On February 10th, 2023, CitySquash traveled to Philadelphia once again to compete in SEA’s National Team Championships. Under one banner, 70 team members from the Bronx and Brooklyn competed against other member programs of the Squash and Education Alliance.
Out of the four A divisions, CitySquash took home titles in the High School Girls and the Middle School Boys divisions and third place finishes in High School Boys and Middle School Girls divisions.
It was an amazing weekend which saw incredible wins and valiant efforts from every team member attending. Lifelong memories were forged and team camaraderie was in full force.
For the first time in three years, 55 CitySquash team members traveled to Philadelphia at the Arlen Specter Center to compete in the SEA Individual Championships!
Our team members were able to bring home four more titles:
– Rokaya (GU13)
– Rodrigo (BU13)
– Ahmed (BU15)
– Giselle (GU19)
Along with the titles, CitySquash also had three 2nd place, five 3rd place, three 4th place, and four 5th place finishes!
We are continually astounded with our team members’ competitive spirit and determination.
It is incredibly important to CitySquash that time off is not time wasted. That is why during the school’s Mid-Winter break, our team members committed themselves to many different trips and experiences.
7th graders witness the boarding school experience at from Millbrook’s zoo to Berkshire’s Squash courts
6th graders explore the New York Historical Society
9th graders ring the famous Gong at Pugsley’s Pizzeria in the Bronx
8th graders dodge balls at SkyZone
High Schoolers make their own bubble tea and taste test against the real deal at Gong Cha
This December, Billy and Luigi played their last match together for Connecticut College before graduating early. Unfortunately, this meant that they would not be able to compete in the College Squash Association’s National Championships. However, that did not stop the CSA from recognizing the pair’s academic success and naming them as 2021-2022 Scholar Athletes! Billy and Luigi are both looking forward to starting their careers this year at UBS and Good Morning America respectively. Hats off to all of their hard work and success.
On Sunday, October 24th we held our 11th Annual Black & Orange Day at the M.S. 45 Field in a new outdoor format with the help of M.S. 45, our oldest partner school in the Bronx.
Over 100 team members, family members, and mentors competed in outdoor squash, word scrambles, kickball, and soccer. Going into the final Basketball competition worth three points, the Black Team led the Orange Team 18-16.
This year, the shirts featured the initials “JS” to honor our team member James Solano who tragically passed in 2020. After hearing his friends speak about the impact he had on their lives and countless others, we dedicated the Basketball game to his memory. At the end of the day, it was the Orange team with the game-winning shot to put a cap on our 11th Annual Black & Orange Day. Below are photos of the event and competitions.
After a virtual year in 2020, we want thank all who came and helped make it a memorable day for the CitySquash team!
The changeover of innings during kickball
The Orange team cheers on their squad during soccer
CitySquash’s version of outdoor squash!
The Orange Team celebrates the game winning layup!
A 9th grade practice group is all smiles under their masks after coming in from an afternoon of squash and academics at NYSC White Plains.
A Year of New Beginnings
Programming looks a little different this year but team members are excited to be back to a (new) normal after-school routine of academics and squash. In the Bronx, this new routine includes academics at partner school P.S. 205 or Belmont Library, and squash at either Westchester Squash or New York Sports Club White Plains. In Brooklyn, team members attend academics at partner schools PAVE Academy and Brooklyn Leaders High School, and play squash at the Eastern Athletic Club and Heights Casino. On weekends, team members practice, compete in tournaments and matches, complete community service projects and go on other trips. After being confined to virtual programming for the whole 2020-2021 school year, this in-person routine is a relief, despite the increased travel for squash! Bronx 9th grader Ariana says, “I’m glad that I’m back with my team and practicing more to get stronger and better!”
Our fall programming would not be possible without the squash clubs, partner schools, and public libraries welcoming us to their spaces. A huge thanks to everyone involved in setting up these new partnerships and helping our team members get back on court. Onwards and upwards for the CitySquash team!
