South Pasadena, CA, LA Squash Academy GIANTS of squash, left to right... Aria Fazel (Iran/Rochester), Tom Williams (Scotland), Brooks Russell (U. of Penn) and Alex Reynolds (Pittsburgh).
In 2013...the South Pasadena, CA. Arroyo Seco Racquet Club included
nine tennis courts, two pickleball courts and five racquetball courts
at the facility...but no squash courts! The club's racquet community
had no idea what the game of squash was! This is when money was needed
to convert one racquetball court to squash. For about a year, one
squash professional was doing all the teaching at the club. The program
grew from coaching two junior squash players on a racquetball court, to
where there were over 30 squash players wanting private, semi-private
lessons and to attend clinics on the one squash court. Shortly
following that, a second squash professional was brought on to assist
with the squash program. The club wanted to host a junior squash
tournament, but to do that it needed to convert a second racquetball
court to squash. The money was raised and the task accomplished. Long
story short, the program grew to where the club had over 60 squash
players (mostly juniors) taking lessons, participating in squad
training, attending clinics and playing tournaments. Again...the
program grew to where a third and fourth racquetball court was
converted to squash! As it turned out, two more squash professionals
were hired to assist in coaching the now over 100 squash players who
were participating in the club's squash program. To accommodate the
demand, (just last month) a fifth racquetball court was converted to
squash. The club's name and program has subsequently and appropriately
been changed to the LA Squash Academy. Is the game of squash growing
and becoming more popular in Southern California...we think so!
