Paul Assaiante, the highly successful coach of Men’s Squash at Trinity College for the last 27 years, and David Slosburg, key supporter of University of Pennsylvania, intercollegiate squash, and US Squash, have been announced as the College Squash Hall of Fame Class of 2021.

CSA will pay tribute to Paul and David during the live streamed College Squash Awards show this Thursday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m. (Eastern). When circumstances allow in the near future, CSA will induct the Class of 2021 in person with the honorees and their friends and supporters celebrating together.

The College Squash Awards can be viewed on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at the following links:

• YouTube Live
• Facebook Live

“Paul and David epitomize what it means to be a leader in the squash community, and their contributions to college squash have improved our sport in so many positive ways,” said CSA Executive Director & League Commissioner David Poolman. “We are so excited to welcome them into the College Squash Hall of Fame. While the pandemic prevents us from celebrating in person now, it just means that we will have multiple opportunities to honor their accomplishments and support. Congratulations Paul and David!”

Paul Assaiante
Assaiante’s coaching record at Trinity is the stuff of legends: 17 National Championship Potter Trophies, including 13 in a row, all coming in the last 22 years; 14 consecutive NESCAC Men’s Championships; a 438-16 overall record for Trinity squash, including the heralded 252-match winning streak from 1998 to 2012; and multiple Coach of the Year awards coupled with numerous All-Americans, All-Conference players, and CSA Scholar Athletes.

Almost as much as his on-court accolades, Assaiante’s off-court influence will be remembered and celebrated for the wide range of his contributions. His “coaching tree” extends throughout the whole squash ecosystem, including his own stints as the coach of Team USA squash. For many years prior to the CSA’s reorganization in 2017, Assaiante filled critical roles on the Men’s College Squash Association Executive Committee, including president. Assaiante’s family is a mainstay in the Trinity community, and he continues to lend his experienced perspective to boards and committees across campus.

David Slosburg

Slosburg, who will join the College Squash Hall of Fame in the Supporters & Friends category, has quietly, thoughtfully, and generously supported squash at his alma mater, University of Pennsylvania, across all of college squash, and nationally for over 20 years. As a member of the Penn Athletics Board of Advisors, Slosburg gave squash a voice where there had been none before. His advocacy and consistent contributions on that Board and Penn’s Squash Sports Board directly culminated in the opening of their world-class squash facility in 2019.

Time and again, Slosburg has applied his passion for the growth of squash in areas that will indirectly benefit college squash for many years. As a leading supporter of CitySquash and Squash & Education Alliance, Slosburg has ensured that squash can continue to reach into new communities. Additionally, at critical times during the development of the Arlen Specter US Squash Center project, Slosburg humbly and meaningfully offered ideas, connections, and philanthropy to the cause. Upon receiving the news of his induction into the College Squash Hall of Fame, Slosburg appropriately responded, “I’m just doing what I love. I didn’t think I would get an award for that.”

For more information about the College Squash Hall of Fame, please visit https://csasquash.com/about/hall-of-fame. If you would like to make a donation in honor of one of the inductees, please do so here.

#CSASkillsChallange
WEEK 4 (March 23-26)

Skills:
Side-to-Side Volleys – Count the number of consecutive Side-to-Side Volleys hit as follows in 60 seconds or less: strike the ball -> side wall -> strike to opposite side wall ->  repeat (without any bounces!). Each strike to side wall counts as 1.  Demonstration Video (side-to-side only)
TEAM FITNESS RELAY! – Create a team of 3 teammates. Each team member takes on 1 of 3 fitness tasks: Front-to-Back Sprints, Side-to-Side Shuffles, & Star Drill. 30 seconds for each task. Each racquet touch counts as 1. Highest cumulative score of racquet touches for the 3 tasks is the winning team. Does not have to be completed back-to-back-to-back. Demonstration videos shown below in challenge information for Weeks 1, 2, & 3.

SCORE SUBMISSION FORM
LEADERBOARDS

(This week’s demonstration video is courtesy of @serioussquash on Instagram. Thank you!)

