Some competitive, elegant, and gritty play characterized the matches throughout sixteen age group draws Friday and Saturday at Yale's Payne-Whitney gym. Foreign-born players showed their overall pre-eminence in the age groups, as the men's divisions from over 25 through over 45 inclusive (10 total finalists) have all-foreign finals. Some of these include Dominique Hughes, Nathan Dugan, Dan Sharplin, Grant Pinington, and Richard Elliot.

Familiar USA squash faces showed once again their resilience, durability and competitive spirit as famous players such as Jay Nelson in the over 60s, Charlie Butt in the over 75s, Satinder Bajwa and Mike Riley in the over 45s and Brenda Grossnickle in the over 40s all reached Sunday's finals.

Some other great competitors bravely entered the fray again, though some of them knew they lacked the full preparation to excel due to other time commitments, physical ailments, conditioning and other niggling problems. Some of the greats on hand who didn't reach the finals included Charlie Khan, who fell to fellow WPSA competitor Bill Kaplan, Gul Khan, former national champion and college champion Kevin Jernigan (now living in London), Kenton Jernigan, Andre Maur, Grant Pinnington and Richard Millman.

Below are listed today's semi final results. (Complete tournament results, being compiled by the USSRA, will be available on line within the next few days.)

Results, 2002 USSRA Men's Nationals Age Group Championships, Semi-Finals
Over 25:
Nathan Dugan def Langerhorst 9-7, 1-9, 9-10, 9-7, 9-7
Dan Sharplin def David Cukierman 9-0, 9-3, 9-0

Over 30:
Jonathan Perry def Mike Callaway 9-4, 9-3, 9-4
Francis Odeh def Scott Denne 9-7, 9-3, 9-4

Over 35:
Richard Elliot def Andre Maur 9-2, 9-2, 9-2
Jamie Hickox def Grant Pinnington 9-7, 6-9, 9-0, 10-9

Over 40:
Diniar Alikhan def Jeff Sneyd 2-9, 9-7, 3-9, 9-7, 10-8
Dominique Hughes def Richard Millman 9-0, 9-3, 9-5

Over 45:
Satinder Bajwa def Bob Drake 9-3, 9-0, 9-4
Mike Riley def Bill Kaplan 9-5, 7-9, 1-9, 9-7, 9-4

Over 50:
Chris Burroughs def Tom Metz 9-4, 9-1. ret
Murry Gilman def Dan Callan 9-5, 9-4, 2-9, 1-9, 9-3

Over 55:
Frank Schmidt def Wayne Hodges 9-4, 9-5, 7-9, 9-3
Jack Halford def Simons-Morton 9-7, 9-6, 9-0

Over 60:
Jay Nelson def Warren Young 9-0, 9-1, 9-2
Peter Hatcher def Pat Morin 9-3, 9-3, 9-5

Over 65:
Dan Dudas def Paul Segal 9-7, 10-8, 9-2
MacDonald def John Wheeler 3-0

Over 70:
Douglas Allen def Lee Engler 9-4, 9-1, 9-6
Cliff Barr def James Smith 10-8, 10-8, 9-0

Over 75:
Finalists: Charlie Butt, John Bennett

Over 85:
Round robin underway

Women's Nationals Age Group Championships, Semi-Finals
Over 30:
Orla Doherty def Victoria Chishimba 9-3, 9-4, 9-3
Victoria Wardle def Ulrike Devoto 10-8, 7-9, 7-9, 9-5, 9-6

Over 35:
Sharon Bradey def Julie Lilien 9-2, 9-4, 9-0
Wendy Ansdell def Debbie Brown 10-9, 10-8, 9-4

Over 40:
Grace Bazan def Sue Rose 8-10, 9-5, 9-7, 9-10, 9-5
Brenda Grossnickle def Laura Raynolds 9-3, 9-3, 9-4

Over 45/55:
Finalists: Pat Millman vs Jane Segal