Feeling contentious? Looking for an argument? I’ve got just the thing: this year’s highlight list. As always, please feel free to tell me how messed up I am… Seven is the magic number this year. Here they are:
1. Michelle Quibell Beats the World – Three Times
When Michelle Quibell beat the world at the start of the year, she had no idea that those victories (in the British U17, the Scottish U17 and the US Junior Olympics) would come in a year when America would come to be prouder than ever of its world beaters. A determined sixteen-year-old, Michelle saw no reason why she couldn’t be number one in the world. And so she did it while inspiring many of us who have hoped for ages that an American could compete effectively at the international level. One of the best highlights in years.
2. Sarah Fitz-Gerald Achieves Long-Awaited Destiny
Right after Sarah Fitz-Gerald finally won her first British Open title, Martin Bronstein wrote, “I cannot think of a person in squash who is not delighted at Sarah Fitz-Gerald’s long awaited British Open title, the one cup that is missing from her collection.” Sarah traded the number one position for years with Michelle Martin, but was never able to take the British. When Michelle retired, it seemed as if the title would finally be hers, but injuries and upsets seemed to make the title her own white whale. But she will not retire as the best player never to win. She won it and made everyone proud.
3. A US Team Finishes a Stunning Fourth in the World
The US Junior Women’s team were disappointed two years ago with a fifth place finish. The rest of us were proud. This year, they showed us why they were upset last year, for the four girls – Michelle Quibell, Alexandra Pearson, Amy Gross and Kate Rapisarda – finished higher than any other US squash team in history by taking fourth in the World Championships. They beat Australia and New Zealand along the way and showed that the US is poised to compete for the whole thing.
4. Peter Nicol Beats Jon Power in a Five Game NYC Classic
Despite trading the number one position with Jon Power for years, Peter Nicol had never beaten Jon in New York. In fact, when the Tournament of Champions was played in Grand Central, no one had ever beaten Power. But the two number ones each played their way to the final and staged a five-game classic that Nicol won 9, 12, (13), (13), 11.
5. Julia Beaver Finishes With Intercollegiate Title Number Three
Julia Beaver lost only one time in the intercollegiates (her freshman year, she was upset in the semi-finals of the championship), while winning three titles. She won every which way. When she was the favorite, when she had no chance (yes, there was an Australian named Laura Keating, from Yale, who was supposed to destroy her), when she was up, and even when she was down 2-0 (and match ball to Olga Puidgemon-Sola in the semi-finals her junior year). She won this year going away and left some big shoes to fill for whomever wins next year.
6. The Two Nicest Guys in US Squash Stage an Epic
Richard Chin was playing well enough to finally pull it off. The most popular player in US squash since the retirement of Mark Talbott, Chin has finished second in the US Championships more times than he would like to remember. This time, in the final against heavily favored Damian Walker, Richard dominated the games he won. But while Richard took the even numbered games, Walker – who became a citizen a year ago and has become almost as popular as Chin – won the odd. Five, as Chin knows all too well, is an odd number.
7. Age Groupers Keep Going… and Going… and
Gordon Anderson took his first-ever US title by beating nemesis Gulmast Khan (who came back from two games down last year to foil Anderson), 3-0, in the 50+; Jay Nelson took his tenth consecutive age-group title by beating Bryan Patterson in the 55+; and Charlie Butt and Dick Daly continued their ageless battles with Butt getting title number nine in the 75+. Gotta love these guys.
