Palmer man squashes competition

March 8, 2005

CASEY RESSLER/Valley Life editor

PALMER - Anchorage's Bob Landau is getting good at presenting trophies to his good friend, Mark Alger. For the fourth time in a row, he presented the state squash championship trophy to Alger, following Alger's 3-0 victory over Landau in the men's open championship Sunday afternoon at Moosewood Squash Centre.

Alger, a former national champion, easily dispatched Landau for the fourth year in a row, culminating a full week of championship squash at Moosewood Squash Centre, which sits on Alger's property in Palmer.

"Here's to many more, but not necessarily every year," Landau said with a chuckle when presenting Alger with the championship trophy.

The story of the tournament, however, was the rise of two junior players, Tyson Alger of Palmer and Nick Arturo of Eagle River. Arturo has 10 national titles in racquetball to his credit, and only plays a handful of squash tournaments a year. The two juniors played for the championship of both the junior tournament this year, and the men's intermediate title.

In both matches, Arturo prevailed with 3-0 scores. Tyson Alger is a two-time runner-up in the state tournament, and recently won a squash tournament in Washington. In both the junior and men's intermediate tournaments, Alger beat Rory Egelus in the semifinals. Last year, Egelus beat Alger in five games for the junior title.

In the women's open division, Anchorage's Nathalie Martin beat Palmer's Pam Lewis 3-1 to take her second state title in as many years. Martin has also played competitive tournaments in the Lower 48, and has entrenched herself as Alaska's premier women's player. Lewis, who has played competitively for less than two years, beat Dawn Alger in a five-game thriller to advance to the finals.

Last year, only four women entered the state tournament. Due to squash's increased popularity in Southcentral Alaska, the women's field included two separate tournaments - a novice division, and the open division. In the novice tournament, Palmer's Theresa Dickson took top honors.

This year marked the second time in as many years the state tournament has been held at the Alger's Moosewood Squash Centre. A state record 41 entrants played in the five tournaments, with matches being held Monday through Sunday.

Next year, the tournament is scheduled to be held in Ketchikan.

Men's open

Championship - Mark Alger d. Bob Landau, 3-0. Consolation finals, Marcus Hartley d. Tom Keane 3-2.

Men's intermediate

Championship - Nick Arturo d. Tyson Alger, 3-0. Consolation finals - Sean Kennedy d. Tony Berberich, 3-1.

Women's open

Championship - Nathalie Martin d. Pam Lewis, 3-1. Consolation finals - Karen Gardner d. Jackie Thurbee, 3-0.

Women's intermediate

(Round robin play) 1. Teresa Dickson; 2. Teresa Hofer; 3. Shelby Alger; 4. Anna Allen (retired due to injury).

Juniors

Championship - Nick Arturo d. Tyson Alger, 3-0. Consolation finals - Anton Andrianov d. John Hundley.