Going national

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

PALMER - Pam Lewis could barely contain her excitement Tuesday, a day before she and four other women from Alaska were set to travel to Philadelphia, Penn., to compete in the Howe Cup squash tournament.

&#8220We are so pumped up,” an excited Lewis said. &#8220This is our first big tournament out of state.”

That evening, only about eight hours, before Lewis and her four teammates would have to set off for the airport, she was out on the court of the Moosewood Squash Centre, in Palmer, working on her game.

And another one of her teammates, Dawn Alger, was right there with her.

They wanted to get in a few more games before competing in 77-year-old tournament.

Since the first Howe Cup matches in 1928, the tournament has never included a squad from Alaska. That's until 2005. Until Saturday.

Lewis, Alger, Nathalie Martin, Karen Gardner and Jackie Thurbee make up Team Alaska, a squad formed on the courts of Moosewood Squash Centre - a facility that stands in Alger's Palmer backyard.

&#8220A year and a half ago, three of the five of us had never heard of squash before,” Lewis said.

About two years ago, Alger and her husband Mark - a former national champion in the sport - built the squash center on their property. The facility, which includes the only regulation-sized squash court in the state, allowed the Algers to stay involved with the sport, and helped the community be introduced to squash.

Gradually people began to hear about this game, that is something like racquetball, being played in a Palmer subdivision. Dozens began playing regularly and the squash craze grew.

Lewis, Martin, Gardner and Thurbee are just a few of the people who began playing at Moosewood.

&#8220The first time I went out there, I just loved it,” Lewis said. &#8220 I thought this is so much fun. It doesn't feel like a work out,” said Lewis. &#8220It doesn't feel like a workout.”

Lewis had tried other forms of exercise. She went to the Alaska Club, but getting to Wasilla was not always easy. She used to play softball, but tore her ACL, and could no longer play on the diamond the way she wanted to. Lewis said he got her exercise running around with her kids when they were younger, but they have grown.

But now Lewis has found squash, and she plays an average of three times a week.

Lewis is just one of the Moosewood squashers who are finding the recreational and social elements of the sport.

&#8220It's such a fun game, and all of the people we've had involved are just wonderful,” Alger said. &#8220It's a camaraderie. We're enjoying each other's personalities and staying fit.”

The five members of Team Alaska started at Moosewood for separate reasons, and at different skill levels. But as their friendships and skill levels improved, the came together to form a team and compete outside of Alaska.

&#8220It's a great group, and we're all enjoying this,” Alger said.

Last year Lewis and Alger had talked about joining a Seattle-based team and competing in the squash cup. But injuries forced that team to put its plans on hold. After missing out on the 2004 tourney, Alger and Lewis still wanted a chance to compete in the national tournament. They found it didn't take long to find enough players in Alaska to fill a team.

&#8220This year we had enough, we probably could have taken two teams,” Alger said. &#8220It's the best way to get introduced to the sport. Take a look at the level of play on the national level, and play a lot of teams that get to play all the time.”

The Howe Cup includes three divisions in the team class. Team Alaska is playing in the C division, mostly because the players do not know where they stand when competing against players outside this state.

&#8220As a C team I think we have a chance of doing all right,” Alger said.

Alger said she hopes Alaska can be represented at the Howe Cup on an annual basis, and is already eyeing other tourneys to play in. Alger has looked as far ahead as 2009 and the World Masters Tournament in Sydney, Australia.

&#8220There are so many tournaments out there,” Alger said. &#8220It's kind of fun to be able to go with a bunch of people and travel.”