On September 30, 2021, several squash players from the Racquet Club in St. Louis formed The Spirit of Saint Louis Squash Foundation.

About one hundred years earlier, the members of the Racquet Club financed the first nonstop trans-Atlantic flight from New York to Paris by Charles Lindbergh in May 1927. In return, Lindbergh called his plane “The Spirit of St. Louis.”

In honor of Lindbergh’s achievement, the Squash Foundation was formed to recognize the top high school squash players nationally, regionally and locally. The Squash Foundation also is committed to advancing squash across the United States and is thrilled with squash’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Working closely with US Squash, the Squash Foundation identifies the award winners based on their rankings immediately after the US Squash High School Nationals.

Each spring, the Squash Foundation hosts the award winners and their families in St. Louis. Over the weekend, they enjoy baseball at Busch Stadium, soccer at CityPark Stadium, a show at the Fox Theatre, and a fitness assessment at the Central Institute for Human Performance. On Saturday, professional squash players coach the award winners and play an exhibition match. Finally, on Saturday night at the Awards Gala, the award winners are recognized for their dedication, hard work and talent. They are presented with their permanent trophies and commemorative plates.

The Squash Foundation is a not-for-profit that may receive tax deductible contributions under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. For more information or to make a donation, please contact Kenneth Mallin at STLsquashfoundation@gmail.com.

• Craig Ashmore – Chairman

• Kenneth Mallin – Vice-Chairman

• Tom Boldt

• John Boldt

• Douglas Marshall

• Eddie Charlton

Squash is a racket sport that is played in a four-walled court between two players, or four in doubles competition. Like tennis, players taking turns striking the ball to playable areas on the walls in hopes of securing a point when their opponent is unable to return the ball.

The sport began during the 19th century in England when students at the Harrow School outside of London began playing. Squash is played with competing players alternately striking a rubber ball against the court's front wall.

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The initial serve, which a player must complete with at least one foot in one of the court's two service boxes, must hit above the serve line on the front wall and land beyond the mid-line on the opposite side of the court.

All ensuing shots must strike between a line 17 inches off the floor (the "tin line") towards the bottom of the wall, which is lined with tin so a sound is made when the ball strikes it, and the out-line near the top of the wall. The ball can be hit on the fly or off one bounce on the floor.

A variety of shots can be used, including a forehand, backhand, drop shot, cross-court and others. Shots can also be deflected off the side or back wall before striking the front wall.

The player who wins the volley when their opponent is unable to make a valid return on the ball is awarded a point.

A squash game is typically played to 11 points, with the victor having to win by at least two points. A match is typically a best-of-three or best-of five series.

The Permanent Trophies awarded each year are:

• The Musick and Ashmore Trophy for the Women’s and Men’s High School United States Players of the Year;

• The Summers Trophy for the Women’s and Men’s High School Eastern Regional Players of the Year;

• The Spence Trophy for the Men’s and Women’s Midwest Region Players of the Year;

• The Arneson Trophy for the Women’s and Men’s High School Western Regional Players of the Year; and

• The Avery Cup for the Men’s and Women’s St. Louis Players of the Year.

The squash foundation awards these permanent trophies at its annual gala.

2025

• Alexandra Jaffe (Philadelphia, PA) and Alexander Dartnell (Delray Beach, FL) - National High School Players of the Year and East Region Players of the Year;

• Rishabh Sharma (Houston, TX) and Dixon Hill (Willoughby, OH) - Midwest Region Players of the Year;

• Ahmad Haq (San Jose, CA) and Riva Bhagwati (Hillsborough, CA) - West Region Players of the Year; and

• Bobby Dunn (St. Louis, MO) and Charlotte Medler (St. Louis, MO) - St. Louis Players of the Year.

2024

• Rishi Srivastava (Berwyn, PA), Caroline Fouts (Rye, NY) and Riya Navani (Milpitas, CA)  - National High School Players of the Year;

• Caroline Eielson (Boston, MA) and Rishi Srivastava (Berwyn, PA)  - East Region Players of the Year;

• Huzaifa Ibrahim (Houston, TX) and Dixon Hill (Waite Hill, OH)  - Midwest Region Players of the Year;

• Riya Navani (Milpitas, CA) and Zane Patel (Palo Alto, CA)  - West Region Players of the Year; and

• Sameer Shafqat (Chesterfield, MO) and Bridget Clennan (Ladue, MO)  - St. Louis Players of the Year.

2023

• Lucie Stefanoni (Darien, CT) and Rishi Srivastava (Berwyn, PA) – National High School Players of the Year, and East Region Players of the Year;

• Hudson Lin, Jr. (Chicago, IL) and Dixon Hill (Waite Hill, OH) - Midwest Region Players of the Year;

• Riya Navani (Milpitas, CA) and Varun Chitturi (Fremont, CA) - West Region Players of the Year; and

• Haadis Amin (Chesterfield, MO) and Bridget Clennan (Ladue, MO)  - St. Louis Players of the Year.

2022

• Lucie Stefanoni (Darien, CT) and Avi Agarwal (West Windsor, NJ) - National High School Players of the Year and East Region Players of the Year;

• John Paul Tew (Cincinnati, OH) and Natasha Pensler (Gross Pointe Park, MI) - Midwest Region Players of the Year;

• Riya Navani (Milpitas, CA) and Rehan Luthra (Kirkland, WA) - West Region Players of the Year; and

• Henry Byrne (Saint Louis, MO) and Deena Iqbal (Wildwood, MO) - St. Louis Players of the Year.