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The female athlete’s edge: Training gives “aimless” 20′s purpose

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

By Sarah Odell How appropriate that I happened to be at my parent’s when Sunday’s New York Times Magazine asked on its cover “What Is It About 20-Somethings?” Oh great, I thought to myself, yet another article about why my generation hasn’t lived up to expectations. I picked up the magazine ...

Post College Sport: Join an athletic board (and here’s why)

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

By Sarah Odell Just a few months ago, it was hard to think of a time when I wouldn’t be going to school -- and wouldn’t have a two-hour practice built into my day. But that time has come. I’ve graduated from college, landed my dream job at Harper Collins publishers ...

Talking Doubles Squash with the Tippetts! (Mind-reading, sister competition, and sharing whites)

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

[caption id="attachment_1297" align="aligncenter" width="544" caption="The Tippett Sisters: Narelle and Natarsha"][/caption] By Sarah Odell This weekend, the Under 25 Doubles Championship takes place in Greenwich, Connecticut. Just yesterday I learned that there may not be enough women to make a draw. I have seen first hand the trend that US Squash is worried ...

Is that SQUASH in Grand Central? Yep (just part of ‘squash week’ in NYC)

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

[caption id="attachment_988" align="aligncenter" width="346" caption="Tournament of Champions in Grand Central this week"][/caption] By Sarah Odell Anyone striding through Grand Central Terminal this week could be excused for looking up from their Blackberries and iPhones and thinking they had accidentally zig-zagged west to Madison Square Garden (OK, not really, but…) It’s not everyday that ...

Battle of the sexies: Can goofy (but funny) TV score one for women?

Monday, January 11th, 2010

By Lauren Taylor It's become standard: we listen and watch as men objectify women -- and women play into it. We've got Serena naked on the cover of ESPN magazine, women pro squash players selling swimsuit calendars (and speaking of swimsuits, the SI annual issue is out next month). But for at ...

Top pro squash player on match prep, the fallacy of burnout — and why a bikini calendar

Monday, January 4th, 2010

[caption id="attachment_889" align="aligncenter" width="830" caption="Grainger bests Alison Waters in the finals of the Burning River Classic in Cleveland, Feb. 2009"][/caption] By Sarah Odell What happens when you cross a genetic pre-disposition with an environment crafted for squash excellence? Answer: Natalie Grainger, one of the top women's squash players in the world (she’s ...

Lessons, some victories, and fresh worry: Is there life after college sports?

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

[caption id="attachment_723" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Odell (in blue)"][/caption] By Sarah Odell The other day, the Wellesley College Squash Team -- my team -- opened the 2009 season at home against Smith College. This is my last home opener. As a senior, who has spent four years holding the number one spot at Wellesley, ...

Pro Squash Player Suzie Pierrepont Talks Passion, Tournaments, and — yep — Women’s (Lower) Pay

Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

By Sarah Odell I met professional squash player Suzie Pierrepont last spring at the U25 National Doubles Tournament at the Field Club of Greenwich, CT. Suzie, a 23-year-old Brit, is ranked 25th in the world and is now based in the U.S. at the Apawamis Club in Rye, N.Y.  While US ...

Maccabiah Update: USA Women’s Squash Takes Team Silver

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

[caption id="attachment_280" align="alignnone" width="163" caption="From the opening ceremonies"] Sarah Odell, Team USA Sarah Odell has been competing in Israel as a member of the US Squash Team at the Maccabiah Games, where 7,000 athletes from 60 countries are competing for medals and bonding over their common Jewish heritage. ...

Countdown to Competition: The Maccabiah Games (and fears about heat-induced super-bouncy squash balls)

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

[caption id="attachment_226" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Sarah Odell (in blue) practices for Maccabiah Games "][/caption] By Sarah Odell Tomorrow I leave with members of the U.S. men’s and women’s squash teams to compete in the Maccabiah Games in Tel Aviv. The Games –- would you believe the third-largest sporting event in the world? -- happen ...