01/26/2012 by grant | 0 comments
The University of Virginia loves its secret societies. Zs. IMPs. People who don’t go to Foxfield. Then there’s squash, the speakeasy of sports. The men’s and women’s teams have been competing against Division I varsity programs for years, but ask around on West Main and you’ll get a fairly consistent reaction: what squash team?
The Charlottesville Squash Blog is about to change all that. For the next few months, we will be serving as the temporary online home for University of Virginia Squash. So if you want in on the best kept secret in Cavalier athletics, you’ve come to the right place. And right on time. This weekend the Cavalier Men (1-1) travel to Baltimore for matches against Ithaca College and ACC rival Maryland. And our correspondent will be on the case with match results, recaps, media, and analysis.
Current rankings, schedules, and rosters for all teams are on US Squash. You can also check UVa’s page on the CSA website.
Squash Hoo? Hoo Squash!
01/24/2012 by grant | 0 comments
Mastering the shoulder rotation on the backhand is always a challenge. But lo! Squash Skills is here to school you:
01/21/2012
by grant
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And we're done...
The Charlottesville Squash Club twice again prevailed over the UVa Cavaliers, taking a pair of dual matches in a Saturday doubleheader.
Round 1 went to the Charlottesvillains 6-3. In round 2 it was the ‘Villains 7-2.
Detailed recap and scores to follow tout suite.
01/20/2012 by grant | 0 comments
I really love this Bernard Tomic guy. Maybe a little more because Chris Fowler just told me to “get ready for Weekend at Bernie’s.” Caught him for a few games of Australian Open play. He’s up against Federer in the next round.
If you think the squash stroke can’t translate to the tennis court, check out this video…and check yourself:
01/20/2012
by grant
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Bulldogs Over Bantams. Image from CSA
If you didn’t pick up the New York Times this morning, don’t worry; here’s the story you wanted to see.
01/19/2012
by grant
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A few months back we dared to ask the bold question: when will Trinity lose? Call it coincidence, call it the curse of the Charlottesville Squash Blog, but last night Yale finally got the better of Trinity 5-4.
The streak began in 1998. Now, 253 matches later, the Bantams’ record stands at 252-1.
Anne Bello’s got the scoop in this match recap. So does the Hartford Courant.
You can also check the (very brief) ESPN coverage on YouTube or the (even briefer) USA Today “article.”
I’m going to go check my sources and see if Vegas is shelling out for this upset. More details to come.
01/17/2012 by grant | 3 Comments
Jaffray Woodriff Crushes a Serve to Opponent Paul Erb in a 3.0 Match. Photo by Kevin Dean
The 2012 Charlottesville Open marked the beginning of a new chapter for squash in Central Virginia. The two day US Squash-sanctioned event packed the Saint Anne’s-Belfield Squash Center, where it was bananas all weekend long. With nearly seventy entrants and at least as many spectators, the tournament set down yet another milestone for the game in our area. Through the murmur of the crowd, one could pick up a similar current of remarks: Wow. Awesome. Wow.
Endless propers to tournament organizers Francis Johnson and Moe Barros, to our gracious hosts Saint Anne’s-Belfield School, and to sponsors Starr Hill Brewery, Quantitative Foundation, Virginia Squash, Harrow Sports, and Liberty Mutual. None of this would have been possible without their support and dedication. Thanks also the players and the family and friends they brought along, particularly those who made the trek from as far away as Maryland and North Carolina. That’s dedication. Last, but certainly not least, shout outs to Kevin Dean for his photographic assistance and to the good people at Fry’s Spring Station for accommodating our rowdy crew for a Saturday night fete de squash.
I’m still awaiting word from headquarters, but full results should be available via the US Squash website or possibly in a follow-up post on Charlottesville Squash. In the interim, I hope this brief account of the final matches will whet your appetite.
In the Men’s 5.0 it was Sean Doherty (Alexandria, VA) over local product and UVa number 1 James Patteson 3-2 ((4), 6, (8), 13-11, 4).
Justin Crimi (Nellysford, VA) took the Men’s 4.5 title in four tightly contested games (6, 12-10, (9), 14-12) over Kory Garretson (Richmond, VA).
The Men’s 4.0 final pitted Benjamin Smith (Bethesda, MD) against Thomas Hogg (Richmond, VA), with Smith triumphing 3-0 (12-10, 6, 5).
Lee Haworth (Charlottesville, VA) got the better of Chris Axford (Charlottesville, VA) in a five set marathon (9, 8, (8), (9), 5) in the Men’s 3.5 final.
It was Jaffray Woodriff over Andy Southerland, 3-0 (7, 12-10, 9), in the Men’s 3.0.
The 2.5 Round Robin was all Charlottesville. First place went to Landon Greene, second to Rhys Nordstrom, and third to Rick Wampler.
Katelyn Crimi (Nellysford, VA) made it a clean sweep for the Crimi Dynasty as she took first place in the Women’s Open Round Robin. Karen Barros (Charlottesville, VA) took second and Lillian Mezey (Charlottsville, VA) finished third.
Thanks again to all the sponsors, participants, organizers, and friends who made the 2012 Charlottesville Open a marquee squash event!
01/12/2012
by grant
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I’ve been receiving a number of emails asking for help in determining what tournament draw players should enter. So I thought I’d offer this little guide to help other aspirants on their way to squash glory.
Probably the easiest way to figure out what draw to enter is to log onto the US Squash website and use the player search function to look up a few “comparables”–that is people you know you’re competitive with through league, ladder, or recreational play. Check their player profiles and look for the “rating/ranking” box at the top left corner. In most cases, you’ll be able to find a “comparable” who has been assigned a rating. Write that number down. Round up or down a level if necessary. And that’s the draw that you should enter.
For a glimpse at the logic of the system, try this explanation of US Squash Rankings.
If that leaves you a bit confused, here’s a quick breakdown of the various skill levels as described in the Rating-Skill Scale PDF (my simplification, not US Squash’s):
2.0 or 2.5 = beginner | 3.0-4.5 = intermediate | 4.5 or higher = advanced
If you still can’t decide what draw to enter, ask your club pro. Lacking that, the tournament director. Still no luck? Summon the oracle. Or pick from a hat.
01/10/2012 by brenden | 0 comments
If you didn’t catch Shabana take down Gaultier in 5 games on Sunday I highly recommend these two rallies:
The whole match is worth a watch but you will need a PSA Squash TV account to view it.
01/10/2012
by brenden
0 comments
Just got an email from the Charlottesville Open tournament organizer Francis Johnson about a gathering on Saturday night. All registered squash players are invited to Fry’s Spring Station at 6pm Saturday Jan 14th for pizza, beer, soda and more. If you are playing in the tournament make sure to plan on attending!
You can find directions to the event here.
Registration is almost closed for the tournament. If you are interested in playing (and you should be), you can register online here. There are plenty of divisions open, but they are filling up fast.