SQR+ Squash Radio

#13 Pushing new heights; for MetroSquash & himself! Princeton Grad, David Kay shares his journey of the Chicago non-profit, after school youth program.

For some quick background on our guest in this episode, here’s a quick overview,
We talk with David Kay, who is the CEO of MetroSquash, a thriving non-profit After Squash Youth Squash program, based in Chicago. During his 15 years at the helm of METRO Squash, he’s helped raised millions of dollar, built an permanent 10 Million home for the program, including 8 Squash courts, office space & classrooms.  They have expanded locations to include programs on both the North and South of Chicago.  The Team David's works with has over 20 staffers, more than 100 volunteers, a 40 person Board of Directors with an Auxiliary board of 60 people.  
All this is done, to help enrich the lives of more than 400 students.  Most students join the program in middle-school, where MetroSquash Team (and Teammates) will be together through High-school, College and help launch their careers.  
David is originally from Canada, and he rose through the the ranks of the Junior Squash.  Earned a spot to attend Princeton University, where he helped them win a National Team Championship.  After college, he continued to pursue Squash become a Teaching professional as well as Head College as well as soaring to World #2 on the Pro Doubles Tour. 
David has always thrived on pushing himself through challenges which includes getting an MBA while working, in Karate getting the Brown belt, with black tips, traveling to all seven continent and even climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.
David is a deep thinker and a doer who pours his energy into bettering himself and the others to help make the World a better place for MetroSquash Students, their parents, alums, the staff, volunteers, board member and auxiliary board. 
We hope you enjoy the conversation!
We are always looking for new stories and love your help!  Squash Radio has already shared some audience stories but we are always looking for more.  Reach out to us on any social media app or email squashradio@gmail.com.  As always, thanks for listening!
Music brought to you from: www.bensound.comFollow us on social media accounts for all the latest news or www.squashradio.com
 
 

#12: Raising Arizona Squash; James Dodson, Squash Dad, former Chicagoan, now a Phoenician, always playing, building

In this episode we connect with James Dodson who launched his publishing career covering youth and poverty issues for Youth Communication and the RFK Memorial where he picked up the game.  He’s devoted to using squash to enrich the lives of young people.  And, in his new residence of Phoenix founded Arizona Squash, Inc.  He’s partnered with Empower College Prep, Grand Canyon University and the Family Life Center at North Phoenix Baptist Church to support a largely multiethnic underserved community in the city’s West Valley.   
James is no stranger as to what it takes to build a successful squash program, he is a Founding Board Member and Past Board Chair of Chicago’s MetroSquash.  In 2005 MetroSquash was the first National Urban Squash initiative founded outside of the East Coast.  In 2015, METROsquash raised $8 million and opened its primary squash and academic center near the campus of the University of Chicago to serve the program’s students. 
This month Arizona Squash launched programing with its first class of students while undergoing a fundraising campaign to convert squash courts and recruit a full-time Executive Director. To learn more visit http://www.arizonasquash.org/
***************************************
We are always looking for new stories and love your help!  Squash Radio has already shared some audience stories but we are always looking for more.  Reach out to us on any social media app or email squashradio@gmail.com.  As always, thanks for listening!
Music brought to you from: www.bensound.com Follow us on social media accounts for all the latest news or www.squashradio.com

#11 ON THE ROAD: Building Squash with Southern Hospitality

Squash Radio explores squash in the South & teamed up with Richard Millman who recorded stories from Atlanta, Louisville and his new hometown in Chattanooga to share these great stories.
The theme of this episode is building Squash.  We share snapshots of these communities where you will hear from a cast of characters all from different walks of life, different background even with different “jobs & roles” but all have shared passion for the sport squash.  Each segment will show squash at different stages from; how a squash club got built to reinvigorating a squash program with a new squash professional, to how squash could help grow your business and of course the deep impact it can have on your health. 
We are always looking for new stories and love your help!  Squash Radio has already shared some audience stories but we are always looking for more.  Reach out to us on any social media app or email squashradio@gmail.com.  As always, thanks for listening!
Music brought to you from: www.bensound.com Follow us on social media accounts for all the latest news or www.squashradio.com.

#10 Quick Hit: Women's Squash Week continues to soar! Hear more from Jen & Katline who are leading charge.

Do you know what’s happening next week in Squash? In celebration of the upcoming Women’s Squash week here’s a small clip from the latest episode of Squash Radio. Jen Gabler and Katline Cauwels share the fantastic developments going on with U.S. Women’s Squash Committee.  
https://www.ussquash.com/women/
#squashIsfriendship #womensquashweek

#9: Top of their field; where business and squash overlap. Jen Gabler & Katline Cauwels reveal their thoughts.

