Leagues

2004-2005 NORCAL Squash League Championships
By: Dick Tetschlag

Thanks to the support of the NORCAL organization, headed by Ginny Grant, the 2004-2005 squash league season was successfully concluded with the NORCAL league championships on April 2nd and 3rd. The event was held at the Decathlon Club in Santa Clara and was hosted by Dick Tetschlag and Joel Shaps, co-commissioners of the San Francisco Peninsula Squash League, along with Jonathon Perry, Decathlon Club squash pro. Nancy Iskander, East Bay League commissioner, and Mark Stauffer, Sacramento Valley commissioner also contributed greatly with the organization of the teams in their respective leagues.

A total of 72 players, making up 18 teams with 4 members each, participated in spirited competition throughout the weekend which included a sumptuous BBQ at the Decathlon Club on Saturday night.

With the top two teams from each of three divisions in each league vying for a spot in Sunday's finals, the intensity of the matches increased throughout Saturday and into Sunday morning. By noon on Sunday, the finalists from each division were ready to go.

Sacramento dominated Division 1, resulting in a final between their Rio One and Cross Court One teams. The championship was not decided until the exciting final 5-game match between Rio's number one player, Mark Stauffer, and Cross Court's top player, Wade Beardsley. While Wade prevailed, 3-2, Rio One managed to take first place by outscoring Cross Court One 15-13 in overall points.

Division 2 came down to an equally climactic finish between East Bay's Wannabees and Sacramento's Rio Two team. Trailing 8-11 in points going into the final match, the Wannabee's number one player, Ned Fischer, managed to prevail over Rio's Bill Wilson and edge the Wannabees to a 13-12 point victory.

The Decathlon Club of the SF Peninsula League dominated Division 3, with both of their teams making it into the finals. In the end, Allen Bricker's Decathlon 3B proved too strong for Alan Gregg's Decathlon 3A team with a 20-6 point win.

Pictures of the winners are posted in the pictures section.

Award placards were presented to each of the 1st place teams by Dick Tetschlag and Joel Shaps and will be on display at the winning team's clubs until next year.

Overall, a great weekend of squash and camaraderie was enjoyed by all participants.

Currently Northern Californa has three squash leagues. These leagues, known here as the East Bay League, the Sacramento League, and the Peninsula League, have a season from Fall to Spring. The winners of each division in each league face off against each other in May. For more information regarding the leagues please click on the appropriate league in the submenu.