The group of players used to be referred to as the Leisure League by Fitzsimmons’ predecessor, Pam Saunders.  The league has been renamed the Lyons League. Western Mass Squash applauds Fitzsimmons’ decision to change the name.

Last week, there were approximately ten players at the Lyons League’s first gathering.

The next Lyons League gathering will be held on Wednesday, October 29th at 6:45.  It will move to its regular time of Tuesday nights at 6:45 on November 4th.

For additional information about the Lyons League, please contact Allen Fitzsimmons.

Mount Holyoke Coach Allen Fitzsimmons

South Hadley, MA — Mount Holyoke College recently named Allen Fitzsimmons as its varsity squash coach. Fitzsimmons, who takes over from Pam Saunders, chatted with Western Mass Squash on his first day of practice.

Prior to college, Fitzsimmons never played squash.  He arrived at the University of Rochester as a tennis player. During his first year, many members of the Yellowjackets’ varsity squash team graduated.  During his sophomore year, Fitzsimmons, along with a few other tennis players, joined the squash team.  Squash quickly became his passion. Within a year he was at the top of the varsity ladder, a spot he would occupy for three seasons.

Fitzsimmons has many fond memories from his college squash days.  One of his proudest moments came against Amherst College. During the 2001-2002 season, Amherst’s Michael Strong swept Fitzsimmons in a three-game match (9-8, 9-6, 9-2); however, the following season Fitzsimmons rebounded and beat Strong in four games (7-9, 10-8, 10-8, 9-4).  Fitzsimmons attributes the victory to his training regimen.

The University of Rochester has enjoyed tremendous success over the last few seasons.  Fitzsimmons helped start that movement.  If he were playing today, Fitzsimmons believes he would be in the middle of the Yellowjackets’ ladder.

After leaving Rochester, Fitzsimmons taught and coached at the Westover School, an all-girls prep school in Middlebury, Connecticut, for four years.  Westover’s student body is composed of approximately 200 girls in grades 9-12.  At Westover, Fitzsimmons taught a variety of classes, including government and math.  He coached the varsity squash team on the four courts at the Angier Squash Pavilion.  The team built on its success season after season.  During the 2007-2008 season, Fitzsimmons guided Westover to a 15-3 record and a trip to the Girls’ New England Interscholastic Squash Championships Class A tournament, which was held at Choate.  The year before, Westover won the B tournament.

Fitzsimmons is excited about the opportunity at Mount Holyoke. He believes his experience teaching and coaching girls at Westover will ease his transition to coaching college women. He has a very experienced team.  Senior Pam Anckerman, who finished last season ranked 28th in the nation, hopes to earn All American honors this year.  Last season, the Lyons concluded the year ranked 11th in the nation. Vidushi Gurunada, Laura Robinson, and Laurian Lue Yen will help anchor a squad that is on the verge of entering College Squash’s top ten.  Senior Menusha Hettiarachchi, last season’s number three player, is recuperating from off season knee surgery.  She hopes to be back on the court in January.

New to the area, Fitzsimmons is still getting settled.  Fitzsimmons and his dog are moving to the South Hadley area.  He is interested in meeting local players and restarting the Leisure League.  We were surprised but pleased to learn that Fitzsimmons found out about the Mount Holyoke opening from an article on Western Mass Squash.

As Western Mass Squash learned first hand today, Fitzsimmons has a powerful rail.  He also is not afraid to volley.  His playing style and coaching experience will only help the team build on last season’s success.

Each Wednesday night during the academic year, Mount Holyoke College welcomes the Leisure League to the Kendall Sport and Dance Center. From mid-October through early March, the Leisure League will begin play each Wednesday after the College’s squash team concludes its practice (typically around 6 PM).

For additional information about the Leisure League, please contact Pam Saunders or contact the Editor.

O’Brien followed up his strong performance in the US Squash Skill Level Championship by playing the 3.5 Division of the MSRA State Singles Tournament. He defeated Theodore Lee, Jim Ogletree and William Mackey to reach the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, O’Brien defeated Reed Sussman, the number two seed in five-games. Unfortunately, in the semifinals, the third seed, Robert Lunkoto, narrowly defeated O’Brien by a score of 3-2. (Link to the tournament draw)

Spencer competed in the 4.0 Division of the tournament. He had 3-0 victories in the first four rounds of the tournament as he defeated Blake Godbout, Josh Howland, Pankaj Tandon, and John Theberge. In the semifinals, Spencer defeated Michael Arends by a score of 3-1. Facing top seeded Jordan Berns in the finals, Spencer won in four games. (Link to tournament draw)

Congratulations to both O’Brien and Spencer.

