FELICITY KOHN Wesleyan’s current squash courts will soon be replaced by wider, regulation sized courts in the Freeman Athletic Center.

Squash Courts Upgraded By Allison Rovner Contributing Writer After years of playing on small, outdated courts, Wesleyan’s squash players will soon be smacking balls on new regulation size courts. The $8 million plan will transfer the squash and basketball courts from Alumni Gymnasium to the Freeman Athletic Center within the next two years, with construction possibly starting this summer. The plan was approved after the intercollegiate change from the North American squash game, known as hardball, to the international squash game. Hardball is played on an 18.5 foot wide court while the international game is played with a slower ball on a 21 foot wide court.

During the 1980s the international game became more popular because it was easier to play with the added width. In women’s squash intercollegiate teams switched to the international game five years ago. The men switched four years ago.

According to Sasha Cooke, former Wesleyan men’s squash coach, two and a half feet makes a large difference in the squash game.

"The game we’re playing now is almost farcical," he said. "The essential issue is you can’t get the ball past an opponent on an 18.5 foot court, so the rallies become frantic and unstructured. You’re hitting lobs and drop shots. You can’t drive the ball on a narrow court."

Many of Wesleyan’s rivals such as Williams and Amherst — as well as most of the Ivies — presently have the 21 foot courts.

"Right now we’re at a big disadvantage when we play schools who practice on wide courts all the time," Eckels said. "National Championships are on those courts and that’s the most important thing of the year. Now we have to travel to Choate or Yale to practice."

The building of new squash courts could also increase attendance at the games.

"Nobody plays on courts like this," said Christian Donovan, captain of the men’s team. "It’s hard to get home matches. We can never get our friends to come watch. With a wide court facility we can get more matches to be here and increase school support."

The players also think that new courts might attract a new men’s coach to fill the coaching spot left vacant after Cooke’s departure.

"Hopefully with new courts on the horizon we’ll be able to get a new coach," Eckels said. "It will be a draw for the coach to know he has new courts."

"Part of the problem is Sasha is leaving and it is a blow to the team," Donovan said. "We need to commit to a coach and we need courts."

"We are totally pumped to get new courts," said sophomore Dave Bihldorff.