The idea for the Mid Atlantic Squash Conference began in the summer of 2017 by then Assistant Men’s and Women’s Squash Coach at George Washington University, Anderson Good. The origin of the idea was simple: there was a grouping of varsity collegiate squash programs, mainly located in the Mid-Atlantic region, that would play one another while other collegiate squash conferences would have their inter-conference competition. To continue to add infrastructure to collegiate squash and enhance the experience of then, and future, student-athletes, the idea for a conference amongst these unaffiliated schools came to be.
The first season of the Mid Atlantic Squash Conference was in 2018-19 when the University of Virginia hosted our first ever conference championship tournament. MASC members for its inaugural season were: Dickinson College (Men & Women), Franklin & Marshall College (Men & Women), George Washington University (Men & Women), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Men), and the University of Virginia (Men & Women). The University of Virginia took home both inaugural championships that year.
Our second season in 2019-20 saw growth and expansion to both divisions of MASC. Drexel University joined the Men’s and Women’s divisions and the United States Naval Academy joined the men’s division. Going into the 2019-20 season, the men’s division was 7 teams and the women’s division was 5 teams. Additionally, in the Fall of 2019, the College Squash Association officially sanctioned MASC as a College Squash conference, MASC was now the first ever squash specific collegiate athletic conference in the United States.
The 2019-20 conference championships were held in Washington DC, with George Washington University (GW) serving as the host institution, while Squash on Fire and GW served as the two host sites of the tournament. The University of Virginia won their second consecutive Holley Cup (Men’s Division) and Drexel University won their first Gaynor Cup (Women’s Division). This year’s championships also saw the beginning of namesakes being on the two MASC championship trophies. Through the generosity of these two donors, Patrick Holley and Willie Gaynor, MASC has the foundation to be able to grow for years to come, in addition to the help of several other generous donors.
The 2020-21MASC championships was unfortunately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, in July of 2020, George Washington University announced they would discontinue their varsity squash program. One of the stipulations included in the MASC bylaws is that all member schools must field varsity squash programs. So, beginning in 2021-22, both MASC divisions would decrease by one team.
The 2021-22 season has begun with a new energy after the yearlong hiatus. Although this season has proven to be challenging at times, we look forward to hosting our conference championships in Lancaster, PA from February 4-6, 2022. Franklin & Marshall College will serve as the host institution, and Lancaster Country Day School will serve as an alternate host site.
MASC is always exploring potential new member programs and we hope to add to our conference in the 2022-23 season, more news on that to come soon!
Current MASC Leadership:
Commissioner: Anderson Good,
mascsquash@gmail.com
President of the MASC Coach’s Council: Grant White, Assistant Coach, University of Virginia
