By Chris Smith, National Teams Manager
The CHERRYPHARM Team USA Squash Tour provides a competitive environment for US Team and Squad members to play for valuable points and earn their way onto Team USA. The next team competition, the Pan American Games, are the quadrennial, regional version of the Olympic Games and will be hosted this summer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 13-29.
The women just completed their last selection event, held in Westchester, NY. Latasha Khan defeated Michelle Quibell in a close five game final. As a result of finishing atop the point standings, Khan has been automatically selected to the team. The balance of the team will be determined at the Trials, June 1-3, at the Harvard Club and Union Boat Club in Boston. Those invited to attend (in addition to Khan) are: Michelle Quibell, Natalie Grainger, Lily Lorentzen and Ivy Pochoda
Meredeth Quick and Kristen Lange have elected not to compete for a place on the team, despite qualifying for the Trials.
For the men, four of the five Tour events have taken place (as of this writing). The most recent event, held at Squash Alley in Stamford, CT, April 27-29, was won by host club head pro, Damian Walker over Ryan Donegan. By the time you read this, the final event on the schedule will have been held at the Boca Pointe Country Club, May 11-13.
After the Boca Pointe event, players ranked 2nd-5th will be invited to the Trials being held in Boston alongside the women’s Trials in June. The top two finishers at the conclusion of the Trials will be added to the team, and the 3rd place finisher will become first alternate.
