The first Annual Bob Hanscom Adult Squash Championships tournament took place on August 13th at LA Squash Academy in South Pasadena. 5 divisions were hotly contested, with winners Jessica Li (2.5), Holly Gottlieb (3.5), Ray Tse (4.5), Louis Sallerson (5.0), and Alex Reynolds (Open) taking home first-place honors.

This Player Spotlight features Frances Burton, a sophomore at Amherst College where she is a member of the women’s squash team. Frances hails from San Marino, learned to play squash at LA Squash Academy, and attended Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena

LA Squash Academy in South Pasadena will host a Women’s Exhibition Match in addition to round robin play on Friday, September 16th, 4:30-6:30pm. Don’t miss the chance to see the match between Ivy Pochoda and Sophie Lee and enjoy food and wine.

Over the course of three days and across three venues, SoCal will have the exciting opportunity to see two rising superstars of women’s pro squash up close and in action: Sabrina Sohby (above right, American, ranked #21 in the world) and Mélissa Alvès (above left, French, ranked #25 in the world).

As we announced in the our previous eblast, Bob Hanscom passed away peacefully on May 31st at the age of 86. The greater squash community treasures his enormous impact on the sport, recapped in US Squash Magazine and SquashMAD. Known as the “godfather of squash in Los Angeles,” Bob did more than anyone to grow the game of squash in Southern California.

There is a new short film about squash in the making! CRACK SHOT is a film by Alex Cohen, a relatively new member of our SoCal squash community.

We recently learned of the passing of Jorge Guevara, a longtime LAAC employee and squash advocate. In addition to stringing countless squash rackets, Jorge was the Handball Coordinator for LAAC’s Handball Court Fit Class during the 1980’s!

School is out! Juniors can think about enrolling in these local summer squash camps: LA Squash Academy Junior Elite Squash Camp with Hadrian Stiff June 20-July1, Access Youth Academy Fun Squash Camp July 11-13,18-20, and 25-27, LA Squash Academy Summer Camp June 13-August 19, and Access Youth Academy Elite Pre-Tournament Camp August 1-4.

Finally, we give a big hello to our two new Junior Board Members – Abigail Alemayeho and Jesus Arriaga - who will work with us to strengthen our communication efforts across SoCal. In this newsletter we present Jesus (pictured above), a sophomore at Laguna Blanca School, a member of Santa Barbara School of Squash (SBSOS), and a recent member of the TEDx Laguna Blanca Curation Team. Welcome!

Jonathan Club in Los Angeles hosted the SoCal Squash Classic Pro Mixed Doubles Tournament on April 1st-3rd. The event, sponsored by Level Up with JD, featured 8 pro teams from the United States and Canada competing for $25,000 in prizes. This was the first Mixed Pro Doubles tournament to take place on the West Coast!

Viva Las Vegas! Join Santa Barbara School of Squash from 5-10PM on Sunday, June 5th at 1114 Sports Bar & Games in Downtown Santa Barbara’s La Arcada Plaza for a night of entertainment with dinner, music, gaming tables, live auction, and more. Non-attendees can also go online to join in the fun via an online auction and make Fund-A-Need donations.

It is with sorrow that we report that Coach Bob Hanscom, longtime Squash Pro at the Los Angeles Athletic Club, Founder and Director Emeritus of the Los Angeles Squash Academy, and a trailblazing leader of our SoCal squash community, passed away on May 31st. Bob was honored by Squash Magazine as one of the Top Fifty: The Most Intriguing and Influential People of 2016.

Access Youth Academy hosted the Access Spring Bronze Tournament on April 30th. Over 50 players from across SoCal participated, including over 25 Access Youth Academy players – of whom many have been playing squash for less than a year!

Looking back for a moment, we came across two impressive tomes chronicling the life of squash in the region, one from 1972-73 from Past President John Dewis and one spanning the 90s decade (from Past President Alan Fox).

SoCal Squash is pleased to be an event partner for the upcoming Jonathan Clubs Pro Mixed Doubles Tournament from April 1st-3rd. The event will feature 8 teams from around the US & Canada, competing for $25,000 in prize money. This will be the first ever Mixed Pro Doubles tournament ever played on the West Coast!

Access Youth Academy’s 2021 high school graduates attend a variety of excellent colleges. The urban squash athletic and academic academy focused on underserved San Diego students has served close to 200 students.

Outdoor courts continue to gain momentum in Southern California. SoCal Squash’s Outdoor Courts committee is actively researching various material types and formats.

As of February 5th, LAAC squash Pro Brett Newton is back and ready to get players back in action with Squash Round Robins on Saturdays 9:30-11:30am and Tuesdays from 6:15-8:15pm.

Santa Barbara School of Squash (SBSOS) will soon be moving out of the Santa Barbara Racquet Club. Executive Director Robert Graham and his committee are working with the local YMCA to secure 2-3 racquetball courts, which would be converted to singles squash courts. 

South End Racquet and Health Club in Torrance hosted a 1 day invitational squash tournament on Saturday, November 20th, its first event in over 5 years.