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RACQUET RECAP A LO O K AT T H E 2 0 1 9 - 2 0 S Q U A S H S E A S O N S O FA R
TOP-BOTTOM: LADIES’ SQUASH WEEK; MO STATE DOUBLES; WORLD-CLASS SQUASH EXHIBITION, KARMIM GAWAD VS. GREG GAULTIER
To kick start the squash season, we hosted a fun singles and doubles club box league. Looking to bolster ladies squash, the MAC hosted Ladies Squash Week; a week of free squash clinics where 22 new ladies came, many for the first time. Once a month, the MAC hosted ladies squash social including prosecco by the courts. In October, MAC played RC Cup in a St. Louis derby. The match featured our best singles and doubles A, B, C & D level players. It was a packed house for the fun night of competitive squash. Overall, MAC tied matches and games for the first time in history. Due to a technical glitch of ‘missing score cards’ the Cup stays at the Racquet Club. During MO State Doubles Championships, MAC’s dynamic duo Craig Parker and Mark Gaertner lifted the Cup after a win over Ethan Oetter and Alex Wolff at RC, St. Louis Junior Silver Open: Meg Pruett
GU17 finalist, Sameer Shafqat Semifinalist BU15, Henry Byrne BU17 Finalist, Jude Sorkin BU19 Finalist. Thanksgiving Turkey Burner consisted of handicapped roundrobin play, which ended in a match between top juniors Eli Paul and Henry Byrne. Byrne won by one point in the final game. Verena Saunders and Milissa Beaty were undefeated in their doubles group. Christmas Cracker Champion Pat Dolan got over the finish line for the first time ever with a wooden racquet to claim a cheeky title. January: F MO State Singles Championships: The biggest names in Missouri battled it out for bragging rights and featured a big MAC contingent. F Shout outs to: Meg Pruett Ladies finalist, Sameer Shafqat C finalist, Dan Tlapek D finalist. February: F St Louis Junior Bronze Open: Max
Frank BU11 Winner, Will Frank BU13 Runner Up, CJ Goot BU15 Winner. The World Class Exhibition; presented by John Pruett and IBIS Autism, two World Champions ‘Le French General’ Greg Gaultier and, ‘the Baby-Faced Assassin’ Karim Gawad faced each other. Members hit with the legends in entertaining clinics, experiencing the unreal court craft, dishing out a few taxis and cases of old disco knees! Following this, MAC was treated to a masterclass of swift movement and unreal racquet skills with Karim coming out victorius, 3/1. Thanks to all the patrons and Members for supporting this night to remember. This would not be possible without the Members. I look forward to more exciting events to come as we get back to our feet. See you at the courts, Alex
DOUBLES HANDICAP Winter Classic A new Club classic in the making stirred the pot. The Double Winter Classic was open to all levels, handicapped, randomly paired teams drawn out of the hat. The tournament had twists and turns from start to finish. Michelle Beattie and Marco Bertarelli started down 5.0 points each game before running away with the crown jewels and cleaning up at the business end of the game, defeating Drennan Bailey and Matt Jessee 3 - 1. 15/12, 7/15, 15/12, 15/13. The Mike Donio Memorial Softball Tournament culminated in great games and a lovely tribute to Mike—family and friends coming throughout the day to witness the action and share memories of Mike. The tough pairing, Nick Bahn and Brian Lyss, ousted firepower of Chase Beattie and Tim Engelmeyer 3/1 in the final. The St. Louis squash community raised $1,050 for STL Squash Racquets Association youth squash and $3,150 to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Research. Thanks to all who kindly supported and donated to make this a special tournament. After the final, they presented a plaque in 6 F Cherry Diamond F AUG 2020
Mike’s honor; ‘The Mike Donio Award,’ to to the 2019/2020 season’s most improved junior squash player, Margaret Pruett. Pruett had an incredible season reaching 105 in the Girls national U17 ranking. She can be seen at the courts training throughout the week. Her dedication to the game shows when she turns up early to prepare and stays after training to further her practice. She goes the extra mile on and off court working with a trainer, improving both her school exam scores and traveling around the country challenging the best in her age group. She started the season consistently in the top 10 of her bracket and reaching two Silver level finals. Her fruits for the labor enabled her to qualify for the next tier up ‘Gold’ events; playing girls just outside the top 25 in the country. Pruett took out higher-ranked opponents, and passed a few old rivals, finishing three Gold events placing in 13th, and two PBs placing in 11th respectively. In addition to playing squash, Mike Donio introduced Pruett to lacrosse. Congratulations Meg on a fantastic season, keep up the hard work!
TOP: ALEX INGHAM AND MARGARET PRUETT; BOTTOM: MIKE DONIO (FAR LEFT) WITH HIS SQUASH COMRADES
