Members of Team Wallbanger after winning their tenth SquashBusters Derby.SquashBusters Boston senior Karyme Veliz-Gomez spoke about her time in the program.
Team Wallbanger lapped the field to win the 2018 MFS SquashBusters Derby, notching its tenth victory in a row at the program’s 12th annual fundraising event held over the May 3-5 weekend.
But like every good thoroughbred, there comes a time to retire from the track.
With a storied history of eleven races, 40 individual jockeys, and an astounding $2,500,000+ in aggregate team contributions, Wallbanger founder and ex-captain Amrit Kanwal took a moment during his program remarks representing lead Derby sponsor MFS, to announce that the 2018 Derby would be Wallbanger’s last. With the support of Co-Captains Charlie Humber and Jon Hyett, Wallbanger’s all-black livery, the thrum of their three-thump war cry, and the teams incredible desire to win – both on the fundraising front and the squash court – will become the stuff of Derby legend.
Fear not, though, for the Wallbanger spirit lives on. Its members will carry their support of SquashBusters to other teams, and a new generation bucked at the stable door this year. SquashBusters Chair and Salubrious Captain John Blasberg invited sixteen-year-old Jack Winston to co-captain his team and fill all the singles slots with highly-rated young challengers. While the teenagers could not overturn Wallbanger in round robin play, they did finish second in the Preakness Pool and raised more than $120,000.
For the second year in a row, Wallbanger faced three-year-old Unbridled in the Derby final, prevailing once again over the all-women’s team in a new shootout format by the dominating score of 26-8. Wallbanger crushed the fundraising competition as well, closing with an amazing $398,903 at the time this went to print. Derby Worthy was the no. 2 fundraiser at $193,615. With Derby Co-Chair and doubles player Jeannie Blasberg’s personal fundraising of $28,270 in the lead, Unbridled raised just over $150,000 as a team.
Overall, more than 96 amateur players, a dozen team captains, 32 juniors, and sixteen elite pros took to the doubles courts at the University Club and the singles courts at SquashBusters in an 8-team race full of fun, festivities and incredible generosity. MFS led the way as the Derby’s Title Sponsor, but major thanks are also due to Will Muggia and Westfield Capital Management, who increased their Diamond sponsorship to $100,000 this year, and Gold Sponsors Peter Palandjian and Intercontinental Real Estate, Digger Donahue and Brown Brothers Harriman, and Steve Birch, Greg Jannetta and William O’Neil + Co.
Event Co-Chair and Wallbanger honorary captain David Drubner repeated as the prestigious Secretariat Award winner, bringing in an incredible $88,500 in individual donations, while super-supporters Sandy Tierney, Amrit Kanwal, Will Muggia, and George Bell were in close pursuit the entire way. Significant personal contributions also came from David and Lisa Antonelli, George Bell and Carrie Minot Bell, John and Jeannie Blasberg, Ralph and Janice James, Don and Susan Mykrantz, and Robert and Donna Manning.
Elite squash pros John Roberts, Clinton Leeuw, Dan Sharplin, Nick Taylor, Amanda Sobhy, Wael El Hindi, David Palmer and Peter Nicol generously donated their time and talents to the Derby.[/caption]On the squash front, some of the sport’s best-loved and most successful professionals donated their time, talents and enthusiasm to ensure the Derby was a success. Returning for the 10th time were World Champion Peter Nicol and local hero and coach Dan Sharplin. Adding excitement to the pro singles competition were 2-time World Champion David Palmer, USA #1 Amanda Sobhy, World Masters 45+ Champion Nick Taylor, Clinton Leeuw, John Roberts and Egyptian star Wael El Hindi. Elite doubles pros included SDA stars Mike Ferreira, Yvain Badan, Graham Bassett, and Raj Nanda; WSDA champion Dana Betts, as well as Hameed Ahmed, Gary Waite, and Chris Walker. Other notables included Mark Talbott, John Nimick, Kenton and Kevin Jernigan, celebrity chef and former Yale star Ming Tsai, and Scott Dulmage.
Elite squash pros John Roberts, Clinton Leeuw, Dan Sharplin, Nick Taylor, Amanda Sobhy, Wael El Hindi, David Palmer and Peter Nicol generously donated their time and talents to the Derby.
New Director of Squash at INFINITUM Squash in Sudbury, MA, Nick Taylor organized the third year of the Derby’s Junior Stakes competition on Saturday morning, bringing together 16 young players from the greater Boston community and 16 SquashBusters students for 2 hours of drills, competition and teamwork.
SquashBusters student speaker Karyme Veliz-Gomez was the star of the evening program, highlighting the pathway SquashBusters and the sport of squash have illuminated for her as she looks forward to graduating high school and becoming the first in her family to attend a four-year college with her enrollment at UMass Boston this fall.