Congratulations to the WEEK 3 winners!
Figure-8 Volleys: Katherine Glaser, Princeton University & Callan Hall, Columbia University
Star Drill: Sophie Barber, Bowdoin College/Olivia Robinson, Princeton University (tie) & Henry Somerby, Bowdoin College
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During the four full weeks of March (1st through the 26th), the College Squash Association (CSA) will host a weekly skills challenge for all eligible CSA players. Student-athletes will compete as individuals in various solo skill tasks and fitness tests. Leaderboards will track scores and standings throughout each week, and winners will be announced at the end of the weeks.

CSA players should read all of the rules carefully before they begin the challenges.
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Rules

• All eligible CSA players are invited to participate in the challenge.
• Each Monday morning during the first 4 weeks of March, CSA will announce at least 1 racquet skill task and 1 fitness test that will make up the challenge for that week.
  • You will have 60 seconds to score as many points as possible for the racquet skill task(s)
  • You will have 30-45 seconds to score as many points as possible for the fitness test
• Each task offers an individual competition for that week. You can participate in one task without competing in another.
• After you complete a task (or the set of tasks), enter your score using the online form that will be posted at the beginning of each week. All scores must be entered by 7:00 p.m. EST on the Friday of that week.
• CSA will post a leaderboard of the entered scores on each day during the week. The leaderboard will show separate men’s and women’s scores.
• Players can submit a score as many times as they want. Only the player’s highest score will be posted on the leaderboard.
• In order to win a challenge, you must provide video evidence of you accomplishing the task. Posting videos on social media and tagging teammates, competitors, and the CSA, along with #CSASkillsChallenge is acceptable and encouraged.
• The player with the highest score for each task at the end of each week will be declared the winner. The winner of each challenge will receive a prize (participants who win multiple challenges will only receive one (1) prize item).
• Ties will be broken by the number of scores submitted (i.e. formal attempts) by each of the leaders for all of the tasks during a week. The participant with the most formal attempts during a week will be declared the winner.
• Enjoy!

COVID-19 REMINDER: Please make sure that you are abiding by all federal, state, local, and institutional policies regarding the prevention of COVID-19 transmission. Participating in the CSA Weekly Skills Challenges is not an excuse to violate protocols and expected procedures.
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WEEK 3 (March 15-19)

Skills:
Figue-8 Volleys – Count the number of consecutive Figure-8 Volleys hit as follows in 60 seconds or less: strike the ball -> front wall -> side wall -> strike to opposite side front wall -> side wall -> repeat (without any bounces). Each strike to front wall/side wall counts as 1.  Demonstration Video
Star Drill – Count the number of racquet touches in 45 seconds using this sequence: Racquet in hand, start at the T -> go first to left back corner, touch corner, then back to the T. Repeat to the next location, going clockwise, as many as possible in the time limit. The six locations are: left back corner, left service line, left front corner, right front corner, right service line and right back corner. Racket must touch each corner or side wall location. Each racquet touch counts as 1.  Demonstration Video

SCORE SUBMISSION FORM
LEADERBOARDS

WEEK 2 (March 8-12)

Congratulations to the WEEK 2 winners!
Forehand Drives: Saachi Singh, Princeton University & Omar Ali, Dickinson College
Backhand Drives: Saachi Singh, Princeton University & Omar Ali, Dickinson College
Side-to-Side Shuffles: Annie Roach, Wesleyan University & Sean Choi, Wesleyan University

Skills:
Forehand Drives – Count the number of consecutive forehand drives hit as follows in 60 seconds or less: strike the ball -> front wall -> bounce -> back wall -> strike again (without a second bounce).  Demonstration Video
Backhand Drives – Count the number of consecutive backhand drives hit as follows in 60 seconds or less strike the ball -> front wall -> bounce -> back wall -> strike again (without a second bounce). Demonstration Video
Side-to-Side Shuffles – Count the number of racquet touches in 30 seconds using this sequence: Racquet in hand, start at the T -> shuffle to side wall -> racquet touches side wall -> shuffle to other side wall -> racquet touches -> repeat. No turning except on last step to touch side wall. Each racquet touch counts as 1 point.  Demonstration Video

SCORE SUBMISSION FORM
LEADERBOARDS

WEEK 1 (March 1-5)

