Thurgood Marshall Academy Team Picture

Never have the stakes been higher for a match between StreetSquash participants. On Sunday, January 22nd, the SL Green StreetSquash Center will play host to a high school squash match that will turn friends into foes. 

For nearly the entirety of StreetSquash’s existence, students from Thurgood Marshall Academy have participated in the organization’s free after-school program. But for the first time during the 2022-2023 school year, Thurgood Marshall Academy launched its own separate squash team featuring StreetSquash participants who attend the public school. 

StreetSquash has previously had participants compete in the Fairwest League, the largest high school squash league in the country. It features several teams from Westchester and Connecticut along with CitySquash participants. But now for the first time, Thurgood Marshall Academy has joined the Fairwest League. 

On Sunday, TMA will play against StreetSquash. TMA students will toss aside their StreetSquash jerseys and instead wear jerseys representing their school. And they’ll compete against the very students and friends that they practice alongside every single day. Though it’s not uncommon for these participants to play exhibition matches against one another, this time the matches will count. And students normally competing to win as members of StreetSquash will now want to take down the very program that introduced them to the sport to begin with. 

Though it’s TMA’s first soiree in the Fairwest League, it is far from each player’s first encounter with fierce squash competition. TMA brings a 6-0 record into Sunday’s match, having beaten every opponent they’ve faced so far. Meanwhile, the StreetSquash team at 5-1 has had their own level of success. 

But Sunday’s matchup between StreetSquash and TMA will be more than just a skill test. It will also be one of endurance. Both teams will play multiple matches during the weekend. On Saturday, Jan. 21, StreetSquash and TMA both will play a match against Rye. Then on Sunday morning, StreetSquash will play against Darien while TMA will battle New Canaan. By the time 2pm rolls around, it will be time for TMA and StreetSquash to officially face off as both squads try to prove their superior skills and level of fitness. 

The general public is welcome to attend the Fairwest League matches on both days. Tournament play begins at 12pm Saturday and 10am Sunday. Anyone unable to attend in-person can stream the matches at StreetSquash.org/live. (Unfortunately, court 7 won’t be available for streaming). Check the match schedule and court assignments below.