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Indian Summer 2011 Article

         Surviving five game balls in game four of her semi final against Canadian Alex Clark, Ahn Eun Chan of South Korea must have felt total victory was as simple as stepping off a canoe onto a dock.  However, we wet, bruised squash souls know victory is the mirror of defeat, and a spinning mirror at that.  Ahn lost game four.  Before one could say, “I wish”, Ahn was suddenly down 1-10, facing NINE match balls against a tornadic Clark.

          Summoning her inner “chi”, Ahn refused to lose another point.  Shaking off her sore arm, her upset stomach from her first American food, her allergies to cats, and every other calamity in her young life, she used her foot speed to grind away, carefully avoiding hitting balls down the middle.  One more stroke call by the referee would be the end of her, and she was leaving that peril for Clark.

         Fighting back point by point, Ahn tied the game at ten, as Clark withered in disbelief. Just as game four, Clark then won the next rally, earning that elusive eleventh point; yet another match ball.  However, this time the ending for Clark would be…unfavorable, disappointing, enraging, inexcusable, devastating. The kind of 12-14 fifth game loss that you never forget. The kind of loss that marks your squash life, and propels you one way or the other.

         Ahn Eun Chan went on to win a very tough five game final against Zephanie Curgenven, traveling from England. Zephanie was pleased to make the final, upsetting top seeded Netherlander Milou Heijden in a surprising quarter final.   Hitting with admirable power “Zephe” benefited from the hard front walls at the Commodore, forcing opponents to pivot to the back rather than volley. Had she mixed in a bit more deception, she may well have won the whole shebang. Funny how the two finalists met for the first time in good old St. Paul, MN, just about half way between Korea and England….  What a tribute to WISPA that top pros will travel such long distances to gain precious rating points, as the overall purse was modest.

         Dave Rosen of sponsor Harrow Sports, after checking with Accounts Receivable, decided to make the journey west from Baltimore to see what his best man Jeff Mulligan was up to.  Jeff had recently taken on the long coveted role of Head Pro at host club Commodore, having arrived with bride and child from Atlanta, Georgia.  Alarmed by Jeff’s reports of mosquitoes “so thick it was impossible to distinguish the ball”, Dave came prepared with a ready smile, and extra Harrow stock.

   Knocking out defending champ Tournament Chair John O’Brien in the first round of the A Doubles, Mr. Dave Rosen (“didn’t get the memo”) otherwise showed exemplary style and class all weekend.  The A Doubles Final pitted friends as foes, with Mulligan/Field facing Rosen/Lonnquist. A capacity crowd witnessed the hardest hit balls since the National Doubles came through St. Paul in 1993. Sliding far forward in game four, Rosen pulled something substantial. Limping badly, he still posed a formidable threat, only losing 13-15 as the match tilted away.  Mulligan demonstrated the ferocity and form that garnished him the current National Over 40’s Doubles Championship.  For the first time in twenty years, the A Final of the Indian Summer Tournament did not feature a Hensel/Fairman/or Massey.  Herb Lewis and Greg Koalska prevailed in the B Doubles Final, but only after Herb was dragged out of House of Hope church, not aware of a time change. Eventually he will need to explain that to his Maker (among other things).  Bob Bowman and Eric Larson defeated Nadir el Sayeed and Bill Joanis in the C final 3-1, but Bill Joanis had more fun than anyone else.  Don Theamert /GregKrueger beat Tomy O’Brien Jr./John Jasinski in the Over 50 final 3-1, overcoming numerous shenanigans, and a cross eyed, wrong headed, rule ignorant, inebriated referee.  Well done!

  Jay del Carmen comfortably won the A Singles Division 3-0, beating future state champion Matt Hildebrand (you read it here first).  Games two and three were close, with Jay using his mental toughness to end up winning both games 12-10.  Though a regular finalist, Jay had never won the prestigious A singles Indian Summer title at the Commodore, despite being a seven times state singles champion. Shortly after the tournament, Jay was to tear his “other” Achilles tendon, and won’t be on court again until warm weather.  Jeff May won the B final against Paul Gamble, 3-1, a deserved match up, as both players had  more or less out hustled their prior opponents.  Jeff has been steadily improving on court.  He is an exceedingly gracious opponent, and was well deserving of the finals win. In the C/D division, Larry DeVore lost a finals squeaker to Pat Craig 1-3.   Tom Evans, en route from California to hometown Monkton, New Brunswick, managed to swing through St. Paul hoping to win the tough Over 50 draw.  Once again he encountered a formidable opponent in the final, last time Bostonian Willard Bigelow, this time sleeper cell Edinian Jay Jackley.  For thirty years, Jay has been one of the hidden squash jewels in MN.  Rarely playing in tournaments, but cordial, in shape and with a nose to volley, Jay is always a tough match. Jay loves working the high, tight rails, and then using his large body to secure advantage on a straight volley drop. Maybe running half marathons “for fun” has something to do with his success. Congratulations to all the singles players, especially the champions.

The Indian Summer Tournament has a well deserved reputation as one tremendous party, with fabulous homemade food, a Gala, and, yes, a super squash tournament.  This year may have been the most fun ever, which is saying a lot. Saturday night, after the scrumptious Gala dinner and customary speeches by notables Charlie Mahar, Frank Fairman, Peter Syvertsen, and Steve Shea, the handsomely dressed crowd descended to the cavernous, wood and brick basement to hear Kevin Scanlon’s infamous Irish band, Highland Paddy rock the Gala.  Feeling they were in an old pub back home, the band cranked out saucy tunes to make an Irishman blush. In an adjoining chamber, a casual fan could ponder WISPA pros playing pool, some for the first time.  How can one WISPA pro in particular be so very, very good at squash, and so bad at pool? Conversely, how can we normal people be so good at pool, drinking beer, and Irish dancing, and so comparatively bad at squash?  Ahh me….

Special thanks to the many Patrons and Sponsors who helped make the 2011 WISPA Indian Summer Tournament possible with generous financial contributions.  Truly, it is simply amazing that our small squash community has so many kind hearted people willing to give away hard earned cash in a struggling economy for the benefit of us all.   Thank you to the players, many from out of state, who came to Minnesota for this annual affair.  Thank you to the WISPA women, literally from around the world, sharing their skill and passion for this sport we love.  Thank you to the many hosts, particularly Cathy Walsh, who welcomed WISPA pros into homes, and helped schlep them hale and yon, to and fro.  Thank you to Alvina O’Brien for opening her home for the Gala, and to Amy O’Brien providing delicious organic food and key logistical support.  Thank you Jeff Mulligan for elevating the Commodore squash Club, and still fitting in!

                                                                        John O’Brien