Congratulations to the WEEK 1 winners!
Forehand Volleys: Lucy Stephenson, Princeton University & John Collins, Haverford College
Backhand Volleys: Lucy Stephenson, Princeton University & Callan Hall, Columbia University
Front-to-Back Sprints: Olivia Robinson, Princeton University & Sanjay Jeeva, Franklin & Marshall College/Omar Ali, Dickinson College (tie)

Skills:
Forehand Volleys – Count the number of consecutive forehand volleys hit from behind the mid-court line in 60 seconds or less.  Demonstration Video
Backhand Volleys – Count the number of consecutive backhand volleys hit from behind the mid-court line in 60 seconds or less.  Demonstration Video
Front-to-Back Sprints – Count the number of racquet touches in 45 seconds using this sequence: Racquet in hand, start at the back wall -> forward sprint, touch front wall with racquet -> backward sprint, touch back wall with racquet -> forward sprint again and repeat. Each racquet touch counts as 1 point.  Demonstration Video

SCORE SUBMISSION FORM
LEADERBOARDS

(All demonstration videos are courtesy of NY Squash and the NY Squash Solo Challenge. Thank you for their assistance and support!)

The College Squash Association (CSA) is pleased to announce that Wendy Lawrence, former head coach of the George Washington University Men’s and Women’s Squash Teams and former president of the Women’s College Squash Association, is the recipient of the 2021 Arthur Blasberg, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award.

CSA will pay tribute to Lawrence live during the virtual College Squash Awards Show on March 25, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. Lawrence will join the broadcast to talk about the award and her career.

Prior to her retirement in 2019, Lawrence was a George Washington head coach for 12 years, leading the men’s team starting in 2007 and taking over the women’s program in 2010. During her tenure, Lawrence built both programs into perennial top-10 contenders with the women finishing as high as 7th (2015) and the men’s team placing 9th twice as Hoehn Cup Champions in her final two seasons.

Lawrence also played a critical role in college squash governance for many years. She joined the Women’s College Squash Association as Tournament Chair in 2011 before transitioning to the role of President from 2013 to 2017. In that position, Lawrence’s leadership helped transition the separate women’s and men’s associations into a single Intercollegiate Squash Association in the spring of 2017. She sat on the inaugural independent Board of Directors as a coach director and the Women’s Advisory Subcommittee Chair for the first two years of the newly structured organization, contributing vital guidance and insights to the independent directors and new Executive Director.

“Wendy’s experience and leadership was absolutely crucial to the formation of this newest iteration of the CSA,” says Executive Director & League Commissioner David Poolman. “Wendy’s resume is full of examples of her breaking barriers and leading the way into challenging or uncertain circumstances, and the squash community, particularly college squash, is much better off due to many of her efforts.”

From being one of the first females to earn the head squash professional role at a major racquet club, to being only the second female to lead a men’s college squash team, Lawrence has been a pioneer and role model for women’s players and coaches in the United States. It further enhances her achievements that she has been successful at every level of the game: recreational (Uptown Racquet Club, Washington Sports Clubs, Results Gym), scholastic (Capitol Hill Day School, The Potomac School), professional (ranked as high as 12th nationally), and intercollegiate.

CSA is not the first organization to recognize Lawrence for her success, sportsmanship, and impact on the squash community. US Squash has awarded Lawrence both the Wedgewood Trophy, for contributions to squash, and the Feron Cup, for sportsmanship. She also received the National Capitol Squash Racquets Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. In addition, during her final season at George Washington, Lawrence accepted the Women’s Leadership Award at the 6th annual J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions Women’s Leadership Program.

Through all of her experience, Lawrence left perhaps the biggest impression on the players who she recruited and coached. Lawrence’s last GW women’s senior captain, Brooke Feldman, may have put it best: “Wendy is the backbone behind our success, not only because of her global recruiting or winning mentality, but more importantly because of her unconditional emotional support and her unique character that have made playing for her unforgettable.”

A 1974 graduate of Vassar College, where she learned the game of squash and also played varsity tennis, Lawrence is retired in the Washington, DC area with her husband, Mark. Retired but not out of the game completely, Lawrence still plays squash regularly and has been consulting with the Georgetown University athletics department as they transition their women’s club squash team to a varsity program.

