Steel City Squash planning racquet tournament in May

Steel City Squash, a Pittsburgh nonprofit that provides a free, after-school academic and squash program to low-income students, is holding a racquet tournament to raise money.

The Steel City Cup will be May 16 at the Pittsburgh Golf Club in Squirrel Hill. High school program coordinator Josh Wetmore said it was rescheduled from April after the coronavirus shutdowns forced a postponement.

Teams made up of squash singles, squash doubles and tennis doubles players pledge donations for a point lead into the tournament. In its sixth year, the event raises more than half of Steel City Squash’s annual budget.

Launched in January 2015, Steel City Squash is based at Pitt’s Trees Hall, using the courts at the Fitzgerald Field House. The program provides opportunities through education, mentoring, travel and community service. It is part of the national Squash and Education Alliance.

Wetmore said middle-school teams this year consist of students from three schools. High school teams have members from six schools, plus a middle school playing up.

The program serves more than 60 children.

Students range from fourth to 10th grade, with the program expanding each year by one grade.

“Eventually, we’ll be fourth to 12th,” Wetmore said. “This is our first year sending high school teams (to nationals).”

Steel City Squash sent two middle school teams and two high school teams to the SEA Team Nationals March 6-8 at Yale and Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut. It was the fifth year it participated.

Da’Nerah Chisolm, 13, a seventh-grader at the St. Benedict of the Moor School in the Hill District, said it meant a lot to her to play at a place like Yale.

“Those aren’t places my friends have been,” she said. “I can tell them I’ve been to Yale and I’ve been to Ohio and different places.

“I like to brag about it.”

Chisholm, who lives in Forest Hills, said the adults with Steel City Squash are very cooperative.

“Even if you don’t get it the first time or the second time or even the third time, they’ll keep trying with you until you understand,” she said. “They keep doing the same drills so it gets stuck in your mind.”

Central Catholic sophomore Keyel Beasley, 16, of Swissvale, hopes to play squash in college and said he likes that his academic adviser pushes him.

For more about Steel City Squash, visit SteelCitySquash.org, or call 412-648-8062. For questions about the Steel City Cup, write to Brad Young at brad.young@steelcitysquash.org.