An Elite Champion on the Steel

When we first envisioned the Maspeth Squash outdoor steel court, we knew it would take a special kind of athlete to truly test its limits and embrace its unique energy. Nathan didn't just show up; he became a cornerstone of our community. Thank you, Nathan, for coming out to play in the very first Intsel Steel Pro Invitational and remaining a vital part of every single tournament over the last five years. Your expert feedback on the court’s performance has been invaluable, helping us understand the pure enjoyment and distinct dynamics of outdoor steel play. Beyond the competitive matches, your generosity in hitting with fans, engaging with friends, and championing the entire outdoor squash movement has helped put Maspeth on the map. You didn't just play on our court—you helped us prove what outdoor squash could be, even stepping forward to exhibit and teach the growing game of Squash57 with absolute mastery…

Angel Narvaez, a senior executive at Maspeth Welding, called me one late afternoon in the summer of 2020, “There are some kids here asking about ‘squash’.” I asked Angel to have them call me to arrange a time to play. The outdoor squash court in our industrial backyard had recently opened for play. Jeff Anschlowar, President of Maspeth Welding, and I were reaching out to top pros, friends, and staff to come out and ‘test drive’ the first-ever court made with steel panel walls. At the same time, some pros started to call us, and students from StreetSquash and CitySquash were contacting us directly.

In 2020, most courts and programs were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, ‘the crazy ones’ were finding us, coming out to play squash, taking off their masks, and trying outdoor squash for the first time. Emotions rocketed from squash denial to a squash Disneyworld. Naheem Allen and Matthew Aldana from StreetSquash were the first students to play, followed by Seth Canales from CitySquash…

Thinking back about the first time I saw squash being played at Davenport Courts, I remember the smell of rubber, the sounds of hard black rubber balls ricocheting against white wood walls, the racquets quite similar to but smaller than tennis racquets, the players in grey Amherst College sweat suits, the temperature colder than outside in winter, and steam rising from hot bodies. The sport seemed so aggressive and orderly at the same time. I wanted to try it.

At Maspeth Squash, we are proud of creating an outdoor squash culture where top-ranked touring squash pros, coaches, and club pros can come out and compete, in competitive situations for money, and enjoy the playing more than the arguing. 

I've played in a few beautiful places, on some pretty decent squash courts. There has been nothing like this one in Maspeth at Maspeth Welding, until now.