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US Men's Team Selection 2005
22-25 September, Lake Forest, Illinois |
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Final:
Preston
Quick bt Michael Puertas 6-9, 10-8, 9-6, 9-3
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3/4 playoff
Richard Chin bt Dylan Patterson
9-2, 9-6, 9-4
5/6 playoff
Beau River bt Frances Odeh
9-0, 9-0, 9-7
7/8 playoff
Ben Oliner bt Connor O’Malley
w/o
9th place: Yasser Kamel
10th place: Sean Ballard
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Quick heads Puertas
in Trials Final
Kim Tunney reports
Michael Puertas came on strong in the first half of the
finals match at the US Men’s Team Event Sunday but ran out of steam,
losing to top seed Preston Quick 6-9, 10-8, 9-6, 9-3.
If Puertas planned to play a slow high game, he was thwarted by
Quick who volleyed anything shoulder height and above, then drove
everything else deep with ferocious pace.
Matching him initially, 37-year-old Puertas displayed marvellous
frontcourt touch and perfectly placed lobs, taking the first game
and establishing a lead in the second. But Quick turned the tide in
the second, firing off a flurry of winning points to level at 8-all.
He closed out at 10-8, then took the next two to seal the win 9-6,
9-3.
Play-Offs
Prior to their match third place finisher Richard Chin
remarked on Puertas’ tenaciousness. “I’ve seen him take players to
five and leave absolutely everything on court.” Chin beat Dylan
Patterson in a trouble-free three games, 9-2, 9-6, 9-4.
Chicago native Beau River caught “Friday” Odeh napping
during the first two games of the 5/6 consolation playoff 9-0, 9-0.
Odeh, realizing he was suppose to be playing squash, rallied 7
points in the third but was unable to fend off River who won the
match 9-0, 9-0, 9-7.
Tonight’s results will be calculated toward the Men’s World Team
Event staged in Islamabad, Pakistan December 2005.
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Semi-Finals:
Preston Quick beat Dylan Patterson
9-6, 9-4, 9-2
Michael Puertas beat Richard Chin
9-1, 9-5, 9-4
Consolation Playoffs:
Beau River beat Connor O’Malley 9-6, 4-9, 0-9, 5-9
Frances Odeh beat Ben Oliner 9-4, 9-1, 9-0
Yasser Kamel beat Sean Ballard 9-2, 9-1, 9-1
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Photography by
Marian Kraus
Dylan Patterson
Mike Puertas
Preston Quick
Ben Oliner
Yasser Kamel |
PUERTAS IN
CONTROL...
Michael Puertas controlled the evening’s match with
Richard Chin moving him successfully up and down the court
beating Chin 9-1, 9-5, 9-4. “I’ve always had great respect for
Puertas’ game,” Chinner admitted after the defeat. “So I knew
tonight’s match would be tough.”
PATTERSON TOO TIRED...
Preston Quick took little time in defeating Dylan
Patterson to earn a spot in tomorrow’s finals
winning in an academic three. Patterson, coming off a five game win
against Beau River, moved haltingly around court but showed resolve.
Quick responded to every shot Patterson came up with though winning
9-6, 9-4, 9-2.
TOMORROW'S FINAL...
 Mike
Puertas looks forward to tomorrow’s final match against Preston
Quick and wonders if he’ll be #1.
“Preston is tall and volleys everything. He’s so quick-handed.
I’ll do my best to keep him deep.”
And what had Preston had to say on his opponent?
“Mike motors around the court and has a complete game. I’m
looking for him to put up a lot of lobs to slow play.”
AND TO FINISH... CONSOLATIONS
In the evenings only upset, “Friday” Odeh beat Ben Oliner
9-4, 9-1, 9-0. “Friday played well tonight and I kept finding the
tin,” said a disappointed Oliner.
Oliner competes for 7th place tomorrow against University Club of Chicago
Assistant pro Connor O’Malley.
O’Malley pushed Chicago native Beau River to four but lost 9-6, 4-9,
9-1, 9-0.
Ending his tournament in 9th place, Yasser Kamel made light
work of Chicago local player Sean Ballard winning handily 9-2, 9-1,
9-1.
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Quarter-Finals:
Preston Quick beat Frances Odeh 9-6,9-3, 9-3
Dylan Paterson beat Beau River 9-3, 4-9, 8-10, 9-3, 9-3
Richard Chin beat Ben Oliner 5-9, 9-5, 9-1, 9-5
Michael Puertas beat Conner O’Malley 9-1, 9-0, 9-1 |
To
start off the day pros Yasser Kamel, Oliner, Patterson, Quick and
Puertas were fitted by three stylists at Bloomingdale’ Old Orchard
store who dressed them in the latest men’s fall fashions including
looks by Juicy Couture, Men’s 7 for Mankind, Kenneth Cole
and Laundry for Men.
Patterson upsets
the odds in Lake Forest
Kim Tunney reports from Lake Forest
 For the first time in his career, Round Hill club pro Dylan
Patterson beat Chicago native Beau River 9-3, 4-9, 8-10,
9-3, 9-3. Patterson kept the pace fast twisting River off the tee
which took its toll by the fifth. “I’m delighted in the win, though
Beau dug in throughout. It’s the first time I’ve beaten him,”
Patterson admitted.
