As our squash facilities begin to re-open NorCal Squash would like feedback about your squash experience. We want to hear how we can better support you, grow the sport locally, and increase awareness and accessibility. Please take this short survey to help us serve you and the greater Northern California squash community.
Please note that club status can change on a daily basis
As you might be aware, the Oakland City Center gym is under new ownership and is intending to tear down the squash courts. They are part of a larger facility that used to be Active Sports, and the courts were heavily used under the guidance of local pro Rami Attalla. In addition to being home to three league teams the club also boasted 2-3 drop-in evenings per week to provide ample opportunity for players of various levels to get good matches in.
It was one of the more affordable clubs in the East Bay, easily accessible by transit, and with a generous guest policy. Active sports was a great place for those looking to get into the sport, and those unwilling or unable to pay for the country club experience of many other East Bay squash facilities.
The local players have put together a petition to try and save the courts, below is their request for anyone who plays at the club. For those who do not, feel free to still email regarding the closure and the effect it will have on the larger squash community.
If you want the squash courts to remain, here is how you can help:
1) Go to https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/135aq5RAiVaztM78uJzMiJ8y_SjxaEBAW8Kgp6qjErS8/edit#gid=0
2) Find your name, fill out the status (member, frequent guest, or other), how many years you have been at the club, and in the statement column what you will do with your membership if the gym no longer offers squash courts
3) If you know any members or non members squash players who should be on this list but are not, please add their names, email them if you can and share the list
4) Email melissa.wathen@theclubatcitycenter.com to express directly your opinion In addition to your direct email to the club, we intend to share this list with the gym before the end of the week to show how many members and guests they would lose by not offering squash anymore. Thank you for your timely support, we need to act fast.
The Squash Players at City Center.
During Adrian Grant’s professional career he was renouned as one of the best movers of the game. Understanding and studying the benefits of efficient movement using this style to attack, defend and create deception. Adrian became obsessed with this side of the game along with the technical elements. To achieve this consistent hours and dedication was dedicated to physically conditioning his body and adapt to different styles. Adrian reached his highest ranking of number nine in the world in 2009. Adrian has won multiple World Team and European Team Championships, one gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and winner of 18 PSA tournaments. Adrian loves all genres of music, learning about architecture, modern art and playing sports with his four-year-old daughter. Adrian is originally from London, England and currently resides in Manhattan, NY.
Join Adrian and his friends EVERY MONDAY through to SATURDAY 12:00pm – 1:00pm (EST) via Zoom for training sessions to help move the body, release some stress, and just feel good.
Adrian is aware that not everyone is working from home or receiving paid sick leave, and that cost will be a barrier for some. Like himself and his guest pro’s they are self employed, and like many are severely impacted in supporting their families and stopped from sharing what they love ….. SQUASH! Each class is offered on a donation basis (suggested donation $20). Please do pay what you can afford. There is no shame if that amount is $0, it’s called a Golden Ticket and it’s something we all need from time to time.
This pandemic has effected everyone in some shape or form and I believe we should come together as a community so lets start winning the social effects it has on us, win on social distancing, win on flattening the curve, and win on saving lives of people we may not even know!
To add, each week Adrian will pledge to donate 10% of all donations to https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/coronavirus-relief-fund/
Dear NorCal Squash players,
After discussion with the league commissioners and pro’s, and following the guidance of USSquash and the CDC we are indefinitely suspending all league play and postponing the playoffs and annual NorCal dinner.
We will continue to evaluate the situation, and if possible reschedule both the remaining league matches and playoffs. We thank you for your understanding, and hope everyone stays healthy.
Emilie van der Hoorn
Chairman, NorCal Squash
Players and parents flocked to the Bay Area last weekend for the second year in a row to participate in the Squash Zone Gold hosted by Squash Zone in partnership with Bay Club Redwood Shores and Norcal Squash. From young to older students of the battles were fought, tears were shed and victors celebrated from early Saturday morning to end of play Sunday 1st March. One hundred and thirty eight competitors gave their all over the course of the weekend.
Squash Zone – Richard Elliott, Aisling Blake and Elaine Friedland – hosted the younger age groups this time out with U11, U13 and Girls U15 events being played out at the newest independent squash venue on the West coast. Local interest prevailed in the Gu11 with Minnie Kim of Orinda taking 1st place against Prisha Natarajan of Fremont in a close 4 games while younger sister Lara Kim swept up in the Consolation Play off coming in 7th.
Top seed Shirya Viswanathan flew in from Plano in the Gu13 and faced tough local competition in the form of Richa Patnam who won in a nail-biting 11-9 in the 5th. Meanwhile consolation winner Elinor Feldman provided success for the University Club placing 5th place.
Another top local seed in the Gu15 was Kristen Daniel. After overcoming Migyu Kim in a thrilling 5 game tie break win in the semis, Kristen fell in the final to Fatima Abdelrahman of Santa Clara in 3 games.
In the Bu11, #1 seed Arjya Saha of Los Gatos looked comfortable all the way through the early rounds, losing just one game in the final on his way to the title against Miles Goulding of Greenwich.
The Bu13 certainly provided some drama; in what would be considered a major upset Nathaniel Nam of New York beat out several seeds, including the top seed in the semi-finals on his way to the final against home favourite Vivaan Mehta in the Bu13. Mehta won out in 4 games to take his first Gold u13 title.
