up the sport so they can get into a private high school.

"We are finding that a lot of schools that offer squash (as part of) their middle school programs become oversubscribed because there are so many girls and boys interested in the sport," Cross said.

Cross is seeing kids as young as 7 coming in to play, and U.S. Squash saw a 20 percent increase in members under 18 in the past two years.

Try club for free

Published Date:
06 January 2009
By Nigel Chapman

SPALDING and District Squash Club is offering the chance to experience its many benefits for free.

People can see and try the four recently-refurbished courts with a game of squash or racketball, and get a taste of the club's thriving social side.

The club in Holyrood Walk, which has more than 150 members, is holding free taster sessions on Sunday, January 18.

Club secretary Garry Harrison said: "Anyone can come along and give the game a try and meet some of the members who will be on hand to offer advice on the rules of the game, and basic coaching."

Garry believes people may be unaware of the benefits of playing squash, particularly at the Spalding club.

He said: "One major benefit at our club is the opportunity to play and socialise with members of all ages who come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. We have six-year-old children to 20-stone men.

"We encourage members to play in the internal monthly leagues to quickly establish their playing standard and meet other members.

Membership is available annually as a one-off payment with no further costs.

Visitors are welcome if accompanied by a member.

Members can access the premises 24/7 and courts can be booked upto a week in advance.

The club has England Squash accredited coaches available for one-to-one or group coaching.

It also runs a Juniors Club on Saturday mornings at which children from six years old can learn the basics and enjoy the game.

Monthly leagues are available for all abilities and are a great way of meeting other members.

During the winter season there are various knockout competitions and there are three teams in the Peterborough and District Squash League.

Garry said: "I've been playing squash for more than 30 years following an interest in tennis.

"I find squash much more enjoyable as you are able to play the sport all year round whatever the weather and don't have to walk miles after playing a winning shot!

"One advantage of playing squash is that anyone can take up the sport whether it be for fitness or fun.

"Another is that it can be fitted into a busy work schedule. You can play a game, have a refreshing shower, quick drink at the bar and be home in around 90 minutes."

The clubroom and bar are open every weekday evening, serving hot and cold drinks and snacks. There are several social events including quiz and poker nights.

The website www.spalding- squash.co.uk has just been upgraded and gives details about the club, and has coaching tips and videos.

Squash has to get younger to grow bigger

A small but appreciative audience enjoyed a squash match between two showmen Monday night at the Riverbend Athletic Club.

Shahier Razik, Canada's top-ranked squash player, shared the court with Ireland's best player, John Rooney, in a best-of-three exhibition match that was as entertaining between points as it was when the rackets were swinging.

Quick to offer a tongue-in-cheek question to the official's call when it didn't go his way, Razik -- a national champion in 2006 and 2007 as well as a Pan Am gold medallist in 2003 -- kept his audience amused all night.

In the end, Razik put the jokes aside long enough to prevail over Rooney 11-9, 8-11, 11-6.

Razik admitted prior to the match that the objective in this sort of setting is always multifaceted.

"Exhibitions are always a little bit of squash, a little bit of fun," the 31-year-old Torontonian said.

Razik and Rooney are in town for Squash Canada's Edmonton stop, where they'll join other members of the Canadian pro circuit in the 2008 Servus Credit Union Edmonton Open, which starts today and runs through Dec. 7 at the Royal Glenora Club.

As a professional squash player since 1993, Razik said that squash in Canada is enjoying a resurgence in recent years.

"It's picked up a lot over the past four to five years," he said. "It boomed in the '80s, slumped in the '90s, and then in the early 2000s started picking up and, now, we have this Canadian circuit all over Canada. After the U.S., I think we have the most tournaments." Jeff Sneyd, the general manager and squash pro at the Riverbend Athletic Club, was excited to have pro players back on his courts.

Earlier Monday, the pros gave an instructional session with some young squash players. Sneyd said that gaining the interest of the youth was an important part of growing squash locally and across the country.

"Basically, the game needs younger people to find out what it's all about," he said. "Racquetball, handball aren't as popular and squash seems to be growing in the States and South America." If the sport can make its way into the 2016 Olympics, as Razik, Rooney and Sneyd hope, they think the game would reach new heights.

"(The Olympics would bring) tons more exposure, more funding, more media, and the money will just filter down to all aspects of the game. That's crucial," Razik said.

"It'd make a massive difference for squash," Rooney added. "(Squash in Ireland is) one of those sports that doesn't get the coverage it deserves.

Participation-wise, it's very big." While both Razik and Rooney are optimistic that their sport will join the major international stage in eight years' time, don't count on seeing either of them playing for their respective nations should that day come.

"I'll be way too old," Razik said, gesturing to Rooney. "We talked about that." "We'll be coaching them," Rooney interjected.

"We'll be coaching them," Razik continued. "For us it'd be such a good thing. It'd open up a lot of opportunities, more stuff to do within the sport.

For now, there's just not enough money filtering down.

"The money now just goes down to the players, it doesn't go down to the coaching, the management. Hopefully, it'll open up new positions and will give us something to do later on."

World's Top Players Pledge Support For Squash Olympic Bid

The world's leading players pledged their support for the World Squash Federation's bid for Squash to become an Olympic sport by signing a declaration that "An Olympic Gold Medal Would Be The Ultimate Prize In Squash".

World number ones Amr Shabana, of Egypt, and Nicol David, from Malaysia, led the players' call for the sport to join the Olympic Games programme in 2016 at a 'Countdown to Copenhagen" reception in Manchester today (Wednesday), hosted by the WSF and led by its President Jahangir Khan, one of the sport's greatest players of all time.

Squash is one of seven sports which have been short-listed by the IOC for consideration for the 2016 Games - the decision for which will be made in Copenhagen in October 2009.

Jahangir Khan outlined the sport's Olympic credentials and the timetable of the bid process over the next twelve months.

"We have a year to ensure that we do what needs to be done to get Squash into the Olympics. All parties have to work closely, with everybody pushing hard to try to do their best to make this happen," said the six-time world champion and record ten times British Open winner.

Khan pointed out that an IOC delegation, comprising Sir Craig Reedie and Pierre Ducrey, will attend the Manchester World Championships later in the week.

The WSF President expressed his gratitude to all the players who had taken time out from the World Championships to attend the reception.

"We are delighted that all the players have signed our pledge - showing that it would be a dream come true for all players for Squash to get into the Olympics.

Read the full article, here..

SQUASH AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES: A PERFECT MATCH!