“You’ve probably heard the sound of a squash game being played before, but chances are you’ve never heard it like the University of Rochester’s Squash team plays it. The Yellowjackets have players hailing from near and far – 11 countries, four different continents, all brought together by one common sport…..
….Rochester’s coach is an interational as well….. Putting together a virtual United Nations of squash talent was his idea when he first came to Rochester. “I wanted to create this very diverse group of athletes, because the experience that they get learning from each other,” Heath told us. “To me, that’s the best thing about meeting people….””

Watch the entire video of the piece on 13WHAM.

Read all about the 2016 effort at SquashSite. ]]> http://www.squashrochester.org/2009/06/16/squash-makes-a-compelling-case-for-the-olympics/feed/ 0 http://www.squashrochester.org/2009/04/26/squash-for-2016/ http://www.squashrochester.org/2009/04/26/squash-for-2016/#comments Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:36:15 +0000 Mithun Mukherjee http://www.squashrochester.org/?p=1336

MAY 23rd 2009 IS WORLD SQUASH DAY IN SUPPORT OF THE SQUASH FOR 2016 MOVEMENT! BACK THE BID! WEAR THE T-SHIRT! The bid to include squash in the 2016 Olympics is gaining worldwide momentum once again. After almost being included in the 2012 Olympic program four years ago, the sport’s fans, players, communities and governing bodies are rallying around once again to push for inclusion in the worldwide stage in 2016. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT! LIMITED SQUASH 2016 T-SHIRTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR $20 EACH! ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE SQUASH 2016 MOVEMENT. CONTACT US WITH SIZE INFO TO ORDER!

Squash2016 is endorsed by all major governing bodies of the sport. World Squash Day founder Alan Thatcher says “This gives every squash club the opportunity to support two major objectives: to raise the profile of the sport and to raise valuable money for the Squash 2016 Bid Fund….The Olympic bid is an ambitious project which, if successful, will give squash a deserved place in the Olympic Games. That bid process is not cheap and it is up to every squash player to help the cause.”

More info @ Squash2016.info and WorldSquashDay.com and the SquashSite 2016 feature. Or email Eric Hernady for information/questions/ideas etc.

More links: World Squash Movement and Squash for 2016 Event on Facebook

THANKS TO ALL OUR SPONSORS, PLAYERS, HOSTS, VOLUNTEERS AND THE LOCAL SQUASH COMMUNITY!
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
www.rocprosquash.com ]]> http://www.squashrochester.org/2009/04/10/2009-rochester-proam-in-pictures/feed/ 0 http://www.squashrochester.org/2009/02/27/yellowjackets-at-the-09-csa-individual-nationals/ http://www.squashrochester.org/2009/02/27/yellowjackets-at-the-09-csa-individual-nationals/#comments Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:04:38 +0000 Mithun Mukherjee http://www.squashrochester.org/?p=1131 Following their spectacular performance at the team nationals last weekend, the #3 Yellowjackets are back in action this weekend at the CSA Individual Nationals at Williams College in Williamstown, MA. The top 96 college squash players in the country face off every year at the Individual Championships which is played in a solo format (as opposed to the the regular season team format). The Potter Cup division includes the top third (32 players) based on final season ranking and the Molloy Cup division includes the bottom two third (64 players).
Complete Draws from the 2009 CSA Individual Nationals
See also: Yellowjackets at the ‘08 Individual Nationals

FINAL RESULTS (Sunday 3/1):
Men’s Potter Cup – Consolation FINALS
Bennie Fischer (Rochester) bt. Andres Vargas (Trinity) – 9-4;9-3;9-2

Men’s Potter Cup – 2nd Round Consolation FINALS
Gustav Detter (Trinity) bt. Hameed Ahmed (Rochester) – 5-9;9-6;9-10;9-8;9-5

Men’s Molloy Cup – SEMIFINALS
Chris Hanebury (UWO) bt. Will Newnham (Rochester) – 6-9;9-1;10-8;9-5

Men’s Molloy Cup – 2nd Round Consolation SEMIFINALS
G. Miller (Williams) bt. Joe Chapman (Rochester) – 1-9;4-9;9-3;9-3;9-4

