TEAM USA - THE FUNDING IMPERATIVE    [also week seven update]
The squad's fundraising activities continue in earnest following the USOC withdrawal of its $100,000 annual grant to the USSRA forcing US teams to raise funds to subsidize travel, coaching and entry fees. The squad's inaugural fundraiser was coordinated by the Parents Committee which hosted wine a cheese Reception, sponsored by the law firm of Cozen O'Connor, along with a "Silent Auction", at the US Junior Nationals at Yale, with over $8,000 raised. 

Next, a "Doubles Challenge" was mounted by Todd Ruth and Trevor McGuinness, who won the 2005 Elite Doubles Challenge over veteran hardball doubles teams. This event drew some of Philadelphia's top doubles players, including Pros Adam Hammill and Nigel Thain, World Champion Alan Grant, recent Boys Under 17s junior singles champ Matt Domenick, US Junior doubles champs Alex Domenick and Chris Callis and local doubles stalwarts Bill Strong, Nick Lepore, Dave Elder, Pete Prinsen, Bill Rux, John Freeman and Paul Furlong, among others. The "winner-takes-all" challenge was enjoyed by all and raised over $1000 for the Team.

The event was so much enjoyed that local players have challenged the squad for some additional matches that will be arranged in two weeks. Most recently, Todd Ruth, as part of his senior project, volunteered with the USSRA and created a data base of funders who have supported the team.  And finally, the team "alumni" were researched, and all were contacted by email letter sporting a new letterhead listing all past players.

The 2006 Squad proudly applauds the past players, who include the following members:  Fundraising will continue as the team has a long way to go. Events include three golf outings organized by the coaches, a Parent's Committee reception in Greenwich, and an "appeal" campaign to family, friends and supporters of the team [so watch your mailbox for our requests] 

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PLAYER PROFILE: MARK FROOT

Mark Froot

The most passionate, enthusiastic and talented player on the team hails from outside Boston [Sudbury, Mass] where he has trained for the past several years.  Mark catapulted to the top rankings in junior squash shortly after taking up the sport and has never looked back. His success in regional, national and international squash events uniquely qualify him as a leader who brings a wealth of experience and depth to the team.

This year, he added a string of victories to his impressive resume of wins including a convincing touncing of all his opponents at the highly competitive Princeton Juniors selection tournament in the spring. This victory added sufficient points to qualify him for one of two automatic berths on the team that he will captain  Mark trains at Harvard
University with Mohammed Ayaz who Mark describes as his mentor as well as his coach. He played the first position on his Belmont Hills High School team leading an impressive squad that included top ranked teammate John Fullam, who was recently closen for the US BU23 Squad.  

Mark also excels off the court winning as many scholastic awards as squash titles. He is a 2005 Boston Globe All Scholastic winner, ISL MVP and New England Interscholastic Winner. He is a gifted and renown writer and essayist, but probably is best known in his hometown as a "DJ" who knows current music and composers better than most others. Mark was
highly recruited by all the top college squash team coaches, but chose the world famous Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania where he will begin studies in September.

Mark is expected to land a top position on coach Craig Thorpe-Clark's team and will join All American Gilly Lane, another BU 23 Squad player, in mounting a formidable challenge for the 2007 Intercollegiate title.  Before capturing that championship, Mark aims to achieve a personal best result in New Zealand in both the individuals and team competitions.