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The Arthur Blasberg, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award was first awarded in 1998 and is reserved for “those rare individuals who have contributed throughout their career to college squash as a whole and who have dedicated a career to the sport.” The most recent award was bestowed in 2007.

The Blasberg Family, many of whom played college squash, made a generous gift in 2020 to entitle and memorialize the CSA Lifetime Achievement Award in honor of their late father and grandfather, Arthur Blasberg, Jr. “Nothing brought [Arthur] greater joy than watching a hard-fought squash match,” said his daughter-in-law and former CSA Independent Director Jeannie Blasberg.

The College Squash Association (CSA) announced on Monday that Isabel Bronson, a Vassar College senior, has been named the winner of the 2021 Ann Wetzel Award.

The Wetzel Award is presented annually to a senior woman who began playing squash in college and has progressed to a high level of skill, demonstrates sound understanding of the game, and exhibits good sportsmanship and a positive demeanor on the court.

The award is named for Ann Wetzel. The 1964 national champion, Wetzel founded the University of Pennsylvania’s women’s varsity team in 1970. During the more than 20 years she coached at the University of Pennsylvania, Wetzel taught hundreds of women the game of squash. Through her love of the sport and her passion for teaching, she gave many women the opportunity to experience the thrill of intercollegiate squash.

Bronson joined the Vassar College squash team as a freshman without any prior racquet sport experience, but her drive on the court and in the weight room has helped make her a key member of Vassar’s squads. She showed her greatest improvement in her third season of play – last year’s junior season – when she reached No. 5 on the ladder and finished the season with seven wins out of eight matches.

Despite her lack of playing experience, the example Bronson set led her to be named team captain twice. She was also recently named to the Liberty League All-Academic Team for the third year in a row.

Vassar Head Coach David Ames spoke about how important Bronson was to his team: “Isabel has been a huge asset to the team both on and off the court.  She has been captain for 2 years and is very supportive and proactive with the other players and the coaches. Her improvement from her freshman year has been amazing, even battling through injuries in the last 2 years. She is always the first player to arrive at practice and is a pleasure to have on the team.”

Bronson is Vassar’s first recipient of the Ann Wetzel Award.

Following the release of the Betty Richey Award finalists yesterday, the College Squash Association (CSA) announced the Skillman Award finalists today. The Skillman Award, also voted on by CSA coaches, is the top honor bestowed each year to a senior men’s squash student-athlete who has displayed exemplary sportsmanship and skill during his career.

The finalists for the 2021 Skillman Award are Sanjay Jeeva of Franklin & Marshall College, Salim Khan of George Washington University, and Jack Lentz of the United States Naval Academy.

The nominees for the Skillman Award are evaluated in the following areas:

• On-court poise and demeanor
• Skill level and ability in the game of squash
• Team play
• Contributions to intercollegiate squash
• Leadership
• Cooperation with players, coaches, and tournament officials

The winner of the 2021 Skillman Award will be announced during the CSA’s live College Squash Awards Show on March 25, 2021 starting at 7:00 p.m. The Show will be streamed live on CSA’s Facebook Live and YouTube channels.

Once again, the Skillman Award will be presented by the Schiller Family Foundation in honor of Dr. Sheldon Schiller. Dr. Schiller believed that genuine sportsmanship and leadership were just as important in squash as athletic ability, and he lived those virtues when he played. It is said that Dr. Schiller once called his own ball “down” in a championship match because “he didn’t know any other way to play”.

Finalists are listed in alphabetical order:

Sanjay Jeeva, Franklin & Marshall College

Sanjay Jeeva has been a leader for his Franklin & Marshall squad since he arrived on campus, both on court via his placement at the top of the ladder and off the court as a role model and two-year captain. In his No. 1 role, Jeeva has taken on some of the best men’s players that college squash has offered, putting together an impressive resume and an excellent 53-23 overall record. It is also his attitude as a positive and passionate player who is always striving to improve his game while teaching others along the way that earned coaches’ attention. Jeeva fell just one match short of All-America status last season and was poised to break through before the pandemic halted operations this year.