Founder Greg Zaff concluded the 2018 Derby weekend by thanking everyone who contributed to the record-setting fundraising total of $1,381,725, and by identifying the one thing that was there at the beginning of SquashBusters and still continues to propel its students, staff, Board, volunteers, and himself: love.
The SQB Boston seventh graders at their first official practice.
Fall at SquashBusters is an incredibly busy time, with gym visits, try-outs and college applications adding additional excitement to an already packed schedule. Introducing squash to hundreds of middle school students at our five partner schools, making the difficult decision of who will make the seventh-grade team, and putting the finishing touches on the seniors’ college essays – all of this activity means lots of hard work on the part of our students, staff, and of course, the committed volunteers who give their all to helping our students succeed.
That’s why it is so rewarding to see everyone come together each November to celebrate two huge milestones: the official welcome ceremony for the seventh-grade team, and the seniors celebrating the completion of their college essays by reading them aloud to the entire SQB community. This tradition started only one year ago, but has already become a highlight of the program year – the youngest and oldest students in the program joining hands to inspire each other and everyone around them.
Last Tuesday, students, coaches, academic coordinators and mentors gathered next to the squash courts to welcome the newest generation of SQB Boston students. A team of 30 seventh-graders made its way down a column of cheering high school students, eager to welcome them into their very own community. And just like that, the newest members of the SQB family began a six-year journey that will motivate, challenge, and reward them, in ways they can’t yet fully understand.
Shortly after, a hush fell over the room, and it was time to hear from those nearing the end of that journey: the 12th-graders. SQB College and Alumni Success Manager Mikhail Darlington, who has worked closely with each senior on their applications, introduced the speakers: Avi, Audrey, Ayra, Cynthia, Heyssis, Karyme, Tina, and Toni. The crowd was quiet and attentive – the seventh graders especially rapt as they watched students who had been in their shoes just a handful of years ago. Each senior bravely shared intimate stories about personal challenges they’ve faced and courageous steps they’ve taken, their big dreams to change the world, and their excitement and fear about the unknown.
“In squash, if you aren’t willing to go for every point, you won’t have a chance of winning,” Karyme shared from her essay. “In life, if you don’t take risks and challenge yourself, then you won’t achieve the things you truly want. I know college will bring new challenges, but I’m certain that the lessons I’ve learned from squash will continue to motivate me and guide me to uphold myself to everything I know I can achieve.”
With such great role models before them, we know the seventh grade class will be inspired to work hard, dig deep and surpass their own expectations. And before we know it, these same seventh-graders – the class of 2023 – will be reading their essays to a new class of SquashBusters students. We are so grateful for special occasions like this, that bring us together and demonstrate the love, support and commitment of this community.
A Massachusetts Governor, the Boston Police Commissioner, and an SQB Alum Sit Down for Breakfast…
SQB Board Chair John Blasberg, BPD Commissioner William Evans, SQB Providence Squash Director Rodney Galvao and SQB COO Chris Lynch at the Breakfast with Champions.
No, this isn’t the start of a joke – it was the start of the second annual SquashBusters Breakfast with Champions! Fifty guests from all corners of SQB convened over breakfast to discuss concrete ways we can all contribute toward building a strong and hopeful community. Kicked off by a welcome from SQB alum and current SQB Board member Kadineyse Paz, guests had a chance to meet SquashBusters’ newest leader, Caitlin Barrett, at the helm of SquashBusters Providence, and hear a State of the Program update by all three of our incredible program leaders. Boston Police Commissioner William Evans closed out the morning with remarks about the importance of creating strong, safe spaces both within SquashBusters and in the community at large.
In addition to the esteemed police commissioner, in attendance were some of SquashBusters’ biggest stakeholders: SQB Advisory Council members, school and community partners from Boston and Lawrence, members of the Boston Parent Committee, and SQB staff. Notable guests included former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, Winston Flowers’ Simone Winston, Squash and Education Alliance (formerly known as the National Urban Squash and Education Association) Board Chair Amrit Kanwal, and several members of SQB’s Board of Directors, including Chair John Blasberg, David Antonelli, Meg Campbell, Juma Crawford, David Drubner and Philomena Mantella.
The real work of the morning occurred at each table, where guests talked in small groups about the big issues that impact youth: safety, positive relationships, and health. Parents spoke of SQB’s place in their lives as a safe haven for their kids; staff and supporters discussed strategies for improving both the emotional and physical health of our students; and Board members and alumni shared stories about role models who have impacted their lives. We are so thankful for each and every one of our Champions for sharing their time, insight, and personal experiences and for helping to improve the lives of SQB’s 350 students.
