2004 Fred Weymuller Award – Tyler Kurlas

May 29th, 2004 Chris Thomas Posted in Awards | Comments »

2004 Fred Weymuller Award.
Presented May 1, 2004 by Eric Hernady

This award honors the top junior in the Rochester squash community (Rochester Squash Racquets Association), who distinguishes himself or herself by tournament play and national ranking, who demonstrates discipline by maintaining a sound academic standing while pursuing the game, and who intends to continue to develop his or her game over the years to come." This year’s honoree has displayed steady improvement throughout his 10-year junior career. His Rochester squash career ranges from a beginning player from the vast stable of junior players coached by Fred Weymuller to an accomplished tournament player at the local, state and national levels.

This year’s honoree is a soon-to-be graduate of Pittsford Sutherland High School with many of his studies focused on math, economics, business and communications. He is firmly grounded by his convictions, hard work, and perseverance. A Boy Scout now for 16 years, he earned the highest level in scouting, Eagle Scout, and now mentors younger boy scouts in and around Rochester.

Like many high school age students he spends some of his time throughout the year working to earn money for the many hiking and backpacking outings he and his brother take together. During this past year’s PGA Championship at Oak Hill he netted several thousand dollars parking cars! He and his brother are currently entered in a nation-wide entrepreneurship contest. They plan to coordinate ATM machines from New England to California into a variation on the "Ticketron" theme and sell tickets to all types of entertainment events. They will essentially take your money before you get it in your hands! Recently, he was accepted to attend the University of Southern California in their engineering school with a minor in entrepreneurship (gee, what a stretch?!) and the University of Maryland at College Park. His final decision is yet to come (he is leaning toward CA), but it seems like he is in a win-win situation.

My first encounter with our honoree was when he attempted to start a squash club at his high school. He made several efforts but things did not work out. Clearly he was onto something integral to the future of our squash community that may some day come to fruition and we will look back and owe a small bit gratitude for his creativity and initiative. He has played squash for 10 years all in Rochester. He started at Rochester Squash and Fitness with Fred Weymuller and Rashad Pandole, and then played at the University of Rochester with squash coaches Chris O’Brien and David Kay. As his squash game matured he like other top junior players in Rochester played under the tutelage of Mark Sachvie in St. Catherine’s, Ontario while at the same time taking advantage of the vast squash experience of Kate Whitmore at the Genesee Valley Club.

Our honoree has played 8 years of competitive tournament squash. He has traveled to tournaments at the state and national levels. Locally he is considered to be the top player in his age group and this year was the third-place finisher in the Ward-Riley Championships, as well as the champion of both the Buffalo and Dayton Juniors tournaments. He plans to continue playing squash in the local clubs and leagues, and knowing his proven determination this is not a hollow promise. Of course, I did advise him that I make annual pilgrimages to California and will be checking in with racquet in hand!

Without further adieu please give a well-deserved congratulations to the winner of the 2004 Weymuller Award…Tyler Kurlas.