Runa Reta - WISPA Squash Pro on Tour on www.squashtalk.com

A Homely Experience...

When I first found out that there was going to be a WISPA tournament staged in someone’s house in small-town Indiana, I was admittedly a little freaked out. Granted, I do tend to have a bit of a wild and twisted imagination, but to me it seemed reasonable to envision some creepy old man using his newly-built court as an excuse to lure 16 young women to his house, with the intent of using us as his personal muses for the weekend. But, as no one else seemed to mind this potential scenario, I decided to enter anyway, thus proving once and for all that squash players indeed will do just about anything and go just about anywhere to compete if there is the smallest incentive of points and money involved! By the time I had arrived in Indiana and made my way to the house in Goshen however, I sensed that my reservations were ill-placed, and that this was going to be a truly unique and memorable event.

Prior to Goshen, my first and only experience of playing on a squash court in someone’s house was sadly short-lived. A boy of my age had a court in his house (in Ottawa) but as I beat him on the first occasion that we played there, I was conveniently never invited back (which seemed to indicate that the only thing more detrimental to a male’s ego than losing to a girl, is losing to a girl in his own house!) This time around, I was sure to have more time to explore my surroundings.

As I entered the Wellington residence, my eyes were greeted with the sights of any normal household, except for that in the first moment when I stepped through the front door, I could already feel the warmth, comfort and familial bond which characterized this home so well, and which we can all relate to and cherish about our own personal dwellings. As I scanned my surroundings (and my senses warmed to my new environs)- photos on walls, well-worn leather couches, family dog lounging in the living area, open concept kitchen where freshly baked cookies lay cooling on a tray- it was highly disorienting to be met by the sound of a squash ball hitting the front wall! Was there seriously a squash court in this place?!? As I walked through the kitchen, wedged in beside the dining room and living quarters, I was hit with the sight of a magnificent, newly built squash court, with beautiful white paneled walls, bright lights, high ceiling and an impressively large viewing space too (with carpeted steps as well as sofa chairs and couches)!

Now, many of the courts I have seen or heard of are generally built in a separate area of the house, but this one literally made up the core of this house! Clearly, I needed to meet these (invariably fascinating) people who were behind the idea of assimilating a court into their living space as well as their lives- after all, it takes a true admirer of the game to accept waking up every morning to the sound of squash balls echoing down the hallways!

When I met Jim and Karen Wellington for the first time, it was clear that these two were passionate about squash, though for different reasons. For Jim, having been an active athlete throughout his life, he seemed to admire and appreciate the physicality of the game, and the many different elements that are required to become an elite squash player.

For Karen, she seemed to take more pleasure in seeing the joy and satisfaction that a simple game of squash could bring to the minds and bodies of those who come by to play on their court regularly (turns out that the Wellington’s court is the only regulation-sized court within 100 miles of where they live, so keen squash players often come around for a hit!) Their different points of attraction to the game were mirrored in their roles throughout the weekend: Jim tended to stay close to the court, keeping time and making sure that the players had everything they needed prior to stepping on court, while Karen worked her way around the kitchen, basement and dining room (where food was being provided), ensuring that all the food was being topped up and all the guests were being greeted at the door and well taken care of.

Although it was evident that the hosts were keen squash enthusiasts, it was unclear whether anyone else in the area felt similarly. Jim, Karen and several of their friends sent out nearly 250 invitations to various sponsors and interested parties, but there was a real sense of nervousness, for no one knew if anyone would in fact come out to watch a sport that was largely unknown in the Midwest, and at a family’s residence of all places!

But as the matches started up on Friday afternoon, people started to file in to the house with shy curiosity, and from then on the flow of spectators never ceased. It didn’t take long for the squash bug to take hold either- some individuals who intended to come and watch for a match or so, ended up staying for the whole afternoon.

Unaccustomed to the fast pace of the game and sheer speed and endurance of the women, spectators “oohed” and “ahhed” prematurely as rallies continued, both players alternating roles of attack and retrieval to the delight of the crowd. Following the matches, spectators had the rare opportunity to speak with the players themselves, as we spent most of the day hanging out in the house, gorging ourselves on the various treats that were devilishly placed throughout the house (a never-ending stream of fresh-baked cookies and pumpkin squares courtesy of Karen, fresh stove-popped popcorn courtesy of Karen’s father, sandwiches courtesy of Subway, chips, chocolates, candy, nuts, fruit, drinks and any other food you could imagine). Despite our best efforts to stick to the apples and bananas, none of the players could resist unconsciously nibbling on the snacks that were around every corner of the house! In fact, by the end of the event our only possible complaint would be having sore stomachs from over-eating!

All in all, this was a fantastic tournament. Right from the moment we touched down in Indiana, we were treated with such care and hospitality, that even the shyest of the players felt perfectly comfortable and at home in their environs (it was normal to see players milling about the house, doing laundry, watching tv, making themselves a cup of tea, and generally conducting themselves as if they were in their own homes!) Every night we were taken out to a different restaurant and treated to a free dinner (as several restaurants were sponsors for the tournament) which afforded us a great chance to spend time with the friendly, tight-knit squash community in Goshen.

And by far the most rewarding aspect of this tournament was playing in front of spectators who knew nothing about the game, but came anyway, out of sheer curiosity; I overheard many of these same people voicing their admiration and excitement over what they saw and remarking on their way out how they would like to try playing squash themselves. As nice as it is to play in front of real connoisseurs of the sport, I realized how much more rewarding it is to know that you may have played a small part in recruiting new players to the game. If I felt this small reward, can you imagine how gratifying it must have felt for Karen and Jim, having put together a draw of some of the most internationally diverse competitors (from as far away as Japan), drawn nearly 100 spectators over the course of the weekend, and single-handedly spurred a genuine interest in a sport that is virtually unknown in the whole state? From the twinkle in both of their eyes as they stood back and watched the packed finals, and their warm embrace afterwards (as if to say “yes, we actually did it!”) it seems as though they had an idea of the impact they had on their little squash community that will hopefully remain little no longer.

They sensed the impact they had on the game, but maybe not quite the impact they had on the players. What started as an uncertain prospect, turned out to be one of the loveliest, most memorable events that I have ever played in, and that’s saying a lot, seeing as I was seeded to win the tournament, and ended up losing in the semis! Being surrounded with such kind, warm and giving people, it was impossible to be unhappy about anything, for we all felt so fortunate to have been a part of their experience. So here is my final plea: PLEASE HAVE US BACK NEXT YEAR! This is certainly not a tournament to be missed…

(Once again, a huge thank you to Jim, Karen and the various volunteers who worked so hard to put this tournament on in such a professional manner-- we appreciate your efforts, enthusiasm and vision for the game of squash in Indiana.)