On Sunday, October 24^th we held our 11^th 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! 

The Black Team

The Orange Team

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 6^th and ran through August 6^th. 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.

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

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.”

Last weekend, CitySquash 8th grade student Caleb Boateng made history. Competing at the U.S. Middle School Team Squash Championships at Yale University, his Brunswick School team was crowned National Champions! Playing #4 on the Brunswick team, Caleb was undefeated in the tournament and became the first student from any urban squash program to be in the lineup of a U.S. National Championship-winning team.

Caleb’s achievement is the product of hard work and determination many years in the making. The son of Ghanaian immigrants, Caleb joined CitySquash in 2011 as a third grader at P.S. 205 in the Bronx, and quickly distinguished himself with his positivity, energy, incredible work ethic, and love of squash.

Now in his third year at Brunswick, Caleb is excelling in and out of the classroom, remarkable given his daily commute. He wakes up each morning at 5AM, walks to the Fordham Metro-North train station, takes the train and then bus to Brunswick’s Middle School Campus in Greenwich–a trip that takes over an hour-and-a-half each way. Despite all this, Caleb remains as engaged as ever with CitySquash, making after-school practices back in the Bronx, helping his younger teammates, and traveling to weekend tournaments.

Caleb is quick to give credit to the accomplishments of teammates who came before him: “Alumni like Katiria Sanchez, Andrew Cadienhead, and [current CitySquash Squash Director] Chris Fernandez show that CitySquash prepares you to play at the highest level,” he said. As for his future goals, Caleb hopes to play for Brunswick’s high school varsity team one day, attend Yale University, and become one of the top players in the country. “I’d also like to go into business but be able to play doubles matches at night. That would be great.”

CitySquash is thrilled to congratulate Caleb, his family, and the Brunswick team! 

Mentor Gray Huffard with Caleb on his first day at Brunswick in 2015.