Cincinnati Squash Academy 
Embarks on our Second Year!
 
BOO! A collage of our students' sugar skulls to celebrate Day of the Dead!
The Day of the Dead is a joyous holiday of Mexican heritage that brings families & friends together to celebrate and support the spiritual journeys of those that have passed.

In our learning center, our cohort of 30 enrolled students from Hays Porter, St. Joseph, and CHCA Otto Armleder and 10+ students trying out from Taft High and Hays Porter studied the history of the holiday, decorated sugar skulls, and celebrated Dia de los Muertos.

In many regards, this newsletter serves as a commemoration of the passing of CSA's first year, and more-so, the excitement as we journey through our second year.

We appreciate celebrating our progress with you all, our "family and friends"-- partners, donors, Board Members, supporters, and volunteers. Enjoy the read, and thank you for your patronage, support, and commitment. 

 
The Halloween Bronze Tournament

Vir Seth, Kiylah Smoot, and Austin Schiff celebrate her GU11 division 1st place win.

From Friday, October 23rd to Sunday, October 25th, 8 CSA athletes competed in our second US Squash sanctioned event, the Halloween Bronze Tournament hosted at the T Squash Academy.

There were competitors from many squash programs, including: Cincinnati Country Club, T Squash Academy, Cincinnati Squash Academy, and another urban squash program from Detroit, RacquetUp. Our opponents were equally as diverse: a Board member's sons, current program volunteers, squash newcomers, veterans, and even our own teammates.
Mike White plays with RacquetUp urban athletes who spent the weekend sleeping at CSA's facilities.
Kiylah and Cevie Smoot, and Mike White learn how to referee using US Squash's provided iPods.

Kiylah Smoot won the GU11 Division. Ty Kanyion was in the Plate 2 consolation finals on Sunday. Our team learned where their games could use work and what advantages they had on their opponents. Most importantly, the kids and their families and guardians had a great time! Thanks to T Squash for hosting such a fun tournament.

CSA's Donovan Whyte plays against BU13's 2nd place George Hartmann. 

Mark your Calendars:
The CSA Cup
April 23rd, 2016

Cincinnati Squash Academy's annual Spring fundraising event, the CSA Cup, will be held on April 23rd, 2016.

The CSA Cup is a team-based fundraising and squash competition that aims to benefit our yearly operations budget. We aim to raise over $100,000.00.

If you are interested in captaining a team, email Executive Director Austin Schiff at
 austin@squashacademy.org

Last year Peggy Johns' team won. Who will be this years champions?



CSA's Jeremiah Bolden shakes hands with opponent
Oliver Madison during team introductions. 
Our Second Scrimmage against T Squash Academy

You could hear the kids murmuring, laughing, "ooh"ing, and "ahh"ing as they tried on their new team uniforms for the first time. Designed by Vir Seth, the all whites shined in their second scrimmage hosted at T Squash Academy's Facilities.



The Cincinnati Squash Academy rocked squash's traditional all-white uniforms during team introductions. Thanks to Harrow for producing them!

Our 14-person team was caravanned early Saturday morning by Board Member Don Mills, wife Judy Mills, T Squash's Laura Caty, and CSA's Austin Schiff to Hyde Park. After warm-ups, our students cheered, "CSA!" before getting on court to compete for the next three hours!

Props to Tray'Quan Turner (featured) and Kaiyah Hardy (not shown) for winning their matches.
A big thanks to the T Squash Academy, Neal Tew, Andrew Kriete, and Laura Caty for their continued partnership!

Austin Schiff, Laura Caty, Vir Seth, and Andrew Kriete pose after the scrimmage.

Read CSA's Article in Cincinnati Magazine

Author Michael Graham spent almost a whole year with us to write the article.


Visit from Noah Jenkins, 
Admissions Director from Bates College

This is a major step in the direction of completing our mission of getting our cohort "to and through" college!
Our Partnership with Playhouse in the Parks!
 In the first month of our partnership, the Playhouse has provided two wonderful experiences for us: 

1.) Tickets to The Secret Garden.

2.) Off the Hill's High School Alien on our show court.

Thanks to the Playhouse in the Parks and Off the Hill

Also, big shouts to Daunielle Rasmussen, Patty Rosely, Tracy Hoida, and the cast of High School Alien.
Playhouse provided all transportation and a pre-play workshop for our program.
The Secret Garden
Presented at Playhouse in the Parks

On Sunday, September 20th, 18 theatre-goers bussed to Mount Adams to see the Playhouse's latest musical. 

