JP Tew Wins National Junior Squash Championship In Boston

Father Neal Tew Selected As U.S. Olympic Committee Developmental “Coach Of The Year”

JP Tew, age 14, of The T Squash Academy, recently was crowned Boys Under 15 National Champion in Boston.  Tew upset the current #1 junior squash player in the country 11-8 in the fifth and final game of the match. Tew will attend The Summit Country Day in the fall.

U.S. Squash President Kevin Klipstein with Neal Tew, U.S. Olympic Committee Developmental Coach of the Year

JP Tew, 2018 Boys U15 U.S. National Junior Squash Champion

“JP labored heart and soul over the past 10 months toward this goal, and it all paid off in a fantastic run through this tournament,” says his father Neal Tew, former Hyde Park resident, former captain of the Harvard Squash Team and founder of The T Squash Academy.  

“His opponent in the Finals hailed from the nation’s premiere junior squash program in Philadelphia and had notched an undefeated season this year.  JP had already played him twice this season, falling both times in pretty decisive fashion.  But JP continued to practice day after day, week after week, refining his game brick by brick, until he was ready for his final shot at US Nationals.  He did not throw away his shot.”

As an added surprise, Neal Tew was honored by US Squash as the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Developmental Coach of the Year for The T Squash Academy’s work growing junior squash in Cincinnati over the past decade.

Says Tew, “Being presented with this award was quite a thrill - kind of unthinkable for a squash person in Cincinnati as we are very much outside the US Squash beltway. 

“When I first started developing junior squash in Cincinnati 10 years ago, my intention was to put the Queen City on the map as a regional center of excellence for junior squash.  I believe we have accomplished that and more, as we now are recognized on a national level.  The proof is in this award, but also in US Squash planting one of their 5 National Junior Tournaments right here in the Queen City.  That tournament was inaugurated last September and is now an annual event.”

Tew concludes, “I'm so grateful to our team at The T Squash Academy  - really, I wish they had been up there with me on the podium - and I feel joy for the kids who have made this journey with us. Another critical piece of our success is our invaluable partnership with the Cincinnati Sports Club. They are the operational glue that holds things together, and our two combined facilities form the largest squash facility in the Midwest for both youth and adults. This award is our award.”

The T Squash Academy is a 501(c)(3) located at 3917 Virginia Ave, Fairfax, OH, behind the Cincinnati Sports Club. For information on membership and programming, or to schedule a tour, contact 513-527-4000.