Vassar to host international squash tournament

Elizabeth Pacheco Sports Editor

Next week the Vassar men’s and women’s squash teams will open their seasons with the annual Vassar College Class of 1932 Women’s International Squash Player’s Association (WISPA) Tournament.

Held at Kenyon Courts from Oct. 1-6, the tournament welcomes the top international squash players from the WISPA circuit. This summer the title became even more desirable as $10,000 was added to the prize purse, raising it to a total of $35,00 and silver-level status.

Players’ eligibility for the tournament is determined through WISPA membership and rankings. As in the past, the event has attracted the top players who are on tour from all corners of the globe, everywhere from England and Ireland to Australia, Hong Kong and Zambia.

While last year’s champion, Tania Bailey, isn’t returning to compete this fall, the first and second seeds, Rachel Grinham from Australia and Natalie Grainger from the United States, are currently ranked third and fifth in the world, respectively. In addition, Grinham is the recent champion of the British Open. Their opponents are also highly ranked, all within the WISPA’s top 40 players, except for the 15 qualifiers. These qualifiers will compete against each other in matches on Oct. 1 and 2 in hopes of earning a place in the official draw. After the qualifying matches, the tournament will continue with the first round on Wednesday, Oct. 3, quarterfinals on Oct. 4, semi-finals on Oct. 5, and will conclude with the final on Oct. 6.

Albert Gordon, the son of Vassar alumna Mary Rousmaniere Gordon ’32, created the tournament seven years ago to honor his mother and her graduating class.

“[Gordon] wanted to dedicate the tournament to the class of 1932, whom he saw as a group of really brave women who went through the War and graduated during the Great Depression,” said Head Coach of the men’s and women’s squash teams Jane Parker. A proponent of women’s squash, he also “wanted to promote a sport with little funding or support,” said Parker.

The tournament wasn’t Gordon’s first contribution to Vassar’s squash program. In 1994-1995, the Gordon family built four international squash courts (in place of the North American hardball courts) and added two more in 2000. With the addition of these new courts, the College has six international courts instead of just one. “International courts are wider, with different boundary lines,” said Parker. “The rest of the world plays a different game than what the U.S. plays. The international game uses a softer ball then American squash,” she said.

These improved courts, in combination with the recent locker room renovations in Kenyon, have created an ideal atmosphere for Vassar squash players as well as international players, to practice and compete.

Besides attending tournament games, Vassar squash players will “be mingling and getting on court with” the competitors, said Parker. After this taste of a high level of play, maybe Parker will see one of her own Brewers take home the tournament’s title in the future.