Location: Lawrence
Lawrence Community Squash
As of February 1st, Lawrence Community Squash is officially open and accepting new members!
Based out of the New Balance Foundation SquashBusters Center, Lawrence Community Squash is a community-minded club that seeks to create a vibrant, fun, and equitable environment for players to compete and connect on the court.
Ravi Rao
The New Balance Foundation SquashBusters Center is Open for Business
History was made in Lawrence last week as a grand opening celebration capped a week of firsts at the New Balance Foundation SquashBusters Center.
The opening of the Center marks a watershed moment for SquashBusters, becoming the first facility wholly owned and operated by SQB in its 28-year history.
The excitement began with the awarding of our long-awaited Certificate of Occupancy on Thursday, December 4th. Our youngest SquashBusters were treated to the first look, first opening circle, and first game in their new home later that day, and our high school students had the same opportunity the following day.
On Saturday, December 7th the building was humming as more than more than 40 amateur and professionals squash players, countless students, families, and supporters filled the facility when the 12th annual MashUp finally took place on home turf.
A huge thank you to our sponsors, The New Balance Foundation, Mighty Squirrel, Acadian Software, Winstanley Enterprises, Brown Brothers Harriman, Berkshire Bank, Bank of New England, and Fraser Project Management, for making the day possible. Our team captains – Jon Karlen and Jake Garmey once again leading the Andover Academics, Phil Field in charge of the Essex County Nicks, Bill Monaghan for the Lawrence Legion, and Bill Paine, Bruce Landay, and Steve Hauck driving the Volley – filled the roster with hungry competitors. After an exciting paddle competition at The Country Club on November 17, the Lawrence Legion came into the squash competition in the lead with 24 points and a six-point lead over the Andover Academics and the Essex County Nicks, who stood at 18. The Merrimack Volley trailed with 12 points.
Fierce competition on the new courts ensued with the outcome once again resting on the shoulders of our professional players. Special thanks to our pro contingent who served up some excellent squash throughout the day. Todd Harrity, in his first year off the PSA World Tour, took top honors with a thrilling win over surprise finalist Ali El Touky, a native Cairene just two years out from a standout college career at Trinity. El Touky has incredible racquet skills and seemed to hit every ball with the intent for it to be a winner, but Harrity showed the result of 11 years battling the best in the world – patience, tenacity, and precise length. Top college squash was again represented by our semifinalists, as Princeton standout and current Harvard Business School graduate student Adhitya Raghavan outlasted Harvard Associate Coach Hameed Ahmed for third place. Harrity’s victory over El Touky sealed the win and earned the coveted Krapels Cup for the Legion. The Academics continued their reign as the top fundraising team, bringing in over $85,000 and once again earning the Golden Mill trophy. Despite an incredible effort by all involved, we are still short or $425,000 goal. If you would like to contribute to a player or to the event itself, you can continue to do so here: https://give.squashbusters.org/event/2024-squashbusters-mashup/e620870.
And there was still more to come!
We capped off the week with a massive celebration and ribbon cutting for the Center, alongside our project partners Lawrence Community Works and the New Balance Foundation.
More than 150 people had the opportunity to tour our new space, hear from founder and major driver behind the project Greg Zaff, LCW Executive Director Jess Andors, Megan Bloch and Molly Santry of the new Balance Foundation, and local dignitaries like Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena, State Senator Pavel Payano, And Secretary of Housing, Ed Augustus.
The real star of the show was the building itself and possibilities it has inspired. Plans are already underway to collaborate with a number of community groups, introduce residents of the attached housing development to the sport of squash, and open a community squash program to grow interest in and visibility of the sport “up north”.
Links to Photos of the Week
Password is srwf67
The 2024 SquashBusters Mashup has officially kicked off!
About the Mashup
SQB MashUp Paddle Tournament
November 17th, 9:00 am-1:00 pm
The Country Club and Dedham Country & Polo Club
SQB MashUp Squash Tournament
December 7th, 12:00pm – 5:00pm
New Balance Foundation SquashBusters Center
SQB MashUp Awards Ceremony
December 7th, 4:00pm
New Balance Foundation SquashBusters Center
Join us for this exciting 12th Annual SquashBusters Mashup, a pro-amateur squash and paddle tennis tournament hosted by The Dedham Country and Polo Club, The Country Club in Brookline, and, for the first time, our very own facility in Lawrence.
This year’s MashUp, we will open the doors to the New Balance Foundation SquashBusters Center for a day full of squash. This moment has long been awaited since expanding north from Boston in 2012. We’re thrilled to enter the building in the coming weeks and start programming for Lawrence’s students in their new home. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Brooks School for graciously allowing us to use their courts and classrooms throughout these impactful years
If you wish to support SquashBusters Mashup, click the link here
New Balance Foundation SquashBusters Center Update
New Balance Foundation SquashBusters Center
The New Balance Foundation SquashBusters Center is almost finished! After years of hard work, SquahsBusters’ dream of a permanent home in Lawrence is almost a reality. As you can see in the photos, the squash courts and academic spaces are nearly complete with only a few details missing. Final touches around the building will be installed over the course of the next few weeks, including woodwork on the squash ceiling and custom seating areas as well as finishing the glass areas and carpeting throughout the center. After construction, all that remains is moving in all furniture, fitness equipment, and squash supplies before programming can commence in our beautiful new home!
If you’d like to see the space in person, please join us for the 2024 SquashBusters MashUp on Saturday, December 7 from 12 pm to 4 pm, our first official event in the new space at 26 Island Street, Lawrence MA. It will be a wonderful kick-off for the Center, with pro-squash exhibitions, student speakers, and more!