I remember the first time I went to cover an American event. The customs officer asked me why I was coming to the US. And his face when I said I was coming to report on a squash tournament. That was 20 years ago, Sept 2005.
Cut to 20 years later, the US got Squash in the Olympics.
WHAT THE FORK HAPPENED???
Two things happened. Or more precisely, two men happened.

Mark Walter – the Man that I truly believe is who got us in the LA Games. Actually, we need to thank Chicago University Club John Flannigan for that, as he is the one who introduced Mr Walter to squash.
From sponsoring the Chicago Classic, Mr Walter went to sponsoring the PSA Worlds, then invested heavily into PSA, (PSA CEO Alex Gough did a game-changing job there) and cherry on the Squash Cake, got us into the 2028 LA Games (Mr Walter happens to sponsor the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Lakers, you might say he had a few connections and friendly ears).
But I truly believe that all that has been possible thanks to the vision of one man. USSquash CEO Kevin Klipstein.

Remember me saying that in 2005, the Customs Officer was wondering how I could report on a vegetable event, well, Mr Klistein arrived at the USSquash Helm in 2004.
And the rest in my view, is History.
So many times, people ask me – what is the Egyptian secret for their success? I have a few answers for that one, having lived numerous months at the heart of the country, at the heart of the Squash Factory. Time to ask, “what’s the US secret?”
Klipstein’s goal was to make the sport as accessible as any other, more mainstream sport. “More awareness. More availability. The sport is sticky once people try it.” The foundation is strong, the vision clear: squash for all, one rally at a time.
The Portland groundbreaking Project
“We had a small yet critical role in supporting Portland Community Squash’s journey to where it is today, and used this a the model, where they started with a converted racquetball court made possible through a grant we provided.
From there, they built a facility hosting community-based memberships and deep education programs.”
For private clubs that embrace middle and high school training programs, the affiliate status comes with perks: discounts, grants, and a recognition that they’re part of something bigger.
“We’re creating a mindset,” Klipstein said.
“A belief that we all have to make the sport more accessible. Squash and education programs nationally and their embrace of broader community programs have been critical in this regard.”
Getting the costs DOWN!
The cost of squash courts is daunting, but US Squash is dismantling that obstacle piece by piece. Traditional courts are expensive to build and maintain, often pricing out schools and community centers. US Squash’s solution? Modular, flexible courts that cost less than $50,000 with easy, quick assembly within a day, and can be moved just as quickly.
“We’re investing in prototypes for indoor and outdoor courts,” Klipstein said. “These can pop up in spaces with 22 by 33 feet and 19-foot ceilings. It’s about reducing cost, increasing availability, and visibility.”
The first of these modular courts will debut in Chicago this spring, in partnership with the PSA Foundation, with planning in the works to potentially expand to Los Angeles and Philadelphia, US Squash’s home.
COLLEGE SQUASH
On SquashSite, we make a point of following/reporting closely on the College Squash scene. Because we believe this is one of the key of Squash development, not only for PSA Tour, but for clubs development as well.
As junior squash participation has exploded, the opportunities to compete in college have also expanded dramatically. US Squash is a close partner of the College Squash Association (CSA), which oversees competition among the more than 60 varsity teams that actively recruit junior players.
“Most people don’t realize that the majority of collegiate athletes in all sports compete at the club level,” Klipstein noted. “If you’re interested in competing in college squash, there’s almost certainly a place for you at a high caliber educational institution.”
GENDER EQUALITY

If I remember well, the US Open was the first major event to propose equal prize money. We were in 2013, a move that forced the global squash community to follow suit.
“Within two years, all the major tournaments elevated prize funds, and the men’s and women’s tours merged,” Klipstein said. “We’re also proud of our role in supporting the CSA’s governance transition, bringing the women’s and men’s associations together, and professionalizing their operations.”
GRASSROOTS
Beyond facilities, US Squash has redefined how young players engage with the sport. Scholastic squash, once the domain of New England prep schools, now thrives across 22 states with over 200 teams.
“When I started, junior squash was about tournaments,” Klipstein said.
“Now, most kids play on middle and high school teams. It’s a health indicator for the sport.”
With plans to regionalise competitions and feed them into national high school championships, US Squash is building a ladder that any child can climb, regardless of geography or socioeconomic status. And for those too young for full-court play, the organisation is working on introducing equipment scaled for children, ensuring that the game fits the player, not the other way around.
JUNIOR RESULTS STARTING TO BLOSSOM
The fruits from a sustained period of growth and investment in US junior squash are beginning to ripen. Even though only one of the 10 BJO titles went to the USA last week in Birmingham, the record volume of US players reaching the latter stages was portentous.
Six US juniors reached the semi-finals, 4 finished in the top 3, and 18 of the 58 US squad members reached at least the last 16 – all new records.
Alexander Dartnell became the first ever US boys’ U19 finalist (and was mightily close to winning), Christian Capella won BU19 bronze (taking out the top seed in the quarter-finals and losing to eventual champion Eiad Daoud in an epic five-game semi) and Alice Wang displayed her potential in winning bronze in the GU11.
Best of all, Vivaan Mehta became only the second ever BJO boys’ title winner from the States, lifting the U15 trophy. He beat England’s only representative on finals day, top seed Ali Khalil, in a sizzling five-game contest.
A slightly-built but confident 14-year-old of Indian heritage, Mehta embodies USA’s growing squash stature. He’s a Californian; proof that squash is strengthening right across the country, not just in its traditional east coast hotbed.
Mehta was brought under the wing of Englishman Charlie Johnson, just one of many top-class overseas coaches plying their trade Stateside. Johnson also happens to be the US national junior coach.
Mehta said: “The US is getting so much better and each year we’re getting closer to Egypt. I feel like it has been a mental thing for us because the Egyptians have been so good for so long, but now we’re right there. We’re as good as them now. We can take them out.
“All the coaches are so good at motivating us and the team spirit is amazing. We’re always there for each other and that’s so inspiring. I really want to compete in the Olympics. It’ll be sick.”
US Squash’s support team in Birmingham was jaw-dropping. They had 12 coaches including some stellar names: Nick Taylor, US Squash Head National Coach; Karim Ibrahim, US Squash Director of Junior National Teams; Luke Butterworth, Head National Junior Men’s Coach; Charlie Johnson, US Junior National Team Coach; Kim Clearkin, US Squash’s Chief Programs Officer and seven other renowned coaches from prominent US clubs including Laurent Elriani, Ronny Vlassaks and former world no.11 Olivia Clyne.
Taylor’s next focus is two-fold: firstly, bringing the US’s elite juniors together more regularly from their own local academies into a national academy at US Squash’s HQ at the Specter Center in Philadelphia. Taylor is working with US Squash Chief Programs Officer, Kim Clearkin, on this project, which will also include an international academy, inviting travelling pros to train with the US juniors whilst on tour.
“In my new role that’s something that’s high on my list of priorities, supporting their four-year pathway towards the PSA,” said Taylor.
“We don’t just want to compete at the highest junior levels, we want to compete at the highest senior levels as well. I think we can do a much, much better job of making sure that transition happens more frequently. I think we’re definitely going to produce more full-time top professionals, world champions and Olympic gold medallists.”

“It’s easy to play, impossible to master. The best sport you’ve never heard of—yet.”
Kevin Klipstein
SOURCES:
SQUASH MAGAZINE – SQUASHPLAYER