New Mexico Squash Racquets Association 
[Prev|Home] Webified 01/27/00 by Dick Silbar (silbar@whistlesoft.com)
New Mexico Squash Racquets Association SANTA FE OPEN JANUARY 28-30 ENTRIES ATTACHED
Entries for the Santa Fe Open are attached. If you plan to enter please send them in as soon as possible so that the draws may be completed with the least amount of revisions.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
As internet stocks continue to push the NASDAQ to record highs the NMSRA can now take advantage of this wonderful technology with the help of a tremendous gift from Dick Silbar. I had gotten a call from Dick, who is an award winning computer programmer from Los Alamos, (as well as one of the most active and supportive players in our association) and he told me that he wanted to play around with some software he had gotten for developing web sites. He wanted to update our web site which had been languishing since 1997 without any changes. I forwarded copies of the most recent newsletters and he uploaded them to our site with the help of Chris Janton, Webmaster for the USSRA. Our site is attached to a sub-heading on the USSRA Web site for “Regional Websites”, then “Central States” (our location) and then NMSRA.
In the future I hope to be able to post entries to tournaments there as well as having members download the newsletter without the cost of time-consuming snail mail. Check out the web site at http://www.us-squash.org/squash/cstates-/nmsra. Also, please send me your email address so that I can add it to our database.
In this newsletter you will find news about three New Mexico tournaments that took place this past Fall. Speaking about tournaments, we have some questions to resolve quickly regarding the tournament schedule that we have here in New Mexico, as it pertains to the coming year. Please contact me to let me know what you think, as soon as possible. We need to get some of these questions out of the way and tournaments on the books for the coming year, so that everyone knows about them and we can promote them as much as they deserve to be promoted.
When speaking to USSRA President Eben Hardie about the problem of playing rated players in tournaments and the dearth of them in NM he suggested that I go ahead and rate all players in our Association. Does everyone know that if you are a member of the NMSRA you are a rated player? Check out the NMSRA Web site to get a look at your rating and look to the past newsletters to get an idea about what it means. If you look at the USSRA web site you can also download the criteria for the rating. There is a list of rated payers on the USSRA web site from around the country.
Results of Not The Vegetable IV, October ‘99, El Gancho
The “Not The Vegetable Tournament” got a tremendous boost this year from out of town players. We had entries from Tennessee, Texas, Kansas and Colorado. This is due in a large part to the posting on the Internet at the USSRA Web Site for “Upcoming Tournaments” and a similar posting in the USSRA publication “Squash Magazine.” These out of town players provided extra competition in the 4.0 draw. The 5.0 draw was dominated by local Santa Feans and won by “The Master” Martin Casdagli who wore super fit Tom Abrams to a frazzle with deft control and power that seems strangely out of place for arms so slender. In the 4.0’s Dr. Mike Fleming came all the way from Nashville to beat John Bender from Dallas. In the 3.0’s, Webmaster Dick Silbar was overcome by newcomer and former tennis player Andy Joseph’s back hand volleys to the nick. In the 2.0’s Los Alamos’s Dick Beaudoin was clearly ahead of the rest of the pack in a tight Round Robin. In the Juniors it was Conrad Miller who took control of division with a win over Jeremy Burke.
Kiva Classics, Santa Fe, Dec. 3-5
The Kiva Club continues to put on the Classiest tournament in New Mexico. This is tournament for 40+ players with an emphasis on doubles. This year there were something like 80-90 entries. The club goes all out to recognize senior players with a reception on Thursday night for players over 60 and many of the out of town players, who travel from as far away as California, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Minnesota and the list of states represented goes on and on. What is most interesting is that this is a single elimination tournament. You lose and you, or you and your partner are out. No consolations. I know of an excellent team from St. Paul who flew in only to lose in the first round... done, no mas. Friday night is another Cocktail party with open bar and lots of food, all served in the Club’s charming main room. People all over the place, players walking through between games on the way to the water cooler, conversation and good cheer with an underlying atmosphere of competition. Saturday squash all day. If the doubles gallery is too crowded you can watch on the video monitor in the TV room. Saturday night there was a reception at the laudable Fen Gallery with more open bars and food. A good opportunity to renew friendships and make new ones. The Finals on Sunday are worth watching. In the highly competitive 40+ Doubles former Pro Gordy Anderson and Tom Bolt put away 3 time defending Champs from Denver Fred Duboc and Alan Dille. Gordy and Tom played controlled skillful squash to beat the talented and nationally ranked Duboc and Dille.
