Mission Success, a nonprofit grassroots organization providing academic support and squash instruction to Houston area students in grades 4 through 12, has introduced nearly 300 students in the Houston area to squash through after-school programming and gym classes with the help of the U.S. Squash Foundation.
Hogg Middle School, part of Hogg School District in Houston, Texas, now has squash instruction as part of its gym class curriculum new for the 2024-2025 school year.
Zain Moiz, former Kenyan No. 5 squash coach-turned-teacher and US Squash-certified instructor, coaches over 200 students daily in grades 6 through 8 on three squash courts—the country’s only squash courts housed at a public middle school.
Later this semester, Mission Success will begin curriculum-based squash classes at least once a month for students in third through fifth grades in several local elementary schools that feed into Hogg Middle School with support from the U.S. Squash Foundation. The U.S. Squash Foundation provided direct support, including equipment for use in elementary programs such as rally nets, goggles, racquets and balls to help younger children learn racquet skills, coordination and the basics of the game.
Through the Hogg Middle School gym classes and Mission Success’ programs, many of the students will be able to continue learning squash inside and outside of school. Expanding awareness and accessibility for squash in and around the Houston area is one of Mission Success’ focuses.
“Mission Success has 70 students in sixth through twelfth grades set up through US Squash and another 200 through the middle school gym classes. That’s 282 players just from our little slice of Houston that will be receiving squash coaching and be US Squash members,” said Maggie Trendell, Executive Director of Mission Success. “We are committed to the growth and development of a larger squash community in Houston and creating a lifelong love of the game”.
The integration of this program is a step in the right direction to getting kids on squash courts around the state and connecting players with official accounts allows them to participate in ranking and tournament play.
“US Squash has been very gracious in making a Hogg squash team page on Club Locker,” Moiz said. “Each of my 212 students will be able to create a free US Squash account and start competing in box leagues and tournaments.”
Despite this progress, there is still more work to be done.
“The biggest challenge is resources, funding and awareness of opportunities,” Moiz said. “I feel like a lot of these middle school kids here in Texas would love to participate in squash competitions and U.S. Junior squash tournaments but their families lack awareness. I am excited to be a part of their journey this year and help them navigate through these challenges and hopefully achieve great things as the academic year progresses.”
Moiz has his eyes on the National Interscholastics competition in January either at the end of this season or next year once the Hogg squash team season begins. 18 students will be able to compete from January to April, receiving points from ranking matches through US Squash accounts.
In addition to after-school programming for low-income students in the area, Mission Success also facilitates fee-based lesson academy services “at an economical price point to create a more economical pathway for families to learn about squash and have squash coaching,” said Trendell.
Mission Success, in partnership with the College Squash Association, is also in the process of creating club teams at Rice University and Texas A&M to finish the aptly named “Texas League,” joining the University of Texas in its second season.
The U.S. Squash Foundation supports grassroots programs like Mission Success through our mission and outreach to grow the sport. Support the U.S. Squash Foundation today to uplift community programming and spread squash through Houston and beyond.
