Squash Club 2012

The Wits Squash Club boasts one of the top squash facilities in the country, consisting of a main 12-court complex situated on West Campus and a smaller complex at the Education Campus. Our approximately 400 members consist of competitive and social level players of all age groups. Wits Squash emphasises the development of our young players through coaching, social and tournament activities. These activities not only improve the competitiveness of our players, but also provide the opportunity for friendships and memorable moments to be made.

Our social evenings provide a friendly setting for players of all levels to compete against one another and improve their game in the process. With a liquor licence on hand, we hope to bring more people to the social events hosted by the club. Our members no longer have to make bookings at external venues which in the past excluded many students who didn’t have or couldn’t arrange transport.

In 2011 we had men’s and ladies’ teams competing in the Central Gauteng League (ranging from 1^st right down to 11^th league sides for men and one or two league sides for ladies). Of note, the Wits men’s third team came first in the fourth league, with the Wits 2^nd team finishing second in the second league (excuse the pun!). Many of our competitive players represent the club at various tournaments around the province.

Practice nights are every Monday and Wednesday throughout the academic year, and coaching every Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Every year a selection of our top student players represent Wits at the USSA inter-varsity squash tournament, which was held at the Nelson Mandlela Metropolitan University in July 2011. The Wits Squash Club finished 8^th at this competition. Patrick Khumalo received the “Most Improved Player” award.

We host internal squash tournaments, which have proved to be entertaining and highly competitive each year. Since 2006, Wits hosts the Wits Grand Prix Tournament – one of the tournaments in Central Gauteng’s series of Grand Prix tournaments. The tournament attracts some of the strongest players in the province, including some of South Africa’s top 10 ladies and men. In 2011 the tournament was held over the weekend of 18, 19, and 20 March.

Since 2008, Wits has representation in the prestigious Central Gauteng Men’s 1^st league division, thereby allowing suitably adept student players the opportunity to enter into the upper echelons of squash in South Africa.

On the ladies’ front, Wits would like to encourage the fairer sex to think about participating in league, and possibly one day we can boast having both Ladies’ and Men’s 1^st league teams.

Studies have shown that squash is one of the most physically demanding sports you can play, and yet it is a very sociable game. Come and try it out; you’ll get a better workout than at the gym. Don’t worry if you cannot find a partner; many of the regulars will gladly give you a game. 

For more information contact Claire Buck on 072 337 0651 or Liz Chase on (011) 717 3335/6 (e-mail liz.chase@wits.ac.za). Alternatively, visit our website http://www.witssquash.za.net