Large Turnout for Dedication
Nov 4 2005, by Rob Dinerman
Squashtalk Independent News; © 2005 SquashTalk LLC

Large Turnout At Fisher Squash Center Dedication

Well over 100 people, consisting mostly of squash-playing alumni/ae, current students, faculty members and former varsity coaches, flocked to the George H. Love Gymnasium on the campus of the Phillips Exeter Academy on the afternoon of October 29th to participate in the formal celebration of the completion of Phase I of the Fisher Squash Center, whose 10 glass-back-wall courts (with spectator viewing for 500 people on the four exhibition courts) have revolutionized the sport at the Academy since they became available for play last winter.

The attendees were treated to a buffet lunch served courtside; an exhibition match in which Boston-based pros Nadeem Osman, a star on four championship Trinity College teams during the early 2000's, and Jason Hicks competed with each other and with Exeter's current two top players, Michael Maruca and Ed Casserly; a History Of Squash At Exeter prepared for the occasion by Rob Dinerman, an Academy alumnus, class of 1972 (copies of which were distributed to everyone present); and a surprisingly well-subscribed round-robin organized by coach Kirk Randall for those who wished to experience squash first-hand on the amazing new courts.

Many former Big Red stars, including New England Interschols individual champs Arif Sarfraz and Ray Godfrey (who won as seniors in 1972 and 1963 respectively) and standout performers of a host of Exeter squads that won Interschols team titles, made the trip to this beautiful southern New Hampshire town on a day that became both a celebration of the Fisher Center and a de facto reunion of those who had wielded a racquet on the Academy's behalf while representing a squash tradition that is now entering its 75th year at this renowned prep school.

Master Of Ceremonies Werner Brandes, who was head coach of the varsity boys team from 1968-69 through the 1991-92 season and who retired in 2004 after nearly four decades as a German teacher at the Academy, gave a speech featuring many reminiscences and citing such memorable Exeter events as the Open invitational that used to attract nationally ranked amateurs from places like Chicago and Florida, the Faculty tournaments and annual meet against Andover's faculty and the several co-ed team trips to Philadelphia during Christmas vacation to play against the excellent high-school teams from that region. Brandes also emphasized the international flavor that prep-school and college squash have increasingly acquired in the wake of the switch from hardball to softball during the 1990's, mentioning that college teams now have players from India, Pakistan, western Europe, Egypt and Israel on their rosters and noting that the Fisher Squash Center presented the Academy with an open invitation to do the same.

At the conclusion of his talk, Mr. Brandes handed the Faculty Champion Bowl (known as the Bavarian Farewell Trophy) to current boys and girls coach Kirk Randall, who then spoke about the tremendous impact the courts and space have already had on the student body and the coaching options he now had that were not available prior to the construction of the center.

The three Fisher brothers themselves, Bob, Bill and John (classes of 1972, 1975 and 1979 respectively), all of whom had been outstanding squash and tennis players as Exeter students and all of whom traveled from their San Francisco homes for the occasion, spoke movingly about their Exeter memories. Bill stated how glad he was that the "Bowen Board," a glass-encased bulletin board donated by the children of the late Joseph Bowen, an unofficial but invaluable friend and supporter of the squash team for many years, had been transferred to an honored spot in the new squash center, as had other memorabilia from Exeter squash days of yore, including a plaque honoring George Bennett, class of '23, an Academy English teacher who coached the inaugural 1931-32 team (on which USSRA Hall Of Fame inductee Germain Glidden played at No. 1) and remained at the helm through the 1960-61 campaign.

Fisher's comments spoke to an important theme that permeated the entire afternoon, namely the degree to which the court-dedication festivities, while representing a major step towards an exciting future for Exeter squash, simultaneously constituted a tribute to its storied past as well.

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