TEAM USA - En Route to New Zealand  
also [week six update]

Squad member CJ Plimpton. Photo 2006 © Trevor McGuinness .

The team is packing, light training and preparing for the long flight to New Zealand. Most of the team will fly direct to LAX, and then to Auckland, NZ arriving at 6:45 AM a day later. After clearing customs, the team flies to Palmerston North, an hour flight south, where the tournament will begin. Our "team sponsors" from St. Mary's School will Some easy training is planned for the week followed by a free weekend and the Team plans to tour the countryside and enjoy some needed R&R after training diligently for the past several months.

One last big THANK YOU to all the sponsors of the Team [and those who have waited to donate until we arrive in New Zealand], our families and friends [especially those who hosted players during training sessions in Philly, Greenwich/Rye and Boston], the USSRA [Jeannie, Vijay and Kevin's support has been unwavering] and last but not least,  our two dedicated and exhausted coaches - Chris Smith and Preston Quick. 

Player Profile - Christopher "CJ" Plimpton
One of two southpaws on the team, CJ Plimpton brings his determination, spunkiness and intrepidity in his game to the team.  Like his teammates, CJ began playing as a pre-teen, and enjoyed success locally, regionally [winner of the 2005 BU19 Westchester Juniors BU19s and winner of the  2005 All Ivy Classic BU19s], nationally [he currently is ranked 10th in the BU19] and internationally [competitor in the Dutch, Pioneer German, Spanish/Santiago and Scottish tournaments multiple times].  He led his high school varsity boy's squash team [The Hackley School] as a junior, and is expected to be a top recruit next year as his talents and skills are well-known to the college coaches.

CJ has the benefit of training with the finest Pros in the Westchester/Greenwich community, including Richard Millman, Mike Calloway [coach of the 2004 Junior Men's team that played in Islamabad, Pakistan] and Kumail Mehmood who reminds CJ that the game is always about having fun. Thankfully, CJ has passed along Kumail's words of wisdom as CJ remains the team's "funmeister" during all our grueling training for the past year. Off the court, CJ is a multifaceted athlete who also excels in soccer, baseball and golf.

Tournament Tidbit - About the Venue

SquashGym Palmerston North is one of New Zealand's premier sporting club's, host to many New Zealand National Squash events over the years including, the 1971 World Men's Championship and host to the upcoming 2006 World Junior Men's Championships.

Although approaching it's 70th year, the 2002 and 2000 NZ Club of the Year has kept pace with the fast moving sports leisure industry and opened a new public Gym in December. The $300,000 plus investment has seen the latest Gym gear installed, another valuable asset to the complex. The club with an ever-increasing player and membership base of over 700, boasts 5 Squash courts including 3 glassbacks and a Championship gallery court. They are also in the process of building a further 3 ASB 'movable wall' glass back courts. Other facilities include; Pro-Shop, Club Office, Bar & Lounge(s) and Changing rooms.

SquashGym North Palmerston. Photo 2006 © Adam Lyall .