The tournament was played with PSA scoring (first to 11, point-a-rally).

Smith College’s Talia Williams opened the tournament with a loss to Dartmouth’s Danielle Fuschetti, but went on to win the BCD draw with victories over Wesleyan’s Katie Kalafus (number eight), and Gwynne Hunter (number two).

Three members of the Leisure League drove up 91 to participate in the tournament: Anne Bello, Ben Quick, and Michael Bello.

Smith alumna Anne Bello lost her opening match to Dartmouth’s Rebecca Louck. She rebounded to beat Katie Kalafus in three games before losing to Danielle Fuschetti. Anne won her match with Skyler Patton to make it to the B draw’s plate finals. Wesleyan’s number one player, Casey Simchik, defeated Anne in three games. In response to her stellar performance, Anne said, “I had a blast and I’m just glad I did not fall down.”

Dartmouth’s Dan Schneider and Samir Mehta both beat Ben Quick in close five game matches. He rebounded to beat Brent Harris in three games to make it to the B draw’s double consolation finals.

Michael Bello lost to Dartmouth alum Scott Kennedy and Dan Charness, Wesleyan’s number three player. He won a dramatic five game match against Esra Whipple.

In the B draw’s all Western Mass double consolation finals, Ben Quick dispatched Michael Bello in three games.

The Lyons host Wesleyan on November 29th. Both Mount Holyoke and Smith are traveling to the Wesleyan invitational on December 2nd and 3rd.

Link to the Smith Press Release

Link to the Mount Holyoke Press Release

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1. Pam Anckermann (MHC) def Shanita Williams (S)
9-1, 9-1, 9-0
2. Menusha Hettiarachchi (MHC) def Beatrice Bircher (S)
9-3, 9-1, 9-2
3. Laurian Lue Yen (MHC) def Kate Whitesell (S)
9-4, 9-0, 9-1
4. Lizzie Wright (MHC) def Talia Williams (S)
9-6, 9-0, 9-4
5. Amanda Wiggill (MHC) def Jaye Cooke (S)
9-1, 9-1, 9-0
6. Stephanie Wohler (MHC) def Mary Opler (S)
9-1, 9-1, 9-3
7. Pia Seth (MHC) def Nikhila Gill (S)
9-0, 9-1, 9-1
8. Sara Yoshino (MHC) def Jessica MacLeod (S)
9-5, 9-1, 9-0
9. Kasia Kolodziejczak (MHC) def Belinda Cape (S)
9-0, 9-1, 9-0

In the main draw (“Blue”), Pam Anckermann, Mount Holyoke’s number one player, defeated Ted Platt, the new Wellesley College head coach, to win the tournament. To reach the finals, Platt beat both Robin Young and Jesse Lytle in five games after falling behind 0-2 in each match. Lytle defeated Steve O’Brien to capture third place. Young beat Menu to win the consolations and Laurie Lue Yen defeated Michael Bello in five games to capture the plate.

In the “White” draw, Lizzie Wright defeated Amanda Wiggill to win the finals. Stephanie Wohler defeated Pia Seth to record a third place finish. Sara defeated Anne Miller in three games to capture the consolations and Michelle Thome defeated Kasia Kolodziejczak to capture the plate.

Jackie Wade beat Hillela Simpson in three games to win the “Mary Lyon” draw.

All proceeds from the tournament benefited the Mount Holyoke squash program. Pam Saunders, the tournament organizer and Mount Holyoke head coach, greatly appreciated the tournament’s players’ support for the College’s squash program.

The Leisure League is a diverse group of players that meet at Mount Holyoke College on Wednesday nights during the academic year. Please contact Pam Saunders for additional information about the Leisure League.

To thank Mount Holyoke College for hosting the Leisure League, Robin is raising funds to donate a digital video camera to the college’s squash program. If you would like to make a donation, please contact Robin or use the Contact tab by September 15th.

Peter C. and Ken are organizing the Leisure League Box League. If you are interested in participating, please e-mail Peter C., Ken, or use the Contact tab by September 10th. The Box League will begin around September 20th.