Given to high school student athletes who achieved a minimum GPA of 3.5 (or B+ equivalent) in school and earned a U.S. SQUASH Final Season ranking, U.S. SQUASH recognized 112 Scholar-Athletes who participated in the junior squash season during the 2007-2008 academic year. This year’s recipients, who had to play in at least four junior tournaments and pass the club referee exam while maintaining the minimum 3.5 GPA, include 59 girls and 53 boys, hailing from public and private schools in 14 states. They reflect a wide range of ability levels demonstrated by rankings ranging from No. 1 to No. 148. In addition, four graduating student athletes (Margaret Chapman, Aly Kerr, Eliana Saltzman and Anna-Elisabeth Scheidt) were given special acknowledgment for being recognized as scholar athletes in all three years of the program’s existence .
Conor O’Malley, Director of Junior Development at U.S. SQUASH, stated, “The Scholar-Athlete Award has grown considerably over the years, from 47 awards granted in the first year of 2006, to 78 in the second, and now 112. This is a 44% increase from last year and a 138% increase from the first year of the program. This considerable growth demonstrates the increasing success that young squash players are having both on the squash court and in the classroom.” He added, “It is quite an achievement to be designated as outstanding athlete in this sport and an outstanding high school student in the classroom. We would encourage more high school student athletes who play squash to apply for the award next year.”
All information and application material for the U.S. SQUASH Scholar-Athlete Award can be found on the web at www.ussquash.com for Junior Squash and the link “U.S. SQUASH Scholar-Athlete Award.”
