|
|
|
 My Site News: Darien News Review article 11.30.06 |
|
Sunday, December 3
Darien News Review article 11.30.06
This article is also available in the Handouts section where it can also be downloaded and printed.
DHS Squash Club Trying Hand as Varsity Sport
By Christopher Falvo
Darien News
Article Launched:
STAMFORD Unlike football, lacrosse and baseball, squash is a game for life, according to Damian Walker, former No. 1 ranked squash player in the United States.
Many students have left Darien High School with only memories of the sweat and hard work poured into these sports, reaping little reward athletically after graduation.
Now, though, Darien High School will be offering one more lifetime sports to go along with its golf and tennis programs.
Squash, which started as a club team last year, has generated enough interest to push the program to varsity sports status.
"There's a wait list to get into the club," said Walker, who co-spearheaded the creation of the club and handles the coaching duties. "Everybody who's played couldn't wait to come back and play more."
The club, which started with 22 students, now has approximately 35 students.
"I talked to a couple friends of mine and got them involved," sophomore Alex Hauer said. Hauer and his mother Marj Hauer were responsible for getting the ball rolling on the Darien side.
"Once one person knew, another person knew and people started to ask," he added.
That type of enthusiasm for squash helped jump the club to a varsity sport a year ahead of schedule.
"Kids did know about squash, but didn't have an outlet to go and play," Walker, 37, said. "What we found was people knew about squash, but hadn't played. Then once they got on court they really found out they enjoyed it.
"Then the word of mouth was 'squash is fun,' instead of 'we know what squash is.'"
Clubs are usually on three-year track to become a varsity sport, which means it is funded by the Board of Education. While the Darien BOE has not yet passed funding for the squash team, and probably will not until next year, the squash team funded by the parents is seeking out a league to join.
The only problem; there is no public school league in Connecticut. The only high school squash league in the area is the Fairchester Athletic Association, a private school league.
So, Walker, who also coaches the newly formed squash team at New Canaan, is attempting to form a five-school league that would include two schools from Westchester, N.Y.
Darien, New Canaan and Rye, N.Y. high schools are already signed on to form the mini-league. Walker's Rye connection comes from his publicist Georgetta Morque, whose son is on the Rye High squash team.
The three schools' fate hangs in the balance until Greenwich and Scarsdale, N.Y. decide whether to join the league or not.
Walker held his first tryout for the Darien squad Monday at his club, Squash Alley, which is located behind the AmeriCares building on Hamilton Avenue in Stamford.
Walker is looking to take 12 to 14 students on the varsity team, which is co-ed for now until the team garners enough female support to split into two squads. About a third of the club is made up of girls.
The squash team is giving varsity status to its players to help expedite the BOE funding.
"We will go to the BOE with a varsity team, and also a developmental, and also matches to play and having played," Walker, a native of Darby, England said.
The remaining members of the club will be placed on the developmental team. Each player will play twice a week, with the varsity players having three matches per week, according to Walker.
|
|
