Squash Magazine: Howe Cup 2004

The Queen of Squash Tournaments Howe Cup 2004 Attracts Largest Field Ever By Beth Rasin

Boston A team, L-R: Shona Kerr, Wendy Ansdell, Carlin Wing, Margaret Elias, Hope Prockop, Photo by Libby Welch There is still some truth in advertising. “More than just another squash tournament” was the Howe Cup tagline for 2004, and it was proven true as a record-setting 32 teams with 141 competitors from around the country gathered in New York City at the Harvard, Yale, Princeton and University Clubs for the women's national team championships in late October. A unique energy pervaded what is traditionally the largest single gathering of women squash players in the US. The private clubs that hosted the event certainly weren't used to seeing this many women in competitive mode on their courts, not to mention the Adidas squash shoes that sparkled on their feet. (Several of the women rushed downtown to purchase them at a local sporting goods store after seeing them on one of the players.) Squash suffused with joy best describes the event: women taking pride in their physical talents and competitive fire on court while enjoying the camaraderie of other women engaged by the same passion. “It is not so common for women to gather together like this,” observed Carlin Wing, a recent Harvard graduate playing in her first women's Howe Cup, as she sat at the Saturday night dinner with a host of friends from her junior and collegiate playing days. With players ranging from world No. 4 Natalie Grainger playing for her new hometown of Washington, DC, to first-time participant Cindy Cassell of Cincinnati, who has taken up squash in the last year, the opportunities for inspiration were plentiful. And that inspiration found its way onto the court as the level of play in each flight ratcheted up a notch when competitors marshaled extra reserves of strength, focus and guts as a result of playing for teammates as well as themselves. At the end of the weekend, the teams that claimed titles were representing the same three cities that played in the inaugural women's national team competition back in 1928. Back then, in order to provide more opportunities for match play, intercity team matches between Boston, Greenwich and Philadelphia were played during the first-ever women's national singles championship. Seventy-six years later, Boston claimed the A title, Connecticut took home the B crown and Philadelphia swept the C championship as well as nabbing the inaugural doubles title. A Boston brandished its bragging rights as it won its fourth title in five years, defeating the New York 1 team to take the Cup. With Boston's Carlin Wing sweeping by Vicki Wardle, 3-0, and Hope Prokop doing the same to NY's Julie Lilien, it was fittingly the team captains who played the deciding match. Boston veteran and team captain Wendy Ansdell was not daunted by the youth or Harvard pedigree of her NY opponent, new mom Blair Clark Schoeb. In a seesaw battle of what turned out to be the deciding match, Ansdell's tenacity claimed the day as she defeated Schoeb, (8-10), 3, (3), 5, 2. It was merely the margin of victory that was up for grabs by the time NY's Dana Betts and Meredeth Quick faced off against Shona Kerr and Margaret Elias, respectively. With Kerr's victory and Elias' loss, the final team score was 4-1. The Beantown five's march to the finals was authoritative, as they defeated New York 2 (5-0) and Philadelphia (4-1) to reach the semifinals, where they eliminated the Boston 2 team. The New Yorkers' path to the finals was more challenging; they squeaked by Boston 2 (3-2) and defeated the mid-Atlantic team (4-1) to earn the semifinal berth against Philadelphia. NY captain Julie Lilien fought off match point against Philadelphia captain Amy Milanek to boost NY into the finals with a 3-2 victory. B The Connecticut women were the standouts in the B flight, as much for their hot pink shirts proclaiming them the “Bad Apples” as for the trophy they claimed by beating Philadelphia for the Cup. One of 13 teams in the B draw, Connecticut had to play one more pool match than the other semifinalists, emerging undefeated with only one individual match loss in its three pool victories. Connecticut's "Bad Apples" L-R: Liz Reynolds, Julie Walker, Jesse, Bridget and Beatrice Querel. Photo by Zoe Brunson Boston 1 didn't cede a single individual match en route to their semifinal match-up with Connecticut, which was a nail-biter. When Bad Apple Liz Reynolds lost her match to Meredith Johnson at the #4 slot, the teams were even at two-all. Julie Walker stepped up in the pressure match to edge Connecticut into the finals by defeating Boston's Kate Lytle, 9-10, 9-0, 9-4, 9-1. Philadelphia roundly defeated Washington 5-0, but squeaked by Baltimore 3-2 in pool play to reach the semifinals against the New York 1 team. The Big Apple team didn't have quite enough bite