The Bay Club Redwood Shores, under the direction of Charlie Johnson, played host to the seasoned veterans of US Junior Squash; Gu 17 and Gu 19 and B u 15, 17 and 19. The matches overall were of high quality and lengthy in duration as players battled for their final placings on Sunday. In the Bu 15 category and after a slight blip in the quarters Rustin Wiser of New York constructed a great game plan to take the age group title against second seed Joshua Thomas of Cupertino.
Again, some surprises in the Bu 17 with Saechow Yap from Ohio taking out second seed inthe quarters. Yap backed up his win by going all the way to the finals before succumbing to the top seed Rana Thakker of Dallas in straight games. Local interest in the Bu 17 was provided by Ahmed Haq (coming in 4th place) and Felix Feldman (winning the Consolation finals in 5 games).
In the top age group, Bu 19 Alec Spiro of Portland outdid his seeding by beating the #1 seed Winston Park to take his Gold title. Again, local talent did well in the form of Roshan Gampala of Cupertino coming in 3rd place and Zane Patel of Santa Clara finishing 5th.
In the Gu 17 event, Madison Ho, fresh from a great JCT performance her opponents in straight games on the way to the title while Claudia Adam and Mehma Jolly kept home hopes alive by contesting the Consolation Finals in which Adam came out the victor in straight games and Roshni Pal with a Plate final win.
The Gu 19 event was the only age category with a Round Robin event with 2 groups eventually placing the winners against each other. The winners of Group A, won by Riddhi Joshi of Fremont and Group B, won by Riya Navani of Milpitas faced off in this local final. Navani won in straight games thus adding yet another trophy to the cabinet of this youngster.
Matches were entertaining and hotly contested, players fought long and hard for their crucial points and all matches were played in a sportsmanlike manner throughtout the weekend. Many thanks to the various helpers and match referees at both Squash Zone and Bay Club Redwood Shores and congrats to all of those who competed so well on the day.
Thank you to local pro Bailey Bondy for an excellent article, we look forward to more in the future!
Dear Players,
We are 14 days away from hosting the 3rd annual “Anything But A’s Singles Classic” presented by “Martin Sign Company” at the University Club of San Francisco. The goal of this tournament is to bring players together and enjoy the game we all love. This is a way to meet other players from the community while having a great time. To enter the tournament please us this Sign-Up Here – Anything But A’s Classic!.
Date: January 24 – 25, 2020
Host Club: University Club of San Francisco
Organizer: Busani Xaba, busani@uclubsf.org
Register by: Wednesday, January 15 @ noon (Deadline is fixed)
Entry Fee: $60 per person
Early bird: $50 (Early bird ends January 10, 2020)
Late Entry: $100(After January 15, 2020, at noon)
Eligibility: B Players = 4.9 – 4.0 | C Players = 3.9 – 3.0 | D Players = 2.9 and below.
Includes: Hospitality will include beer and wine on Friday night. Guest are invited to join members in the club bar after matches are over. On Saturday lunch will be provided with an afterparty at a bar (TBD) serving pizza with an open bar for the first hour.
Start Time: Matches will be scheduled for Friday, January 24 from 4 pm – 9 pm. Busani will send your start times by Monday, January 20th at noon.
The 4-day PSA Bayside Open 2019 wrapped up on Saturday afternoon at Bay Club Redwoods Shores with Head Pro Charlie Johnson winning a marathon 5-game match over Assistant Pro, Lawrence Kuhn, 9-11, 11-7, 11-7, 4-11, 11-7. Together, Johnson and Kuhn took home the lion’s share of the $1,000 total prize money for this professional tournament, sponsored by NorCal Squash and the Bay Club.
Both players had had a long road to the finals and confessed to being sore and tired before their match started. To get to the finals, Charlie had first battled past the skilled Mexican player, Cesar Segundo (currently at the University of Rochester), winning 14-12 in the final game, and then past a strong #2 seed, Cole Becker (currently at Princeton University), in a grueling 3-game match that lasted nearly 45 minutes. Lawrence had his own challenges, overcoming the wily #4 seed, veteran PSA player Armando Olguin, in 4 tough games, before taking on Mustafa Nawar of Egypt, pro at Squash Zone and the tournament’s #1 seed. In that match, Lawrence overcame a 0-2 deficit to battle back and win 3-2 (11-8 in the 5 th).
Still, on Saturday, both finalists were fit and keen to play, and prepared to give it their all, before the packed crowd of appreciative members and guests. A few loyal fans had been coming all week long, and some even brought homemade signs to cheer for the BCRS players.
Lawrence was the first out of the gate, winning the first game with his impressive court speed and deft touch. Charlie rebounded in games 2 and 3 by extending the rallies, and then using both volleys and lobs effectively to change pace and move Lawrence from corner to corner. Despite looking fatigued after the 3 rd game, Lawrence emerged focused and determined in the 4 th game to put pressure on Charlie, forcing him into some early errors. Taking advantage of his momentum, Lawrence continued to stay strong, and Charlie was unable to gain enough traction to come back. Both players emerged sharp for game #5, and the score was tied at 4-4 when Charlie dug deep and came out on top of a several very long points. Though Lawrence was able to respond with a few winners of his own, he could not regain his deficit and Charlie went on to emerge victorious in the final game, 11-7.
We look forward to seeing more of these PSA events in the coming months.