Through a collaborative effort Jen & Katline Teamed up to design a program targeted for young female players to achieve excellence.  How you push yourself to achieve excellence on court, can have direct application off court as well!
About Jen Gabler:Resides in the NY/CT area is the Co-Founder of The Refinery which runs accelerator programs & pitch competitions for Women Tech Entrepreneurs aimed at fueling their success. 
Jen’s background has been steeped in the business world, usually applying (deploying) her skills as a CFO, Chief Financial Officer, to help grow those companies as part of the leadership. Jen attend Dartmouth for undergrad and then went onto Columbia for Business School. 
Go check out http://therefineryct.com/ to learn more about all the amazing work they are doing for Women in tech.    
About Katline Cauwels:
Resides in the NY/CT area and is the co-founder of M Squash Academy, which she founded with her husband.  Katline is originally from Belgium, who pursed the top of the Game as Junior becoming the No. 1 Junior ranked player in Europe and cracked the Top 50 on the Professional Tour.  Katline pushed herself not only on court but also earned two Masters degrees in Business and Communications respectively… while touring!  Go to www.msquash.com to learn more about how to take your game to the next level!
Music brought to you from: www.bensound.com Follow us on social media accounts for all the latest news or www.squashradio.com.
 

#8: Curious about College Squash & Ivy League recruiting? Jack Wyant (Penn Head Squash Coach) shares his insights & more!

In this episode, we talk shop with Jack Wyant who is the Head Coach of the Women’s Squash Team and Director of Squash at the University of Pennsylvania.  Wyant recently wrapped up his 13th season coaching at Penn Athletics and led his Team to back-to-back 2nd place finishes at the Collegiate Championships. 
Jack is an experienced player himself, competing at the highest level in the Junior & College (Princeton University grad) ranks racking up National Championships at both levels.  Wyant has also played for Team USA on Junior and Senior Team but as a Coach led the U.S. Junior Girls to historic heights earning a 2nd place finish at the 2011 World Team Championships. 
In our conversation, we focus on College Squash, talking through the recent milestone announcement to officially dissolve the current separate men's and women's associations and form a newly merged organization in partnership with US SQUASH but also spend a lot of time learning more about Penn Athletics and his squash program.  We both thoroughly enjoyed bringing you this episode and look forward to having Jack on again as a future guest.  Enjoy!     
******NOTES:******Based on the current feedback, more of our listeners are leaning towards the extended version which is why we’ve only released one version of this episode.  If you have a different opinion, please let us know via email squashradio@gmail.com.  As always, thanks for listening!
Music brought to you from: www.bensound.com Follow us on social media accounts for all the latest news or www.squashradio.com.

#7 Extended: Author, Journalist, Master of Ceremonies & Coach…Alan Thatcher knows all levels of the Sport & shares it all!

In this episode, we connect with Alan Thatcher, who has been helping to grow the Sport of Squash at all levels from the Professional Tour down to the grassroots.  Several years ago he launched www.squashmad.com which is a fantastic sources for news, articles, activities on how to the grow the sport but most recently he released a book he co-authored with Rod Gilmour called “Jahangir Khan 555: The Untold Story Behind Squash's Invincible Champion and Sport's Greatest Unbeaten Run.”In our conversation, we cover a range of topics from a behind the scenes look at writing his most recent book as well as his role with the Canary Wharf Professional Squash Tournament.  But also get into the weeds about his grass roots efforts of growing the sport and some key factors that could truly help sharing the sport we all love.  We both thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and hope you do too!      
********************************************* 
Alan Thatcher
555: The untold story of Jahangir KhanThe inside story of an amazing unbeaten run in squash:Published by Pitch and available on Amazon and Kindle.
2017 SELECT GAMING KENT OPEN:PSA World Tour $10k event at The Mote Squash Club, Maidstone, Kent from June 11-18.Editor and Publisher:www.squashmad.com
CANARY WHARF SQUASH CLASSIC: March 5-9, 2018www.canarywharfsquash.com
Chairman, The Mote Squash Club
*********************************************Based on the current feedback, more of our listeners are leaning towards the extended version which is why we’ve only released one version of this episode.  If you have a different opinion, please let us know via email squashradio@gmail.com.  As always, thanks for listening!
Music brought to you from: www.bensound.com Follow us on social media accounts for all the latest news or www.squashradio.com.

#6 ON THE ROAD: Richard Millman shares the history & developments from the Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta by going behind the scene during the Piedmont Driving Club (PDC) Invitational Tournament.

‘from little acorns……’ The Piedmont Driving Club is an exalted institution of the old South. It occupies a stately position in mid-town Atlanta with its second, Golf club location in the South of Atlanta.
For many years only members were ever allowed to grace its hallowed halls until one of its number, on falling in love with Squash during his undergraduate days at Penn, persuaded the club and its members to reach out. This initiative from Eben Hardy and the PDC’s board’s willingness to embrace it, flowered into what has become competitive Squash in the South.
Squash Radio reports from this year’s PDC invitational and opens a window to this wonderful and continuing story…….. Music brought to you from: www.bensound.comFollow us on social media accounts for all the latest news or www.squashradio.com.