SquashBusters Ready for Take-Off in Providence
SQB Board Member and Providence Leadership Council Chair Habib Gorgi with SQB Executive Director Caitlin Barrett.
SquashBusters Providence will officially open our doors on December 9 at a formal dedication of the brand-new, twelve-court, two-classroom Gorgi Family Squash and Education Center. In the years to come, hundreds of Providence young people will walk through those doors and have their lives forever changed, thanks to our partnership with Moses Brown School.
SQB has already made its home in the Providence community, forming its first official partnership with DelSesto Middle School. SQB staff spent several weeks in November dropping in on gym classes at the school, introducing the sport to hundreds of students. Once the building is open, interested students will start trying out for the first-ever sixth grade team.
It’s been five years since SquashBusters first hatched its plans for expansion to Providence, and it is hard to believe that our home is built and programming set to begin. The dedication ceremony on December 9 will recognize all of the generous donors who have helped make this project possible, most notably SQB Board Member and Providence Leadership Council Chair Habib Gorgi, whose leadership and investment in the project have been instrumental.
SquashBusters COO Chris Lynch teaches squash to a sixth grader at DelSesto Middle School.
Other major supporters include George and Carrie Bell, Tench and Simone Coxe, Digger and Susan Donahue, Bill and Jacalyn Egan, The Esselen family, the Gertler Clark family, the Haldeman family, Barbara and Amos Hostetter, Douglas Jacobs, George Kellner, the Lewis Family Foundation, the Lavine family, the Manice family, Ed Mank, the Muggia Family, Don and Susan Mykrantz, Andy Neher, Sandy and Jill Spaulding, and Steve Woodsum and Anne Lovett.
The facility, which sits Moses Brown’s campus, will be shared by SquashBusters and Moses Brown. The space will also be home to the Nicol Squash Club, which will be directed by former World Number 1 Peter Nicol and offer memberships, lessons, league play, and his signature junior coaching program, with five-time Irish national champion Arthur Gaskin serving as the resident pro.
“We are so excited to launch this program and bring urban squash to the city of Providence,” said Caitlin Barrett, SQB Providence Executive Director. “SquashBusters is so grateful for the opportunity to bring new resources and opportunities to Providence young people. Thanks to partners like Moses Brown and Nicol Squash Club, Providence residents from different backgrounds and circumstances will be united by the game of squash.”
SQB Becomes First-Ever Boston Public Schools Varsity Squash Team
The SquashBusters Boston varsity high school team.
For the first time ever, SquashBusters Boston will represent Boston Public Schools this year as a varsity high school squash team, thanks to an official sanction by BPS Athletic Director Avery Esdaile.
As a varsity high school team, SQB Boston will be officially recognized by U.S. Squash. The team will be eligible to attend the U.S. High School Team Championships, which will take place February 2-4 at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. SquashBusters will be the second urban squash team to join the varsity high school ranks, after Squash Haven became a varsity team last year.
The varsity team has a packed schedule ahead of them it, with its first match at Concord Academy this Friday, December 1. Other upcoming matches include:
Saturday, December 2
SquashBusters @ St. Mark’s School
Saturday, December 9
SquashBusters @ Moses Brown School
Wednesday, January 10
SquashBusters @ Pomfret School
Tuesday, January 16
Brookline High School @ SquashBusters
Wednesday, January 17
SquashBusters @ Middlesex School
“It’s incredibly exciting for SquashBusters to join the ranks of some of the most elite high school squash programs in the country as an official varsity team,” said High School Squash Coordinator Guy Davidson. “This will open so many doors for our students, allowing them to take their performance to the next level and improve their prospects of playing college squash.”
This is another huge step in SQB’s ongoing efforts to provide students who want to play college squash with even more opportunities to improve their skills in the game. For the third year in a row, SQB Boston students have the opportunity to be paired with generous professional and amateur squash mentors, who meet with them 2-3 times per month to practice and share advice. Last year, we introduced an Elite Training Squad, an early-morning Saturday practice open to students who demonstrate exceptional commitment to squash. To empower our female students, SQB Boston also created Female Athletes Stick Together (F.A.S.T.), a student leadership group that plans and hosts events like all-girls practices and fitness classes with partners Recycle Studio and Cardio High.
Since 1996, SquashBusters has seen more than 30 program graduates go on to play college squash. Two recent graduates from the class of 2017, Jennifer Mbah at Mount Holyoke College and Kira Tejeda at Hobart & William Smith Colleges, are standouts on their varsity teams – both currently undefeated. In addition, Ravi Rao has had a strong start on Bryant University’s club team. We are so proud to see them succeed on their college courts, and inspire current SQB students to follow in their footsteps.
