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April 26, 2007

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - In recent weeks, two members of the Navy squash team traveled to New York City, where they spent a day working with the urban youth program CitySquash. The squash team has engaged the local community as well as communities afar over the last few years where it has focused on promoting the value of classroom and physical education.

The following is Michael Beautyman Jr's account of the day...
Sophomores Michael Beautyman Jr (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.) and Christopher Zipf (Gladwyne, Pa.), along with head squash coach Craig Dawson arrived at the Fordham University athletic facilities, where they were greeted by a bevy of enthusiastic young squash players from inner-city New York. CitySquash, which set up the day, is a not-for-profit after-school enrichment program that provides motivated and talented young people from economically disadvantaged households with a nurturing and structured team environment. There, children are immersed in squash, academic tutoring, mentor programs and community service as they plan for their future. Coach Dawson was approached at the Collegiate Nationals about bringing up some midshipmen to give some lessons, as well as speak on the opportunity that the Naval Academy has provided for them, and may also afford for the young athletes with CitySquash.

The day began with a brief presentation on the Naval Academy, and the young players presented questions on military life, the academic environment and playing squash for a college team. Zipf emphasized the role that service played into his decision to attend, and pointed out that the Academy is a great way to give back to the community and the nation. The day continued with a series of lessons. Beautyman and Zipf spent time working with small groups on different courts, where they were able to demonstrate fundamentals of the game, drill with the players, and even discuss how squash can help them excel later in life. Beautyman challenged his players to be the first to a set point score in competition among each other, offering that the first player to reach the goal could make all the other players run. Shortly thereafter he found himself running wind-sprints, much to the enjoyment of the CitySquash students.

After a full day of bonding and teamwork, the group called it a day - if only on the squash court. Before heading home, the students had plans to go repaint MS-45. Graffiti had covered most of the of the school's outer walls, but plans were in the works for a large mural by the students to fight vandalism. After a full day of squash and service, the midshipmen boarded a train back to Baltimore, while the students of CitySquash continued to give back, giving back to others in thanks for what they had received.