August 3, 2015
UVA Joins Stanford and Deerfield in Hosting Summer Training Camps
Players on the glass court of UVA’s McArthur Squash Center at Boar’s Head Athletic Club
For the first time, the University of Virginia hosted 25 high school urban squashers for a four-day intensive squash camp in Charlottesville, VA. The UVA Squad was inspired by NUSEA’s similar partnerships with Deerfield Academy and Stanford University, which also held summer training camps for urban squash’s top players. This year 99 students participated in one of these three training camps, which provide top-level coaching and the opportunity for urban squash players from around the country to travel, train, and spend time together.
Stanford Coach Mark Talbott was assisted by staff from four member programs at the squad
Stanford Varsity Coach Mark Talbott led the Stanford Squad, assisted by staff members from Racquet Up, Santa Barbara School of Squash, SquashDrive, and Access Youth Academy. At UVA, the camp was led by UVA coaches Mark Allen and Grant White, Squash Haven’s Owen Butler and NUSEA’s Jazmin Matos. The Deerfield Squad was coached by SquashBusters’ Ryan Thompson, Squash Haven’s Owen Butler, and Racquet Up’s Emma Head.
At squads, students endured intensive training. Players drilled together, did solo practice, and pushed through tough fitness sessions with the motivation of match play at the end. Players benefited from video analysis, allowing them to better understand strategy, technique, and their personal games. “It was awesome and intense,” said Caleb from CitySquash. “The coaches were incredible, informative and their instruction was great.”
Students posed in front of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge
At Stanford, players also had an afternoon of sightseeing around San Francisco. Players walked the Golden Gate bridge, slalomed down Lombardi Street, walked wide-eyed around Pier 39, and ran around Crissy Field playing pick-up soccer. The players went to Ghirardelli Square, drooled on the chocolate and subsequently bought them.
43 students trained at the Deerfield Squad
The UVA Squad took advantage of Charlottesville’s rich history for cultural outings. Among other historical sites, students visited Thomas Jefferson’s plantation, Monticello.
By the end of each squad, players returned home exhausted from non-stop squash and fun. As Paola from Impact360 said about the Stanford Squad, “That squad was one of the best experiences of my life!”
Read NBC‘s coverage of the UVA squad and see more photos from the UVA, Stanford, and Deerfield squads!