F&M head coach Gavin Jones spoke glowingly of his team leader: “Over the 4 years, Sanjay has been a joy to work with. He is always a team first player, always supporting his teammates in a positive manner and loves to help his teammates improve. Of course, Sanjay is always looking to improve his game as well. He always asks for constructive criticism and loves to get on court with his coaches to help him develop his game further. He is one of the fairest players I have ever had the privilege to coach in my 11 years as head coach at F&M. When Sanjay graduates this year, it will be a massive loss for the team with his leadership, commitment to his teammates and his positive attitude he brings each and every day.”

Salim Khan, George Washington University

After winning the 2017 US Squash DeRoy Sportsmanship Award as a senior in high school, it is no surprise to see Salim Khan listed as a finalist for the Skillman Award. Khan has been a steadfast addition to the George Washington lineup since he arrived on campus, contributing right away to the joint program-best team finishes during his first two years. Khan really took on a critical role in his junior season when he was voted captain, led the team in victories, won team MVP honors, and reached a career victory total of 47. As a member of the Mid-Atlantic Squash Conference (MASC) All-Conference team, the GW Dean’s List, and the GW Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Khan clearly contributed meaningfully in many ways to his campus community.

Anderson Good, the George Washington head coach, shared his enthusiasm for Khan’s Skillman recognition: “We knew Salim would be an important addition to our lineup the second he arrived on campus, but his contributions off the court have equaled, and surpassed, his contributions on the court. Salim always embodied level headedness and sportsmanship on court. His work ethic away from the court displayed a true and genuine hunger to improve, while setting the correct example for his younger teammates as a leader. He is the sort of player that any coach would want to have on their team.”

Jack Lentz, United States Naval Academy

A planned U.S. Marine Corps member after graduation, Jack Lentz has effectively sharpened his leadership and physical skills on the squash court over the last four years. Lentz played at the top of the Navy lineup for the last three seasons (plus No. 2 as a first-year), amassing an incredible 56 victories as he crept closer to the Navy Squash history books. Perhaps even more impactfully, Lentz’s leadership has been a shining beacon for his teammates and his program during his career and especially during a year of disruption. The program’s first-ever All-MASC team member has channeled his devotion to squash into action with his teammates, creating ways to keep them engaged and inspiring them on court during the only matches of the 2020-2021 season so far.

Navy’s head coach Tyler Osborne is extremely proud of Lentz’s example and accomplishments: “Jack Lentz fully embodies what the Skillman award represents. On the performance side, Jack has played primarily number one on the Navy lineup throughout his four years and was instrumental in helping Navy achieve a top-8 ranking at the start of the 2018-2019 season. Beyond performance, Jack’s character truly highlights the type of leader he is. He has always displayed the utmost sportsmanship and is a true ambassador for our program and the game of squash. His leadership throughout this lack of season has been remarkable. He has kept this team engaged, motivated and working towards attainable goals, all in a season when squash has taken a back seat. I truly could not be more excited to see him continue to lead in his service to this country.”

The College Squash Association (CSA) is pleased to present the finalists for the Betty Richey Award. The Richey Award, voted on by the CSA coaches, is the most prestigious individual honor given annually to a current women’s squash student-athlete.

Top candidates for the Richey Award are those players who best exemplify the ideals of squash in their love of and devotion to the game, their strong sense of fairness, and their excellence in play and leadership. Nominees are also praised for their cooperation with opponents, coaches, and competition officials and their overall contributions to intercollegiate squash.

The winner of the 2021 Betty Richey Award will be announced during the CSA’s live College Squash Awards Show on March 25, 2021 starting at 7:00 p.m. The Show will be streamed live on CSA’s Facebook Live and YouTube channels.

This year, the Richey Award is presented by the Aziz Family, a prolific squash family who are staunch supporters of the College Squash Association and Yale Squash.  Daughter and Yale graduate Alia Aziz was the 2010 Betty Richey Award winner, and backing like CSA receives from the Aziz Family will sustain intercollegiate women’s squash for years to come.

