Tournaments, Features, Photographs and Information

Squash Magazine article on Brenda Grossnickle at the 1999 US Nationals

Mix fifteen years of racquetball, a three-month residency in New Zealand ten years ago with lots of squash (no racquetball there), a return to squash four years ago on a full size racquetball court with a homemade portable tin made of pegboard, four lessons from Atlanta teaching pro Tom Rumpler, and lots of drills - a recipe for a national championship? It is for Brenda Grossnickle, winner of this year's Women's 35+.

Unfazed by the prospect of facing Zerline Goodman, winner of three 30+ National Championships, Grossnickle simply and eagerly went about defeating Goodman in four games. In fact, forget about being unfazed - Grossnickle had no idea that Goodman has had lots of success in the Nationals; she's just too new to the sport to know who she's playing.

Until recently when her club converted a couple of racquetball courts to squash courts, Grossnickle had been playing on a makeshift racquetball court (with her pegboard tin that she carted into the club daily) with no glass backwall for squash. Grossnickle simply started playing on the racquetball court with the extra distance to the back wall and virtually no concept of lines. But this hasn't stopped her from playing whenever possible. When quizzed about how often she gets on the court, without hesitation she says "I play a lot! I'm addicted; it runs in my family - overfocus." In other words, Grossnickle can't get enough.

Preferring to drill rather than playing matches, Grossnickle likes the feeling of improving every time she puts the racquet in her hand. But the nationals was a bit different. For Grossnickle, it was an opportunity to play matches against other women. And, though she says winning matches isn't that important to her, this nationals provided a chance to see where she stood. She even admits that she "doesn't care about ranking, but I did want to win that title. I really wanted to see if I could".

While preparing for a national championship by following Grossnickle's recipe isn't likely for many others, you can be sure there won't be too many cooks in her kitchen as she continues to stir the ingredients that have worked for her.

Article appeared in the May 1999 issue of Squash Magazine. Squash Magazine is the official publication of the United States Squash Racquets Association (USSRA). Join the Florida Squash Racquets Association (FRSA)  to become a USSRA member and receive Squash Magazine every month delivered to your door. Squash Magazine contains articles on players, upcoming tournaments, tournament results, advice for beginners, recommended drills, and lots of other great stuff. Information about joining  the FRSA so that you will receive Squash Magazine is contained at Florida Squash.

Revised November 1, 1999