Santa Barbara Pros Visit Arroyo Seco Squash by Nick At Will Debbie Brown, Santa Barbara School of Squash Executive Director
May 29, 2013
- Santa Barbara squash professionals Orla O'Doherty and Debbie Brown
paid the new Arroyo Seco squash court in South Pasadena a visit
following their participation in a junior bronze squash tournament
hosted by The Los Angeles Athletic Club where one of their junior
players, 12 year-old Dillon Miller won two age-groups, the under 15's
and under 19's. This youngster has a great squash future ahead of him,
that's for sure!
Orla O'Doherty
Orla oversees the squash program at SBAC, assisted by Debbie Brown.
Orla is a three-time national champion in the over 30 and over 35 age
groups - and became the 2009 US National Champion in the women's 5.5
skill level event. Orla has been coaching in the United States for 20
years and is a former women's professional tour-player, having reached
a world ranking high of #69. Both pros are U.S. Squash
Association Level 2 coaches.
Debbie Brown
Debbie is Executive Director of the Santa Barbara School of Squash and
is a three-time national champion in the over 35 and 40 age-groups. She
has been coaching at SBAC for 16 years and continues to be competitive
in both skill-level and age-group national championships.
Adding the new squash court to the Arroyo Seco Racquet Club's facility was the result of six-months planning and implementation. John Letts
John Letts, owner of the Arroyo Seco Racquet Club in South Pasadena,
CA, former under 18 national tennis champion, Stanford standout and ATP
player said, "Recognizing a need for introducing squash to the area, I
decided the time was “right” (pending squash becoming an Olympic sport
in 2020) to bring squash to the community by converting one (at least
for now) of our club's four racquetball courts to a permanent
squash-court."
Bob Hanscom, retired 15-year squash professional at The Los Angeles
Athletic Club has temporarily come out of retirement to promote and
develop the squash program at Arroyo Seco Squash. Bob was quoted as
saying, "Bringing squash to the San Gabriel Valley has been a long-time
concept with me. There are many squash players residing in the area and
need a place to play squash locally, previously having to travel a
minimum of ten miles one way to play squash. With this new court
available, many more men, women and especially children will have
an opportunity to be introduced to, learn, practice and play our great
game.”