Finalists are listed in alphabetical order:

Zoe Foo Yuk Han, George Washington University

Arguably the most prolific player in George Washington University women’s squash history, Zoe Foo Yuk Han has impressed both on and off the court since she arrived in the District of Columbia. At GW, she has been an active member of the campus and athletics communities, organizing recreational play and community service opportunities while also serving on the GW Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. As the first three-time All-America selection in program history, Foo earned two Second Team nods during freshman and sophomore year before jumping to First Team All-America status last season. The 2020-2021 season being lost to the pandemic disrupted her efforts to earn a fourth All-America honor and to eclipse the overall program wins mark, of which she was only five wins away.

George Washington Head Coach Anderson Good had this to say about his two-time captain: “Zoey Foo has put together arguably the strongest career resumé in GW Women’s Squash history. But more importantly, she has been an invaluable member and representative of our program in the CSA and on GW’s campus. Her work ethic has been shown in her clear and steady improvement during her time at GW, and her determination, respect, and sportsmanship on court has been a crucial model for her younger teammates in her role as a team leader. Zoey is the type of player any coach would love to have on their team, and she has been an absolute pleasure to coach.”

Helen Teegan, Yale University

A multi-sport student-athlete out of high school, Yale’s Helen Teegan took on an increasingly critical and successful role in the top third of the Bulldog lineup over the course of her college career. While earning All-Ivy and Second-Team All-America accolades during her first three years, Teegan amassed an impressive 33-15 overall record, primarily in the No. 2 position on Yale’s ladder. As a quiet leader whose example and effort led the way, Teegan consistently stepped up in crucial moments for her team.

Retired head coach and Yale legend Dave Talbott shared these thoughts about his Richey nominee: “Helen Teegan is a deserving finalist for the Betty Richey Award. Helen was a leader on the Yale team in all aspects. She was a fierce competitor and one of the fairest players in the league.  Helen epitomizes the Betty Richey spirit of top play and great sportsmanship.”

Min Jie Teh, Trinity College

As a leader of the NESCAC’s best women’s team over the past four years, Min Jie Teh has exhibited exceptional sportsmanship and skill while earning seemingly every postseason award available. Teh has been conference Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year while earning All-Conference honors, and then earned both First Team and Second Team All-America selections. While striving to be one of the best college squash players in the CSA, Teh has also acted as a role model and outstanding sportswoman throughout her career. The Trinity co-captain earned an impressive 47-11 career record over her first three season but focused her efforts on supporting her teammates amidst the challenges posed by COVID-19.

Trinity head coach Wendy Bartlett praised her star player this way: “Min Jie’s on-court poise and demeanor is superlative. Whether she is winning or losing, Min Jie exudes fairness and grace. On the court, her performance is intense and focused, which has been an inspiration to the team. Her work ethic and dedication to the game has motivated the team to even greater heights. Min Jie consistently maintains a high level of performance while staying calm and focused under pressure. I am so pleased that she is a finalist for the Richey Award.”

With important work already underway, the College Squash Association (CSA) announces the establishment of its Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. The committee is comprised of 11 CSA coaches and the CSA Executive Director & League Commissioner.

While the core members of the committee are active coaches, the committee intends to engage regularly with the entire coaching community, student-athletes, athletics administrators, and experts in the field. The initial engagement effort includes a baseline survey of varsity coaches to gain an understanding of and data concerning diversity in college squash.

Understanding that meaningful work is currently in progress on campuses and conferences within the CSA membership, the Committee intends to complement those efforts with best practices and training seminars which will positively affect college squash. Helping CSA teams create safe, supportive, and inclusive environments in their programs is a top priority. Long term, the Committee strives to lead global change in diversity, equity, and inclusion across the entire squash community.

Information gathered from the Committee’s initial surveys and conversations will help guide the development of sustained, impactful programming and resources for CSA coaches and constituents. In line with the US Squash Community Initiative and in partnership with the Squash + Education Alliance, the Committee will support and encourage CSA teams who aim to increase access to squash for members of their local communities. The Committee will also recommend diverse representation in new roles on the CSA Board of Directors, CSA committees, and future CSA staff members.

