Welcome

A Century of Squash

College squash is the bellows of the sport in the USA. It breathes life into both sides of the forge, from the juniors to the pros. Our 66 Varsity programs inhale hundreds of kids each year, offer them a thrilling, life-shaping four-year experience and then wafts them out across the country (and the world) to advocate on and off court for the sport for the rest of their lives. The success of the J.P. Morgan Tournament of Champions is based firmly on this reality, too, on the strength of the love of the game from parents, alumni, juniors and CSA graduates.

College squash is celebrating its Centennial season this year and the ToC is doing its part to help make a success of the Association’s goals to expand the number of varsity programs, particularly women’s, and to continue to enhance the experience of every student-athlete. We are thrilled to honor legendary Princeton Women’s Coach Gail Ramsay at our 11th annual Women’s Leadership Awards luncheon and to dedicate the proceeds of the event to the CSA. We are also excited to host Nicol Squash’s young alumni gathering on Saturday night which will bring together over 40 local college squash alums for squash and cold beverages.

My own college squash experience forged my desire to stay in the game for life. I was fortunate to be on great winning teams in my four years, but I don’t recall a single match, game or point. What I do remember are the road trips, meals, team meetings, beers with the coach (both of us were legal), girlfriends, parents, celebrations, despair and nicknames. Lots of nicknames like Fuji, Bazook, PT, Tiny, Stevie J, Mac, The Fog and Captain Frank. Squash can be a solitary, hard sport - you are indeed on your own out there - except when there are eight teammates, coaches and home crowds encouraging you and pulling for you. There is simply nothing else like it in the game.

And the future is bright, 100,000 Kilowatt-type bright. Squash finally is an Olympic Sport. When the announcement came from the International Olympic & Paralympic Committee in October 2023 that squash would join the Games in Los Angeles in 2028, I felt our global community stand up straight, lift its head and step forward. We are all excited about what this recognition of our sport - and its extensive and proud history - means for the future. College squash competition began in 1923, while the ToC traces its roots to 1930 (hence our tag line this year “Truly Grand Since 1930”) and I hope they both thrive throughout the next century, too.