It hasn’t been easy.
The school built two squash courts in 2004 with the hopes of starting a team. They started with teaching squash in physical education classes and gradually created a club. And there are 12 boys and 12 girls interested in playing for a team, according to athletic director Elizabeth Hemstead.
But there are problems:
The team has been unable to hire a coach. Brothers Kyle and Dan Sleasman, coaches of the Siena squash club, and Craig Thorpe Clark, former University of Pennsylvania coach, all have coached the students at Albany Academy. If the school establishes the team, they could be considered for the coaching job.
It’s an unfamiliar sport. It’s not an official sport of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, so it’s a struggle to organize matches with other schools, according to Hemstead. “Most high schools do not have a facility or a budget for the sport,” she said.
But Burhans is not discouraged. Her family has organized three tournaments and multiple matches for students.
“It can take anywhere from one to two weeks to set up a tournament,” she said. “It depends on how many players want to participate, and the tournament could last up to two hours.”
The club is constantly involved in recruiting peers. They announce results in the school’s morning meetings and keep people up-to-date with what they are doing.
“We also try to teach students who are interested in learning how to play and appreciate the game,” Burhans said.
In February, Albany Academy had a scrimmage against Siena, and the last tournament the Burhans organized was Monday.
“The Burhans have been a huge help,” Hemstead said. “They even made T-shirts to spread the word.”
Students have been paying for lessons outside the school in order to learn the basics, but the school hopes this soon will stop.
“It’s a great sport for youngsters. It’s a quick and fast-paced game and burns a lot of calories,” Hemstead said. “It’s good for agility and hand-eye coordination, and hopefully we will establish (a team).”