NMSRA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, MIDTOWN, NOVEMBER 5-7
This was the first year (at least for awhile) that the NMSRA has held a “State Championship”. Midtown Sports has usually held the Albuquerque Open in November but this year turned the tournament and time over to the NMSRA. We tried to run this as a “focus” and interest building tournament, with membership in the USSRA abd NMSRA included in the entry, as well a trophies and the Title of State Champion to winners of the Divisions. Although turnout was less than expected all entrants had fun and competition was keen in most of the divisions. The 5.5 Division was very close and had to be decided by a “most games won through out the round robin” rule. Martin beat Randy and lost to Gary. Gary beat Martin and lost to Randy. Martin took the title by virtue of winning the most number of games.
Men’s 5.5 Round Robin: 1st Place: Martin Casdagli, 2nd Place: Gary Sanchez, 3rd Place: Randy Kahn, 4th Place: Sean Gallagher.
Men’s 4.5 Round Robin: 1st Place: Walter Burke, 2nd Place: Mike Hussey, 3rd Place: Ben Baldanado, 4th Place: Greg Schackel, 5th Place: Doug Campbell.
Men’s 3.5 Round Robin: 1st Place: Dick Silbar, 2nd Place: Mike Guest, 3rd Place: Kristen Johnson, 4th Place: Kevin Greene
Men’s 2.5 Round Robin: 1st Place: John Denzeiser, 2nd Place: Frank Wolack, 3rd Place: Jeff Guest, also Juniors Conrad Miller and Jeremy Burke.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT OUR TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE?
In the past there is been whole series of tournaments, starting in October with the El Gancho “Not the Vegetable”, “The Albuquerque Open”, now the “New Mexico State Championships” in November. “ The Kiva Classic” in December. “The Santa Fe Open” in January. “The Green Dot Open” in March. “The Los Alamos Y” in April, “The State Games”, at Midtown in May. “The International Grand Prix Pro Tour” in July at Midtown. The Los Alamos Y hasn’t happen in 2 years and no one is coming forward to put it on. Midtown dropped the Green Dot last year and will not be doing it again. I think that this is the last year that I will put on two tournaments at El Gancho. I have a lot to do and tournaments are very time consuming. I’ll continue with the Not the Vegetable in the Fall, but drop the Santa Fe Open. The Kiva will probably continue with the Classic. The Pro Tour in the summer is a great opportunity to see top notch squash, but is very expensive to put on, because of the prize money, and needs financial support. Here is the big question: How many tournaments can our small squash population support, and which ones should they be?
The State Games would like to join with our State Championships. (Here’s something that I bet you didn’t know: The State Games are part of a national organization of “State Games” which organizes state wide competition in 47 states and is affiliated with the Pan Am Games and Olympics. Sort of a grass roots, local, amateur organization that promotes the sports in the Olympics.) They normally have their competition during Memorial Day Weekend, but are willing to shift the date to coincide with our State Championships. They would help to promote the tournament and provide T-Shirts. There is a cost for this of $10.00 per entrant I believe, but I may not have this right. When is a good time to do this? Contact me with your views. What would you like to see for a tournament schedule? What about other activities?
Guy Cowen in New Mexico Jan 14-15.
Guy Cowen, our itinerant Irish / Houston Pro will be at Midtown Sports on Friday afternoon and evening and at El Gancho on Saturday. If you are interested in private, semi private or group lessons contact Walter Burke at 450-5675.
Membership Renewal
Remember that your membership expires on a date listed after your membership number, denoting the month and year of expiration. Be sure to check your membership number and if you have any questions contact Walter Burke 450-5675.
Favorite Web Sites
I keep three squash web sites marked so that I can keep up with squash happenings around the US and World. The web site for The United States Squash Racquets Association is a wonderful site to pick up news from around the country, including your rating and ranking, as well as tournaments, rules and on and on. There are also links to other web sites, including a link to our own site. http://www.us-squash.org.
The Internet Squash Fderation has great news from around the World, primarily dealing with Pros. http://www.squash.org.
Squash Talk promotes itself as an independent e-zine for squash. During the recent British Open they had the best up to date coverage. http://www.squashtalk.com.
NMSRA CONTACTS
Walter Burke, 505-450-5675, hrssqsh@aol.com.
Sean Gallagher, 505-466-3743.
Rick Rennie 505-344-2605,
Doug Campbell 505-878-9456.
NMSRA, PO Box 914 Santa Fe, NM 87504.