to overcome the Philadelphians, who won the match 3-2 to move into the finals. C It was trophy time in the C's for Philadelphia 1, for whom the outcome was not in doubt once they stepped on the court. Nor was there any doubt that it would be a Boston/Philly final once pool play ended; the Philly 1 and 2 teams faced each other in one semifinal as did the Boston 1 and 2 teams in the other. C Flight winners Philly 1, L-R: Zoe Brunson presents the trophy to Andrea Dutton, Cathy Popovitch (with trophy in hand), and Julie Kessler. Not pictured are Patti Spackman and Penny Soppas. Photo by Libby Welch After resounding victories over Boston 2 and New York 1 in pool play, Philly 1 blanked Philly 2, 5-0, in the semis. Boston 1 had a tougher time, squeaking out a 3-2 victory against their compatriots on the Boston 2 team. Although Boston managed to snare one individual match in the finals, it was Philadelphia who left New York City with the Howe Cup trophy. Doubles A tiebreaker in the fifth game was an auspicious ending to the inaugural Howe Cup doubles championship. The addition of doubles added a new dimension to the traditional format; not least of all, bringing back into the Howe Cup competitors' pool several women who have transitioned from competitive singles to doubles. The Connecticut duo of Icy Franz and Stephanie Barrett and Philadelphia pair Susan Green and Wendy Berry met in the final after two match victories each in their respective pools. Unsettled by their opponents' aggressive play, Green and Berry lost the first game. The Philadelphians composed themselves during the break and came back on court with a revised strategy, demonstrating skillful shot-making that took every advantage of the length and height of the court. Up 7-2 in the fourth after winning games two and three, the Philadelphians seemed to have the match well in hand. But the competitively intense Connecticut pair would not go down without a fight. They used their speed and aggressive play to keep the pressure on their opponents and evened the match at two-all. When Philly took a comfortable six-point lead at 9-3 in the fifth game, the match seemed all but over. In doubles, however, where point-a-rally scoring and a few loose shots can quickly erase a deficit, Connecticut took advantage of their opponents' errors and stormed back to give themselves four match points at 14-10. The Philadelphians steadied themselves to even the score at 14 all, using pinpoint shot-making to win three straight tiebreak points and the first ever Howe Cup doubles trophy. Howe Cup Notes A Global Attraction Such is the appeal of Howe Cup that team rosters included players from around the world. Bri Roscoff came in from Amsterdam to join the Boston team, Heather Unway returned from Germany to join the Philly C's, NY C's welcomed Helen Clarkson from Spain and Michelle Gilardi of Tanzania rounded out the Baltimore roster. Most Interesting Coaching Advice Professing to a bad case of nerves, one of the players received the tongue-in-cheek coaching advice to swig a shot of whiskey. She did so and won her match. It's Mom's Turn After guiding four children—Jack, Missy, Tim and Chris—to notable squash careers, Peg Wyant decided it was her turn. So she enlisted friend Cindy Cassell and the two began training with the Cincinnati juniors six months ago to prepare for Howe Cup. The most senior competitor at Howe Cup, Peg was cheered on by son Tim and husband Jack. “People kept asking me what I was going to do when my kids stopped playing squash. Now I know—I am going to watch my wife play!” said husband Jack enthusiastically. Returning to the Game Several notable intercollegiate players have found their enthusiasm for the game replenished by Howe Cup, including recent Trinity grad Molly Anderson, who was motivated to play again after a two-year absence. And Emily Knowlton Hunsicker was delighted to be back on court after a 15-year hiatus. Emily was cheered on by her daughter, Maddie, a junior player who was a lucky raffle winner at the Saturday night party. Playing Well, Doing Good The US Women's team received a donation in excess of $8,000 representing funds raised by the event and the tournament raffle, which included prizes ranging from squash balls to a two-night stay at the trendy Soho Grand Hotel. Double Duty Merion assistant pro Wendy Berry coached the Philadelphia teams and played in the doubles with impressive results: one doubles championship for herself and a winner and finalist among the Philly teams in the singles. Vicki Wardle bounced between balls and courts; it was softball on the singles court and hardball on the doubles court as she played both events for New York. Past Winners Click here for a PDF compilation of Howe Cup winners over the years. And finally, for more info please visit www.howecup.com!

The Queen of Squash Tournaments

Howe Cup 2004 Attracts Largest Field Ever