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.
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Dear Members,
Join us for the annual 2019 NorCal Squash dinner, celebrating the league teams battling for first place, this years MVP, and most importantly you. Without your continued support and passion for the sport we would not be able to make the strides in accessibility, inclusion, and level of play we have been able to achieve. The dinner is free of charge to all current members of NorCal Squash.
Where:
Urban Curry
523 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133
When:
6:00-10:00pm 20 April, 2019
Space is limited, please RSVP to northerncaliforniasquash@gmail.com
In addition to the dinner, the team tournament playoffs will be held at the Bay Club San Francisco April 19-21. Teams from across the Bay Area and Sacramento will be battling for the top spot across all four divisions. Come cheer on your local players while enjoying light refreshments.
Sincerely yours,
Emilie Van Der Hoorn and the NorCal Board
The Bay Club San Francisco is excited to host their annual Skill Level Open, a weekend of squash with players from across the Bay Area. In addition to some excellent amateur squash there will be an exhibition match between Alfredo Avila (#69) and the Bay Area’s own Charlie Johnson (#200).
Club San Francisco Skill Level Open
03/30/2019 – 03/31/2019
Exhibition match: Saturday 6:00pm | Alfredo Avila #69 vs. Charlie Johnson #200 + Q&A included for tournament participants. $25 for non-tournament player viewers.
Sign Up Here!
Contact Erick with any questions about the event – Erick.Chacon@bayclubs.com
‘The Howe Cup is the United States’ largest squash event for women and an annual team championship tournament run by US Squash. The annual women’s five-person team tournament began in 1928 as an inter-city competition between New York, Philadelphia and Boston. It received the Howe Cup title in 1955 when Virginia Griggs of New York City donated a permanent trophy, the Howe Cup, named in honor of Margaret Howe and her twin daughters Peggy and Betty.’ ~USSquash.com
This year the tournament was held in Philadelphia, with teams from across the country and Canada competing. Philadelphia native and founder of the Bay Area’s Squash Drive Lauren Patrizio Xaba played in the A division for one of the Philly teams, the Philly Tasteykates. The competition was fierce in the top division, with another home team, the Philly Phab Phive, ultimately taking the title.
The B division was an equally tight race, with Courtney Sabo at the helm of the Boasting Bellas. This all California team played spectacularly, and brought the title back home to the west coast. Congratulations to Courtney Sabo (Bay Club San Francisco), Juliet Lamont (the University Club), Sara Barrett (Bay Club San Francisco), Rohini Gupta (Bay Club San Francisco), and Emilie van der Hoorn (University California San Francisco) on a great win!
Usually a strong team, this years California C team was plagued by injuries leading up to the tournament. Unable to field a full team Carrie Kahn and Kelly McKinley (both University California San Francisco) joined with several Canadian players to form the international Golden Canucks. Despite great games and tight matches, the team was knocked out in the quarter finals.
Finally, the D division saw Amanda Chew (Bay Club San Francisco) play for the New York Scared Hitless. Though the name suggests otherwise the team was calm, collected, and made it all the way from the round of 32 to the quarter finals before loosing to Chicago, who ended up winning the division.
In addition to the tournament, the players were treated to an exhibition match between Olivia Fiechter and Olivia Blatchford-Clyne. Despite knowing each other since they were juniors in highschool this is the first time the Olivia’s have battled it out on the court. Fiechter had home court advantage, but Blatchford-Clyne’s experience and patience paid off with a 3-0 victory. The matches were followed by a brief Q and A session, during which we all gained some great tips and insights. Blatchford-Clyne stressed the importance of a good warmup while Fiechter focused on nutrition as key to her performance. When asked about pre-match routines, Blatchford-Clyne admitted to her love of long hot showers before a game to clear her head. Fiechter on the other hand prefers the more horizontal approach of napping. It was an inspiring way to start off the tournament, and everyone did a great job channeling their inner Olivia’s both on and off the court.
We all know the maxim: “if you don’t have anything nice to say, say nothing at all.” Instead, take it as this “only say things to yourself that you would say to others.” This is appropriate in both squash and in life. Be kind to yourself as you would to others. ~ Bailey Bondy
Congratulations to Bailey Bondy on an excellent article in this months Squash Magazine. For anyone who may have missed it, you can find a copy on Bailey’s website, Tough Minds Sport Psychology.
Bailey graduated from Stanford with a degree in psychology and a certification in sports psychology. She also played for the women’s squash team, and as captain in her senior year took them to their all time record of fifth nationally. She currently works as a squash pro at the Bay Club San Francisco, giving squash lessons and sport psychology sessions.