“College squash has gradually grown in diversity and inclusivity, especially in recent years, but there is still an incredible amount of work to be done,” says CSA Executive Director and League Commissioner David Poolman. “This committee will play a vital role in galvanizing our membership around important diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that will benefit our entire sport.”

The members of the inaugural CSA Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee are:
Stuart George, Co-Chair, Amherst College Assistant Coach
Erin Robson, Co-Chair, Mount Holyoke College Head Coach
Busani Xaba, Co-Chair, Amherst College Head Coach
Niki Clement, Haverford College Head Coach
Pat Cosquer, Hobart and William Smith Colleges Head Coach
Chris Fernandez, Dickinson College Head Coach
Martin Heath, University of Rochester Head Coach
Lauren Johnston, Haverford College Assistant Coach
Lynn Leong, Yale University Associate Head Coach
Theo Woodward, Bowdoin College Head Coach
Joanne Schickerling, Coach Board Member, Columbia University Associate Head Coach
David Poolman (ex officio)

With recent COVID-19 trends continuing to raise concern, causing several College Squash Association (CSA) member institutions to significantly limit or cancel their season plans, the CSA Board of Directors voted on Thursday to cancel the 2021 CSA national championship events. This cancellation includes the Women’s Team Championships, the Men’s Team Championships, and the Individual Championships for the current season.

The Board’s vote followed a thorough review of the logistics and resources required to stage these events safely, as well as a comprehensive assessment of CSA teams’ operations, including their respective clearances to train, travel, host competitions, and gather in large groups. Like its member institutions and conferences, CSA has exercised caution to protect the health and wellbeing of its student-athletes, coaches, and other constituents.

“It is heartbreaking to deny student-athletes the championship playing experiences they would normally have had,” said David Poolman, Executive Director and League Commissioner of the CSA. “The current unprecedented circumstances caused by COVID-19 create too many obstacles which prevent our safe and desired execution of the championships this season.”

Maximizing the student-athlete experience remains a top priority for CSA. Even without the championship events, CSA still intends to support all institutions which allow their teams to train and compete in dual matches in a medically-approved manner. In consultation with US Squash and NCAA return-to-competition guidelines, CSA will publish minimum testing strategies and match protocols soon, which teams should use to create safe playing opportunities.

CSA is also committed to honoring graduating seniors and recognizing the typical end-of-season academic and athletic award winners. While the cancellation is certainly disappointing, CSA is eager to engage the college squash community in new and creative ways throughout this season.

Currently, the scheduled dates for the 2022 Championships are as follows, with locations still to be determined:

Men’s Team Championships – February 18-20, 2022
Women’s Team Championships – February 25-27, 2022
Individual Championships – March 4-6, 2022

The College Squash Association (CSA) recognizes that two additional conferences which sponsor squash – the Ivy League and the Liberty League – have recently cancelled 2020-2021 competition for their winter sports programs. The CSA shares in the disappointment and sadness being felt by college squash players and fans this week, even while the leagues’ decisions were rightfully based on protecting the safety and well-being of their campus communities and their students-athletes.

Even though many varsity players will lose the opportunity to compete for their team this year, some programs not under these restrictions may still seek matches for their players. As long as such competition is medically appropriate and institutionally approved, CSA will support teams’ efforts to schedule contests and will promote those matches on its media platforms.

The CSA Board of Directors has also approved eligibility flexibility for student-athletes impacted by this difficult year. CSA will ask all member institutions to apply the season of competition and eligibility blanket waivers recently approved by the NCAA Division I and Division III Councils. This means squash student-athletes should not lose a season of eligibility this year, even if they enroll and play in some matches during the season. Students should speak to their coaches and athletics department administrators for additional clarity on this option.

SAVE THE DATE: In the face of current challenges, CSA is pleased to announce an initiative to celebrate the exciting present and tremendous history of college squash. The last full week of March 2021 (March 21-28) will feature several interactive events, culminating with an fun-filled “College Squash Day” during the March 27-28 weekend. Squash fans should mark their calendars and stay tuned for more details about this unique set of events.

Once again, CSA sends best wishes to all student-athletes, especially seniors, and coaches impacted by the season cancellations. We stand with you and look forward to highlighting your play and accomplishments in the new year.