Men’s Molloy Cup – 3rd Round Consolation FINALS
Nick Sisodia (Dartmouth) bt. Adam Perkiomaki (Rochester) – 4-9;9-5;9-7;3-9;9-2
Men’s Molloy Cup – 3rd Round Consolation SEMIFINALS
Adam Perkiomaki (Rochester) bt. E Newhouse (Dartmouth) – 9-7;9-5;9-1

RESULTS (Saturday 2/28):
Men’s Potter Cup – Consolation Semifinals
Bennie Fischer (Rochester) bt. John Fulham (Yale) – 9-6;9-2;9-6

Men’s Potter Cup – 2nd Round Consolation Semifinals
Hameed Ahmed (Rochester) bt. Hesham El Halaby (Princeton) – 9-1;7-9;9-3;6-9;9-6

Men’s Molloy Cup – Quarterfinals
Will Newnham (Rochester) bt. JP Rothie () – 10-8;9-3;9-6

Men’s Molloy Cup – 3rd Round Consolation Quarterfinals
Adam Perkiomaki (Rochester) bt. Reed Andresen () – DEFAULT

Men’s Potter Cup – Quarterfinals
Colin West (Harvard) bt. Jim Bristow (Rochester) – 9-7;9-2;9-2

Men’s Potter Cup – Consolation Quarterfinals
Parth Sharma (Trinity) bt. Matt Domenick (Rochester) – 9-6;9-4;1-9;9-3
Andres Vargas (Trinity) bt. Fred Reid (Rochester) – 9-4;9-6;9-2
Bennie Fischer (Rochester) bt. Alex Domenick (Cornell) – 9-6;9-1;9-0

Men’s Molloy Cup – Third round of 16
Will Newnham (Rochester) bt. Nick Sisodia (Dartmouth) – 9-4;9-4;9-2
Ethan Buchsbaum (Williams) bt. Adam Perkiomaki (Rochester) – 9-4;9-4;7-9;2-9;9-6

Men’s Molloy Cup – 2nd Round Consolation Quarterfinals
Joe Chapman (Rochester) bt Allan Lutz (Navy) – 9-6;1-9;3-9;10-8;9-5

RESULTS (Friday 2/27):
Men’s Potter Cup – Second round of 16
Baset Chaudhry (Trinity) bt. Hameed Ahmed (Rochester) – 9-0;9-1;9-0
Jim Bristow (Rochester) bt. David Canner (Princeton) – 9-3;10-8;8-10;7-9;9-5

Men’s Potter Cup – Consolation – First Round of 32
Matt Domenick (Rochester) bt. Supreet Singh (Trinity) – 7-9;2-9;10-8;9-2;9-6
Fred Reid (Rochester) bt. Will Hartigan (Cornell) – 9-1;9-4;9-4
Bennie Fischer (Rochester) bt. Todd Ruth (Yale) – 9-5;9-5;9-2

Men’s Molloy Cup – Second round of 32
Will Morris (Williams) bt. Joe Chapman (Rochester) vs – 9-5;9-5;7-9;9-7
Will Newnham (Rochester) bt. Frank Cohen (Harvard) – 9-2;9-10;9-3;9-5
Adam Perkiomaki (Rochester) vs Naishadh Lalwani (Yale) – 9-4;9-3;8-10;9-6

More information on the national urban squash movement at www.nationalurbansquash.org.
More inspiring videos on just two of the many growing urban squash programs across the country:

Hameed Ahmed (© 2009 Debra Tessier)

“…The Rochester Yellowjackets, a team whose talent was never questioned this year but ability to handle pressure was, defeated the Harvard Crimson 7-2 to finish third in the country….
…”Our goal was top four, but we thought we had a chance at three,” said Rochester head coach Martin Heath. “To actually finish third, it’s fantastic for the kids.”…
…”We got Bennie Fischer in January,” Heath said. “He strengthened the top of the lineup. He was a great addition. Our training worked out and we peaked at the right time. Hameed Ahmed is playing better. He is such a talented player, and I don’t think he has reached his potential.”
Heath and his team have no intention of slowing down or easing up now that they have proven to be a top team. Heath hopes to add more top recruits next season and to see his current players continue to improve.
“We don’t want to stop here,” Heath said….”

