Leanza Snags Improbable #1 PST Ranking
from Tour Media
March 27, 2012 - Adrian Leanza has quietly taken hold of Pro Squash Tour's #1 spot this week. The Denver, CO native's improbable rise to PST's top spot is a noteworthy tale.
Leanza taught himself to play squash. "There wasn't a lot of squash activity at the time I was growing up in Denver," said Leanza. As a teenager, he met legendary squash coach Stuart LeGassick at one of the leGassickSquash Camps.
"He was not particularly strong on court," said LeGassick. "But he was very coachable. He listened to everything we said, and nobody worked harder to improve his game than Adrian."
LeGassick is the long-time coach at Brown University and recruited Adrian to Brown. Of course, Leanza is also a gifted intellect. At Brown, he was a triple major (Applied Mathematics, Chemistry, and Economics).
Leanza rose quickly within LeGassick's program. His senior year, Leanza was the #1 player and team captain on the Brown team, which was ranked 12th nationally.
The week after the 2011 nationals, Leanza made his pro debut in the Providence Open. He was quickly dispatched by 2011 PST World Champion Bradley Ball.
"I wasn't sure Adrian would return after that beating," said PST Commissioner Joe McManus. "Bradley gave him a rude welcome to the pro tour. But sure enough, Adrian followed us to Albany a few weeks later."
Leanza now bases himself in Philadelphia, where he trains with former Scottish National High Performance Coach Paul Frank. Under Frank's guidance, Leanza has steadily risen up the PST ladder. He goes deep into almost every tournament. He reached the finals of the Pro Squash Cup, Pyramid Open and Boston Open. And he won this season's Philadelphia Open.
"Leanza is regarded as the fittest player on tour," said McManus. "His shots don't scare opponents, but nobody wants to face Adrian in a fifth game. I don't know if its his high altitude training, genetics, or Paul Frank, but Adrian is just as strong in game 5 as he is in game 1. It is definitely something the pros discuss in the locker room."
Leanza's next tournament is the Providence Open, coincidentally being hosted by Brown Unviversity. It represents a reunion of sorts. Coach LeGassick will be in the stands. Former Brown Assistant (and current Drexel Assistant) Sean Wilkinson will be competing. And this year's Brown University #1 Brad Thompson will also be competing.
Of note, waiting in Providence for Leanza will be young Egyptian Mohamed El Sherbini who has been PST #1 all season until this week. Sherbini and Leanza are seeded to meet in the semi-finals. If they face one another, PST's #1 spot could hang in the balance.
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