Start Times & Draws available for this weekends Spire Western Region Championships!

Hello Tourney Participants!

Please click on the link below to view your start times and the draws for this weekends tourney.

http://www.ussquash.com/ssm/pages/tournaments/entrants.asp?id=2307

Shower facilities are available in the Ford Center( just a very short walk across from the Arillaga centre), but no towel service. Please bring your own towel. In addition to the Squash tourney, Stanford will also be hosting a High School Track & Field event this weekend, so parking will be an issue. Please allow extra time, so you're not late for your match.

I look forward to seeing you all this weekend.

Richard

85 Participants in this weekends 2011 Spire Western States Regional Champs

Eight-five participants will compete in this weekends Spire Western States Regional Championships, that we're hosting at Stanford. This weekends Winners and Finalists in each division will be eligible to play in the US Squash Skill Level Championships that will hosted in Baltimore, April 29-May 1st 2011. 

A huge thank you to John George of Spire, who has very generously sponsored this event. John has been a great benefactor to Bay Area Squash and we all really appreciate his generosity. 

Over the last 15 years I have organized many Bay Area Squash tournaments. This it is my first ever event at Stanford, so I'd like to wish all the competitors the very best of luck this weekend. Play hard, play fair, but most of all have fun! 

Here is the schedule of events-

Friday 25th-First round matches start at 5.30pm(Complimentary Dinner provided for all tourney participants).

Saturday 26th- Matches continue from 9.30am (Complimentary Breakfast & Lunch will be provided for tourney participants).

Sunday 27th- Finals Day. Matches start 9.30am. All main draw & consolation Finals as well as 3/4th & 7/8 Play-offs. (Complimentary Breakfast & lunch provided to all tourney participants).

http://www.ussquash.com/ssm/pages/tournaments/information.asp?tournament_id=2307

I look forward to seeing you at the tournament.

Richard

Bay Area Boys- Ming, Morgan & Becker Shine at US Junior Nationals!!

Bay area juniors Bransten Ming, Gabriel Morgan & Cole Becker all excelled at last weekends US Junior Nationals held at Yale University, New Haven, Conn. 

Bransten was a finalist in the boys under15 division. On his way to the final he beat the # 2 seed Anders Larson The # 3 seed Jordan Brail, eventually losing in the final to the # 1 seed Mason Ripka. Ripka was in impressive form. He didn't drop a game the whole tourney. 

Gabriel, won the boys under 15 consolation. In the final he beat Sean Hughes, 3-2.

And Cole, won the boys under 13 consolation. In the final he beat Reg Anderson, convincingly 3-0.

Congratulations- Branny, Gabe & Cole!!!

Bransten Ming Reaches final of US Under 15 national Championships!!!

Today, Bransten Ming reached the final of the boys under15 national championships which is being held at Yale University, New Haven, Conn. In this mornings quarter-final, Bransten beat the # 2 seed Anders Larson (Brooklyn, NY)3-2. Then this evening in the semi-final  he beat  the # 3 seed Jordan Brail (New York, NY), by the same scoreline. In the final Bransten will meet the # 1 seed Mason Ripka (New York, NY). Ripka has been in impressive form and so far hasn't dropped a game in the tourney.
Two of my other junior players Gabriel Morgan, & Cole Becker are also competing at US nationals in New Haven. Gabe is competing in the boys under 15(same draw as Bransten). He has reached the semi -final of the consolation and will play against Senan Ubina (Stamford, Conn), tomorrow morning. Cole is competing in the Boys Under 13. He is also in the consolation semi-final tomorrow morning. His opponent will be Sean Oen ( Princeton NJ). Good Luck Branny, Gabe & Cole!

Stanford Junior Squash Clinics get started!

The Stanford junior program really got a jump start today with it's first junior clinic. Seventeen children, boys & girls ranging in age from 7-14 years showed up for the first clinic of a 10 week series. There are also an additional five children starting next week. All the kids seemed to have a good time. Thanks to my assistant coaches Surj Sondhi, Katy Brewster & Jai Padmakumar.

Gareth Webber- To be the New Head Pro SF Olympic Club!

Gareth Webber, has accepted the position as the New Head Pro at SF Olympic club. Gareth, AKA the "Welsh Wizard" will take up his new post in early April. He replaces Matt Jensen who moved to Kiawah Island, South Carolina last year. For the last seven years Gareth was the assistant coach at Yale University. With his great personality and coaching expertise, he will be a huge asset to the "O" club program and to Bay area Squash in general. I really look forward to working with him.

Stanford Men at Nationals- Boston, Mass Feb 25th-27th

The Stanford mens team finished the season ranked 24th, after losing all three of their matches at the Collegiate mens nationals in Boston. The Cardinals were beaten 8-1 by Amhurst in their opening match. # 2 Chris Baldock was the only team winner. In the first round consolation they were up against Colby. Although this was much closer than the previous days match with Amhurst, they still lost to Colby 7-2. Trent Hazy #5 won his match 3-1, and Chris Baldock #2 somehow managed to come back from  9-1 down in the fifth game to win his match 3-2. That was Chris's second five set win in two days. A great effort! In their second consolation match the boys were up against Hamilton College. This was a real heartbreak loss for the team. The went down by 5-4. Stanford #9 Chang Yea held a match ball at 2-0 & 10-9 in the third game, but couldn't quite convert and ended up losing in five very close games. The four team winners were- #1 Sam Gould, #2 Chris Baldock, #3 Tyler Strand & #7 Derek Rowley.