A Week of Trips to Kick-Off the School Year
In place of our annual overnight team retreat to Lake Placid this year, the week before school was marked with different day trips around the city. All team members got to choose from an array of trips that were mixed by age to encourage new relationships and team bonding at the outset of the school year. The Bronx and Brooklyn sites also teamed up for a trip to the Brooklyn Zoo to provide some of the same cross-site interactions that the team retreat usually provides. Bronx team member Haydee said “I got to know new people so much better” through the trips she went on. In total, there were 13 different trips during that week, including a Yankee game (see above photo of Coach Bryan Patterson and John Solano), Bronx Zoo Tree Top Adventure, Turtle Cove Golf Center, and Chinatown to explore the Chinese culture through food. Malika, another Bronx team member in the 9th grade, said of the Chinatown trip that “the boba was amazing, and so was the ice cream.” The only complaint of the week? The Yankees’ loss to the Blue Jays!
Middle schoolers clean up a local park as part of a service day with Bronx River Alliance.
A group of team members practice on Maspeth Welding’s outdoor squash court in Queens.
A day of fun and fall activities abound at the Queen’s County Fair.
Moving Up & Moving In!
With the start of theschoolyear came new starts for 15 CitySquashteam members beginning college and entering new independent schools. Eight matriculated to college, six students entered new boarding schools for high schooland one middle schooler went away to a junior boarding schoolforthe 7th grade. In addition to these team members, a high schoolteam member who had started virtually at the Masters School last year finally got to move into campus and begin her boarding life. We wish these students and the entire CitySquashteamthe best of luck as they return to in-person learning. Here is to a great 2021-2022 schoolyear!
Pablo Paxtor is greeted by Guillermo Moronta, Associate Director of Admissions & Director of Squash, on his first day at Tabor Academy.
Stephany & Camille enjoyed outdoor games as part of their daily camp routine. Camille said, “I like when we play sports and am always excited for our field days.” Stephany loved “being able to see [her] friends and spend time together.”
CitySquash returned to in-person programming this summer for the first time since March 2020! Summer camp in the Bronx and Brooklyn kicked off on July 6th and ran through August 6th. Team members went daily for academic enrichment and squash instruction, and traveled on Fridays and weekends for field trips and squash tournaments. The return to in-person was welcomed by all after over a year of virtual programming. High school team member Randy said, “it feels great seeing all of my teammates once again and being able to be excited to get on court with each other.” Another high schooler, Alexis, added, “after not playing for such a long time, it’s great to be back at it, especially the games.”
Above: CitySquash alum and new Director of Elementary School Academics, Bianca, helps Luxe with a math problem.
Below left: High schoolers pose for a photo mid-practice at NYSC White Plains.
Below right: A group in Brooklyn works on their swings at The Heights Casino.
Travel has always been a big part of the CitySquash experience and it’s been great reincorporating field trip, tournament and summer camp travel this summer. Field trips included touring the Vassar College campus (see above photo), walking across the Brooklyn Bridge, and geo-cashing in Central Park. We are grateful to the external camp partners who have enabled over 65 team members to travel for sleepaway experiences at camps including Camp Herrlich, Camp Tecumsah and Squash + Beyond Camps.
Kimberly & Nioby take a break between matches at the MSquash Summer Bronze. Sixteen players were able to compete in U.S. Squash tournaments this summer.
This summer would not have been possible without our partners who opened their doors to us – The Heights Casino, Jonas Bronck Academy, NYSC White Plains & StreetSquash. From all of us, a huge thanks for your generosity!
Two CitySquashers recognized with Squash + Education Alliance Awards
Alan Lopez was a recipient of the Squash + Education Alliance Tyler Griffin Student of the Year Award. Given to two graduating seniors, the award recognizes students who best embody the overarching values of SEA – sportsmanship, effort on court and in the classroom, respect and concern for others, integrity, character, and leadership. Alan is off to Colby in the fall, where he will compete on the Varsity Squash team.
