At exactly 11:00 AM, on a brisk and autumn-feeling type of day in Santa Barbara, the squash world of southern California was changed forever. At this time, for the first time ever, the Santa Barbara Squash Club held its inaugural practice. I can only imagine what the secretary at the Assistant Principal’s Office was thinking when I approached her asking for the paperwork to found a squash club. The small, crowded room suddenly turned dead silent, with all heads towards the squash player.

“…It’s the game of squash, not the vegetable… It’s kind of like racquetball…”
The secretary nodded slowly, as if I was telling her that I just sighted a UFO.

“The forms are over there”, she pointed to a small folder of paper in the back corner of the room. I gleefully made my way through the crowd of stand still students, picked up a form, and left the room. The Santa Barbara High School Squash Club was on its way. At around 11:15 AM down at the Santa Barbara Athletic Club, the newly found unofficial home to the SBHS Squash Club, the group had just finished stretching and warming up. It was time to get down to business.

“Does everyone know how to play?” I asked, with a hint of question in my voice. I heard a mixed reply of “Yeah”, “Um”, and “I think I do”. We had quite a way to go. Writing the constitution of the club was required in order for the club to become official. This was interesting. The opening statement reads as follows:
The purpose of the Santa Barbara High School Squash Club is to expand and circulate the sport of squash to high school teenagers of all different backgrounds here at Santa Barbara High School.

In reality, the club’s only members were my buddies and me for the time being. “Make sure to keep your eye on the ball, guys.” It was now 11:30 AM, and we had yet to make contact with the ball. Squash players, club members and other passer-biers were beginning to stop by to see this unique sight. I felt very thankful that we were able to play at the very hospitable Santa Barbara Athletic Club, for I was well aware that not every sports club would graciously permit high school squash practice. Finally, after some more whiffs and strikeouts, the team began to pick up the pace. Fifteen minutes later, our whole squad was hitting and connecting. To the average squash player, making contact with the ball might be taken for granted… Not in this case. I split up the team into pairs, and started out with practicing serve and return. We were playing the Cate School team in an hour and a half, and I thought it important that everyone was capable to serve and begin a rally.

The “Budget” section of the club constitution was amusing to write. I find it hard to accept that with the current budget crisis that is occurring in California, the people up in Sacramento would be willing to dish out money to accommodate the needs of the Santa Barbara High School Squash Club. Who knows, maybe Gray Davis is a squash player…

By the time the Cate School arrived for our match, at 1:15 PM, our squad was ready to play. Everyone knew how to keep score, everyone knew how to make contact with the ball and the basic fundamentals of the game, and almost everyone knew what a let and stroke were. This was probably something we should have reviewed more in depth. As I raced back to the Assistant Principal’s office, I proudly presented the completed constitution of the Santa Barbara High School Squash Club to my newly found friend, the secretary. Now it was only time until the papers would be signed and the Squash Club could really get going.

Two hours later, at 3:15 PM the results were in: Our club won 5 matches and lost 6. We were all amazed by this result, considering that everyone on the team besides me was playing squash for the second time.

After the Constitution was turned in, word started to spread around school about the Squash Club. Plans began to emerge for fundraising events, such as hosting “Squash Washes”, which would be giving car washes with all of the proceeds going straight to the Squash Club. I at first suggested having meetings at lunch only once every other week, but with the overwhelming support of the club, we decided on having meetings at lunch every Wednesday. Soon people who I had never met were inquiring about the club. The interest was enormous. We have planned our first official meeting for this coming Wednesday, the day that Santa Barbara High will start a squash legacy.