READ ALL ABOUT THE WIN AT SQUASHTALK!
Draw/Results – CSA Division I Potter Trophy

“…The two College squash men’s juggernauts (Princeton and Trinity) both won their semi final contests to move into another meeting at this years CSA Team Nationals. Both squads had to work hard for their wins, and Rochester in particular, were impressive in their opposition to Princeton, staking a very legimate claim for a position among the elite CSA contenders….
…The majority of Trinity’s matches against Harvard were short and one-sided, while several Princeton players engaged in long, physical duals against the University of Rochester. Crowd members whispered variations of “Rochester is helping Trinity out” – before the match was decided and long before Harvard and Trinity ever stepped on court….
…”Chris was frustrated he wasn’t able to do what he wanted to,” Callahan said. “Hameed was playing too well. He’s (Hameed) a wonderful talent, with exceptional shotmaking.”…
…Chapman stuck to the gameplan imparted to him by teammates who had played Shannon in the past: Hit the ball straight – straight drive or straight drop, and that’s it. And that gameplan gave Rochester it’s sole win today.
…”I think I played really well, some of the best squash of my life,” Chapman (pictured to the right) said after the match…
…”"I think Rochester is a very talented team,” Princeton coach Callahan said. “They played well today, did beautifully. I’m sure we’ll hear lots more about them over the next few years.”….
…Rochester is hoping people hear about a Sunday win over Harvard. The team lost 5-4 to Harvard in Cambridge during the season, squandering the opportunity to win it. Rochester head coach Martin Heath and his team are on a mission to turn the close loss into a win.
“This is why we’re here,” Heath said. “Our goal was to finish third this season. We’ve proven that we are a top team. Even Princeton and Trinity have to play their best with us.”…..”

Read the entire story on Day 2’s events at Squash Talk.

….Ron Beck from Squashtalk asked Domenick what changed in game two, how he had turned things around. “It was simply confidence,” he said. “I knew I could win, and believing that, I just played that way.”….
…Coach Martin Heath reflected, “I think it’s the best I’ve ever seen him play, as a Yellowjacket or part of the U.S.Junior Men’s Team. He’s proven he is one of the best U23 players, and one of the best U.S. college players. He’s surpassed all expectations….

Read about the excitement – the entire first day’s report by Ron Beck and Kirsten Carlson at SquashTalk.
Also, a firsthand account on the day’s play by Paul Rubery.
The Yellowjackets play the #2 Princeton Tigers at noon today.

02/20 10:15 am: #6 Rochester square off against #3 Yale at noon today in the first round of the team nationals, the culmination of the 08-09 college squash season in Princeton, NJ. A win today will assure them at least a season ending position at #4. Watch this space through the weekend for updated results, news and special reports directly from Princeton by members of the squad.

The Egyptians are famous on the pro circuit for their flamboyant shots and racquet skills. Check out current World #25, Hisham Ashour explaining a gem from his collection up close – the Mizuki shot, a backhand-forehand volley drop to the nick! Trivia: This is unverified but my theory is that the origins of this shot possibly lie in a popular Japanese manga called The Prince of Tennis and that it is a derivative of the “dangerous Twist Spin Shot” taught by the character Mizuki Hajime.

Okay so The Mizuki may be just a bit much to practice and perfect. If you’re the regular social club player, you want to make sure you have the basics right – the rails, the drops and the boasts. Here are some words of wisdom from Kim Lee Wong on the #2 ranked Princeton squad:

“…If you are truly a beginner, and you are playing with other beginners, resist the urge to whack away. Instead, try to play the ball high, deep and to the corners….”
“…Ideal rail shots are both deep and tight and usually find their way to the back corners of the court, where space limits both your opponent’s swing and what he can do with his return….”
…”It’s about timing,” Wong said with a slight laugh. “If your opponent is off his balance, hitting a really hard shot just about anywhere will win the point. If your opponent hits a loose shot, you can hit a hard shot that takes up a lot of space, to get him stuck in a corner….”
“…Hacking the ball is not so much hard, but hard to keep it up…”

Read the entire article from the Daily Princetonian – “Mastering the shots: a beginner’s journey” by Jake Miller.

And finally, a quick primer of the basic forehand and backhand from Shahier Razik, current World #22. (previous Razik videos on grip and footwork)