Squash Haven News Winter 2011
Squash Haven Nets Girls Under 15 Title,
Narrowly Misses Boys Under 15 Repeat
at NUSEA Team Nationals!
Twenty-six Squash Haven students traveled to the Squash Smarts Lenfest Center in Philadelphia January 15th-17th to compete in their fourth NUSEA Urban Team Nationals. Squash Haven entered five teams in three age categories: Boys Under 15, Girls Under 15, and Boys Under 13. After a full weekend of intense squash action, Squash Haven teams made the final in every age group entered!
In the Boys Under 13 final, defending champions Squash Haven ran into a very competitive and experienced squad from City Squash. Although the final score was 5-0, all of the matches were close, and the majority of the team is still eligible for Under 13 next year. The boys are now motivated to train hard in order to regain the title next year. The Boys Under 15A team returned to the finals to defend the title that they won last year. Unfortunately, this time City Squash got their revenge, winning a close 3-2 match where all but one of the five matches went to either four or five games. The highlight of the weekend came in the Girls Under 15 division where the Squash Haven Girls Under 15A team cruised through the competition, winning 4-1 in the final against a competitive and talented team from StreetSquash. This was our first Girls U15 title and Squash Haven, in only its fourth year, has won a national title in each draw we have entered!
Squash Haven Selects 12 New Students
from 5 Schools in Most Competitive
Tryout Process Ever!
This September, Squash Haven decided to open its search for the most motivated and committed New Haven 4th and 5th grade public school students to additional schools. We also decided to start in fourth grade to increase the impact we have on students' development over time. After gym classes through the city, family nights at neighborhood schools, an Open House, six tryouts, AND a written application, we have enrolled what is indisputably our most talented entering class ever.
This year's "newbie" class hails from five schools in New Haven and represents the addition of two new partner schools: Roberto Clemente, and John C. Daniels! We are particularly excited to partner with Roberto Clements, where Squash Haven Academic Director Christi Boscarino spent two years as a Teach for America Corps member before coming to Squash Haven. Congratulations to the following new team members:
4th Grade: Iesha Ariho, Prince Boykin, Carlos Briones, Dolores Brown, and Nicole Carino
5th Grade: Johanile Hurtado, Kaitlin Krasny, Michelle Medina, Yassin Ouro-Aguy, Ramya Rivera, Orlando Rodriguez, and Bethany Turnage
Squash Haven Wins 2010 GiveGreater Challenge $20,000 Grant
Between November 1st and December 31st, 2010, New Haven non profit organizations participated in the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven's year end giveGreater Challenge. The objective was to reward the organization that could secure the highest number of individual $50 donations over the course of the challenge. Squash Haven was awarded first prize, a grant in the amount of $20,000. The response to our request for support, spread by email and word of mouth by those who know and believe in our mission, is unprecedented, especially given our modest budget, staff, and relative youth as an organization. Over the course of the Challenge, we received 410 contributions of $50.00 or more, from donors in 23 states and two provinces. Every dollar that we all raised will go toward ongoing, year-round efforts to provide high caliber, intensive, long term support and guidance to a hard-working and deserving community of young people. Thanks to all on behalf of the entire Squash Haven family. Read more about Squash Haven and the 2010 GiveGreater Challenge in the New Haven Independent
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