In rapid fashion no. 1 seed Preston Quick, volleyed his way
to a 3-0 victory against “Friday” Odeh. Both players spend
most of their match angling in front of the short line with Quick
skid-boasting many of Odeh’s deep forehand drives.
No. 2 seed Michael Puertas made light work of University Club
of Chicago Assistant Pro Conner O’Malley who happily took advantage
of his default into the quarters. Puertas controlled the tee most of
the time and punished O’Malley by driving him deep and side-to-side.
Five-time US National Team member Richard Chin made the most
dramatic entrance of the evening taking a 5:30 pm flight out of La
Guardia arriving at the Lake Forest Recreation Center from O’Hare
airport via limousine. Dressed in squash gear, he walked right out
of the limo straight onto court for the evening’s final match-up.
“Chinner” took the first game to warm up against Ben Oliner
losing 5-9. Oliner played smart hitting high on the front wall. But
New York based Chinner, finally adjusted to Central Standard Time,
got his game back and won the next three 9-5, 9-1, 9-1.
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Top US Players
expected
in Lake Forest ...
Ross Mires
reports from Illinois ...
The US Selection Tour, a series of events leading to selection of
the US team for the Men's World Team Championships, will stop North
of Chicago in mid September.
The Selection Events, which have been rejuvenated and upgraded under
the leadership of new US Men's Coach, Chris Walker, have so
far been largely held in the confines of private squash clubs, so
the addition of a public facility is a welcome addition to the tour.
Lake Forest Squash, the nation’s only truly public/municipal
squash program, will host a US Men’s World Team Selection Tournament
September 22-25 at the city of Lake Forest’s public recreation
centre. The event marks the first time US squash pros have ever
competed at Lake Forest in a tour event. The tournament rewards the
top finishers with a spot on the US Men’s World Team competing in
December at the World Team Championships in Islamabad, Pakistan.
US Pros Michael Puertas, Jamie Crombie, Preston
Quick, Beau River and Ben Oliner are among those
expected to compete. In addition, up to seven other highly ranked
Americans will be participating.
The pro tournament purse is $5,000. "This gives our U.S. pros an
added incentive to compete," says Tournament Director and Squash
Program Director Kim Tunney. Amateur players will battle
alongside the pros in their own USSRA-sanctioned event with results
contributing to their individual national ranking status.
Walker with the team hopefuls ... photo SquashMagazine.com |
 
Lake Forest Squash
Puertas pushes for more
Thirty seven year old Michael Puertas, pro at the Missouri
Athletic Club in St. Louis, believes that the game can grow if it
can be taught in a public forum. "One of my goals is to get squash
lessons and leagues going in public and private schools. If pros and
volunteers can work together to do to this and start inner city
programs too, we can expose the game to a lot more people."
Puertas is hoping to make the US world team for the second time
having represented the US at the Pan-Am games in 2004. He has played
squash professionally for 21 of his 37 years learning in his native
England where access to squash is more open.
Michael Puertas
Amateur
Tournament
Amateur player registration for the Lake Forest Squash US Men’s
World Team Selection Event is available on-line at
www.illinoissquash.org
Player entry is $50 and
includes official tournament tee shirt with a Prince goody-bag;
Saturday lunch and evening beach party.
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Public Access in the USA
Squash has traditionally been played in the USA in private clubs,
East coast independent schools and universities. Some pay-as-you go
facilities exist in the New York area, and public access can be had
at some of the University recreational facilities, but broad access
to squash in the USA is still rare.
An initial public venture was opened in Burlington Vermont some 7
years ago.
The Lake Forest Recreation Centre, a public community
facility in Lake Forest, Illinois, remains, however, a unique place
for a squash program. "We give access here to those who wouldn't
normally have it," Tunney said. She would like to see this program
model used throughout the US at similar public facilities and the
sport integrated into public grade school gym class programming.
In addition to the September pro-am tournament, Lake Forest Squash
offers a year round program for adults and junior players
which includes instruction, leagues, ladders, a junior elite team
and a high school team. "We hope to send a women’s team to Howe Cup
in October and our high school team competed for a second time this
spring at the National High School Team Championships finishing 13
of 24."
Not bad for the team’s second season considering the powerhouse East
coast prep schools included in the competition. |
USSRA
Leadership
Supports
Public Access
These wishes resonate with newly appointed USSRA CEO Kevin
Klipstein who seconds the need for increased access to the game.
Klipstein has a clear set of goals which include increasing the
popularity of the game.
"Court availability and access is one of our
biggest hurdles to growing the game," feels Klipstein. "That’s what
makes Lake Forest Squash so unique. It truly is a public facility
and provides access to young, aspiring players under Kim’s
leadership."
So if you live in the Chicago area and have seen or haven’t tried playing
squash yet, come and see the best players in the country in
September battle it out for the right to represent our country. Or
drop by anytime and play for as little as $4 per hour including
equipment rental.
You may not realize it, but you’re getting a rare
privilege either way.
Ross Mires
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