Eric Garcia won Squash + Education Alliance’s Future Star Award, given annually to one 8th grade student in the SEA network who shows a strong and consistent commitment to their program and an extraordinary level of effort, respect, concern for others, integrity, character, and leadership. Eric will enter 9th grade at Leaders High School in Brooklyn in the fall.
Twin sisters Genesis and Nicole graduated from Mt. Holyoke together, wrapping up a cumulative 22 years with CitySquash!
Hats off to the Class of 2021!
Despite a year unlike any other, our Class of 2021 wrapped up their college careers successfully and graduated in both virtual and in-person ceremonies. Congratulations to our five graduates, all of whom are first-generation college graduates!
CLASS OF 2021
Nicole Lara Granados – Mt. Holyoke College
Genesis Lara Granados – Mt. Holyoke College
Alexandra Limas – St. Lawrence University
Mariela Mendoza – Bowdoin College
Bianca Troche – St. Lawrence University
It’s Never Quiet on the Placement Front
As another school year comes to a close, we are thrilled to celebrate the many acceptances our college seniors and those applying to private schools received. All eight of our graduating seniors are headed to four-year colleges next year and three of them will continue their squash careers and suit up for their school’s varsity teams. Another seven students gained acceptance to private high schools, bringing CitySquash’s total of successful school placements to 105. Congratulations to all and we can’t wait tto follow you through your next chapters!
COLLEGE PLACEMENT
Elizabeth Barroso – Colby College
Anthony Cruz – SUNY New Paltz
Roberto Cruz – SUNY Oswego
Fatima Hernandez – Lehman College
Dalia Hipolito – Siena College
Alan Lopez – Colby College
Xitlaly Santos – Lehman College
Dainalee Velez – Bates College
PRIVATE SCHOOL PLACEMENT
Ashanti Amastal – Loomis Chaffee School
Jesus Fierro – Trinity-Pawling School
Randy Guzman – Berkshire School
David Paxtor – White Mountain School
Pablo Paxtor – Tabor Academy
Aaliyah Sampson – Kent School
James Vasquez – Indian Mountain School
Fatima celebrates her graduation from Bronx Center for Science and Mathematics.
Year-End Awards & Leadership Positions
Dainalee Velez was awarded the inaugural Casertano Cup at the Millbrook School Commencement ceremony. A special Commencement prize, the Caserano Cup is given for growth and perseverance in pursuit of the best self and the common good.
Giselle Ciriaco was voted Student Body President at Suffield Academy for the 2021-2022 school year. A rising senior at Suffield, Giselle has served as Class President for the past two years. Giselle says she is “honored and excited to represent the Suffield student body” and wants to “focus on mental health awareness and being united.”
This year’s CitySquash Reads was based on Jonah Winters’s book “Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx”. The event was held on June 3rd virtually, and team members from the Bronx and Brooklyn came together to discuss the book and engage in activities based off the book including jeopardy, crossword puzzles and a poem writing session. Luke, an 8th grade team member, said his favorite activity was “the jeopardy game because that’s when we got to go against each other to see who knows the book better” while Samantha, another 8th grader, said “my favorite part of CitySquash reads was being able to interact with our friends in various ways!
Thank you to all who participated and helped make the event a success.
Team members gathered on Zoom to discuss Jonah Winter’s book “Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx.” Team members’ knowledge of the book was put to test in jeopardy!
Starting this winter, as part of our Mentor Game Night series, a Baking Club for mentors and mentees was started. Mentors and mentees learned new recipes and fun facts about baking, such as the different kinds of flours and the difference between light and dark brown sugars. Team members received the ingredients they needed for each recipe so anyone could join to participate in the baking. Some of the favorite recipes we did were Ginger Bread Cookies, Oatmeal Raisins Cookies, and Chocolate Chip Cookies. Our most challenging recipe was Fudge Brownies. Thank you to all of the mentors who joined us. We had a great time connecting with you and your mentees while learning to bake together!
Photo above: Mentors & mentees showing off their end product! Top Row (L to R): David (mentor to Jesus), Alex (mentor to Chasity), Chasity. Middle Row (L to R): Jesus, Henry (mentor to Janthony), Janthony
