Twenty years after the game of Squash Racquets was invented at the Harrow School near London, the St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire, built the first two squash courts in the United States. The year was 1884. By 1905, there were club courts in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and Baltimore. The first three courts in Maryland were built by the Baltimore Country Club. The United States Squash Racquets Association was founded the following year and one year later, in 1907, a small band of squash enthusiasts partitioned the USSRA to form the Maryland State Squash Racquets Association. The 2007, and 64th, Baltimore Invitational Doubles Tournament Saturday Night Dinner Dance was the MSSRA Centennial Celebration.
For the past decade and even more so today, Maryland State Squash is focused on juniors. The adoption of the International Game as the official version of competitive intercollegiate squash has brought thousands of United States juniors to the game. Maryland squash is no exception. When Maryland State Squash founded the High School Championships in 1998, 32 juniors signed up representing five local schools. Today more than 500 juniors are actively involved. Sixteen juniors are nationally ranked. Five Baltimore juniors are ranked in the top six within their age category; two are ranked No. 1.
Merritt Athletic Clubs operate both city and county public squash facilities. A four-time NCAA Champion and Botswana National Champion, Lefika Ragontse, helped establish a squash program at MAC’s Bare Hills location in 2006. As Director of Squash for all Merritt facilities, Lefika now trains more than seventy junior players. Merritt’s six courts are busy. Hundreds play regularly, either casually or competitively. For the past three years, MAC has hosted and Lefika has managed a $40,000 Professional Event that brings the very best International players to Maryland. Merritt Clubs also feature tennis, workout facilities and training programs.
The Maryland Club built its first squash courts in 1920. In 1965, it added a doubles court. The hard ball courts were converted into four international courts in 1996; and in 1998, a second doubles and two singles courts were added. Three hundred plus members participate in the Maryland Club squash program. Andrew Cordova, a nationally ranked professional doubles player, has been Head Squash Professional since 1999. The Maryland Club sponsors and Andrew manages the annual $25,000 Maryland Club Pro-Am Doubles Tournament, largest in the region. Andrew independently coaches 16 juniors but because Maryland Club courts are occupied by a multitude of club events, it is difficult to run a large junior program. Nonetheless, Maryland Club members are reliable supporters of junior programs like Squash Wise. Doug Hoffberger, former Maryland Club Squash Chairman, is Squash Wise Board Chairman.
The Baltimore Country Club has been a cornerstone of Maryland State Squash. It built the first courts in Maryland and its members were first to join the MSSRA. In 1964, the BCC built a modern squash facility. Its doubles court remains one of the few in North America. The two 1964 hardball singles courts were removed in 1998 to be replaced by two hardwood International Courts with cushioned floors. Eleven National Doubles Championships have been held in Maryland, the last in 1996; the Baltimore Country Club hosted this tournament and was the host club on six other occasions. Jay Bewley, a Master Tennis Professional who earned his Ph.D in Philosophy, became BCC Director of Racquets in 2003. Determined to expand all three racquets programs, Jay brought Ben Garner to the BCC as Director of Squash. Ben, a top ranked international professional from England, is a world class teacher and organizer. Because of him, BCC Squash has more than prospered. This season, 110 juniors participate in Ben’s program. Ben manages the BCC Baltimore Open, an annual event that brings up-and-coming, top 100 ranked, international professionals to Baltimore to compete, play with members and coach juniors.
