St. Paul’s School today announced plans to build four squash courts, making it the first secondary school in Maryland with on-campus courts. The courts, scheduled for completion by October 15 in time for the 2011-12 interscholastic season, will be constructed in what had previously been the Kelly Gymnasium of the St. Paul’s Middle School.
“These courts are another example of our School’s commitment to providing the fullest range of opportunities possible for our students, in academics, in the arts, and in athletics,” said Headmaster Thomas J. Reid. “Our students will gain exposure to a great lifelong activity, regardless of their other athletic pursuits.“
St. Paul’s currently fields varsity and junior varsity squash teams. The varsity team won the Division Five consolation bracket at the 2011 U.S. High School Team Squash Championship. The School plans to create a middle school squash program and provide recreational use of the courts to other members of its community.
According to the World Squash Federation, squash is one of the world’s fastest growing sports, played on almost 50,000 courts spread across 189 countries.
“Having an area school build squash courts on campus is a very exciting development. It shows how popular the sport has become and will help promote it even further,” said Maryland State Squash Racquets Association President Andrew Cordoba. “The courts at St. Paul’s will be the finest in the state of Maryland, and we’re excited to have them in town.”
The Seymour H. Knox Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to arts, education and human services organizations, provided initial funding for a feasibility study and architectural drawings. Support to complete the project has come from a small group of anonymous donors. St. Paul’s is in the final stages of a capital campaign that is nearing the $24 million mark and is on target to reach its $25 million goal by June 30; the courts and the funds for their construction are not part of that ongoing effort.
“As soon as I heard about these courts, I wrote to every one of the players. I couldn’t contain my excitement about the opportunities this is going to bring to them, and the entire program,” said St. Paul’s squash coach Lanny Springs. “I think some of the seniors are going to wish they had another year of school left, just so they could take advantage of them.”