The Secret Garden  started at 7:00pm as lights dimmed and the orchestra played. In the first act,  there was a "hold", where the show was halted in the middle of song due to technical difficulties.  We were all able to experience why live theatre is magical. 

In the following weeks, the students participated in a novel study to coincide with the play as part of our literary focus!
Audience members got to ask the cast questions about the show's plot, characters, and acting in the play.
High School Alien
Presented by Off the Hill at CSA's Show Court

On Saturday, October 3rd, Playhouse's Off the Hill debuted their newest musical on our show court. 

6th graders and their families got to see the performance revolving around teenagers finding their own identities in the midst of the enrollment of the school's newest student, a scaly, multi-eyed alien.

2nd Annual LumenoCity Young Professionals Event 2015 Event raises $25,000 for CSA!

In the summer air of Friday, August 7th, 200 patrons sipped Rhinegeist beer from orange cups with the CSA logo printed on them, tasted the sweetness of Eli's BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, and watched a homage to the Queen City on the facade of Music Hall during CSA's annual LumenoCity event hosted on Washington Park.

The bleachers to view the light show were built in the Emanuel Community Center's parking lot on 13th and Race.

A special thanks to Peter Frey, who facilitated the event!  

Also, a huge shoutout to our sponsors: 
Austin Schiff, Dawn Schiff, and Peter Frey pose in the courtyard.

The Young Professionals ate and drank in the courtyard then went out to Emanuel Community Center's parking lot to view the show.
Athletes Compete in our First Midwest Urban Championships at Kenyon College

Our crew and staff hold up the CSA flag before the three hour journey home in our 
15 passenger van!

On Thursday, July 23rd, 14 select CSA athletes were joined by 3 students' families, 2 Board Members, and staff at our first official US Squash sanctioned tournament, the Midwest Urban Squash Championship. Hosted at Kenyon College, urban squashers played squash, ate at the mess hall, and bunked up in the dorms over the weekend!

Over 200 urban squash student-athletes from 12 different programs competed in the tournament.

Cincinnati Squash Academy shed blood, sweat, and tears over the weekend- literally! Our first ever match was won by Andreina Lara, a GU13 girl from Otto Armleder, beating her opponent 3-0 in games. On Sunday, Richard "Ricky" Eberhart was the finals runner up in the BU11 draw. 

Our team finds our emblem on one of NUSEA's posters!
Kiylah Smoot showing her game face!
Ricky Eberhart with his U11 Runner-Up Trophy!

Check out our Most Dedicated Volunteers!
 
If you are interested in volunteering, reach out to Squash Director and Volunteer Coordinator, 
Vir Seth, at   vir@squashacademy.org.

UK Lesson Series Inspired by 
Volunteer Rhoda Brooks
Rhoda presented her travels through the UK in a presentation using our brand new Smartboard!

Rhoda Brooks recently went above and beyond to bring our student-athletes a piece of culture back from the United Kingdom. While spending time in the UK, Rhoda met the Story Telling Laureate of the United Kingdom, Taffy Thomas. She was able to bring back his book of folklore stories autographed for the kids to read and enjoy. Thank you so much, Rhoda!

Rachael Parker, Academic Director, was then able to develop a whole lesson series that went through the history, geography, and culture of the UK-- including an introduction to Monty Python and the Beatles! 

The cohort reciprocated Rhoda's kind actions by giving her an Award of Excellence
 and a wonderful round of applause!

T Squash Academy's Players Start Volunteering
Denison Club Squash Team Coaches Our Elite Players
Nora Brant is one of our most dedicated volunteers depicted here helping Jumba Najoli with his homework.
Shown are two of the eight Denison club squash players giving one-on-one lessons to Angela Ramirez (left) and Payton Combs (right).
Executive Director Laura Caty coaches Angela Ramirez on her forehand rails.
Ty Kanyion hits with Denison's Jim Cowardin. Thanks again to Walt Theiman, Jim Cowardin, and the Denison club squash team.

Aaron works on rails with 
Jumba Najoli.
Volunteer Spotlight:
Aaron Hillman

Aaron Hillman lives in Oakley with his wife, Meredith Hogan. He is a Principal and Senior Securities Analyst at EBS Asset Management. He has played raquet sports most of his life and has enjoyed squash for over ten years. He was interested in doing more for the community and heard great things about the CSA through one of his wife's friends, Kay Hurley, which led to him volunteering with us. Thanks again, Aaron!
Thank you for taking the time to read our Newsletter!

Stay up to date by checking out our website at www.squashacademy.org
 
CSA | (513) 246-4290 | info@squashacademy.org | www.squashacademy.org