Squash History
by Frank Millet
updated by friends of Milton squash
Milton Academy received its first three squash courts in 1964. They were given in memory of Ralph B. Williams III '51 and Albert C. Williams '60 by their parents, Ralph B. Williams '26 and Peggy C. Williams, and by other members of the Williams family and friends. The courts were built in the Wigglesworth Cage, which had been used in the early spring for indoor baseball practice. In 1984, four more courts were added and in the prayer offered at their dedication on March 3 by the Rev. Craig W. Casey, husband of Sally Williams Casey (sister of Ralph and Bert Williams), it was hoped that the squash courts would be places where the spirit of true sportsmanship would be fostered. In 1995, the three original courts were converted to international size and rededicated on October 14. In the summer of 2000, the four remaining North American courts were converted to international size. We now have seven international courts, the perfect number for interscholastic competition. The funds necessary for these two conversions were donated almost entirely by former squash players. The first year of interscholastic competition for the boys was 1965–1966.
Milton Squash has an enviable tradition of winning and sportsmanship. After 45 years (1965 to 2010), the Boys Team has won a total of 461 team matches against only 167 losses for a winning percentage of 73.4%. There have been five undefeated seasons (1977–1978, 1982–1983, 1983–1984, 1990–1991, and 2001–2002). In a two-year stretch from 1982 to 1984, Milton won 131 individual matches against only 10 losses. In all, Milton has thus far achieved 40 winning seasons, only three losing seasons and two .500 seasons. Since the switch from the North American hardball game to the International softball era, the Milton boys' team has not had a losing season, thus far compiling 159 match wins against only 45 losses for a stellar 80% winning percentage. As for the Interscholastics Championships, which in the early years had an average of 12 schools competing and lately has been averaging about 35 schools, Milton won in 1974, 1975 and 1984.
Frank Millet and Philip Perry '53 were the first coaches of the boys' teams. Phil retired in 1995, the longest coaching stretch of a first team in Milton's athletic history to that point. Other coaching associates for the boys' team have been Rob Shapiro in 1975 and Ethan Bisbee from 1976 through 1993. Following Phil Perry's retirement, Bob Gilpin and Nick Thayer joined Frank Millet. Richard R. Stewart '49, a longtime squash player and winner of three national amateur singles championships, in turn, succeeded Bob and Nick. Ethan L. Kerr '98 coached alongside Frank Millet in 2005–2007. Since 2007, Briggs Johnson has coached the boys' team along with Frank Millet. Greg Vernick '02 was a coach in 2007–2008 and John Lingos-Webb '05 has been a coach the past two years.
The Milton squash program has produced numerous top players and sportsmen over the years. A large number of Milton squash athletes have gone on to play squash at the collegiate level. And a fair number of them have played for Ivy League colleges, particularly the top Ivy squash programs of Harvard, Yale and Princeton. More than two dozen Miltonians have gone on to captain their college teams. A handful of Milton squash alumni have even played at the professional level. Longtime Milton squash coach Frank Millet was known to have friendly arguments with legendary Harvard coach Jack Barnaby as to who really taught certain Milton/Harvard players how to play good squash.
Every March, two dozen or so Milton squash alums make the pilgrimage back to campus from all across the country (and world?) to play in the “FDM” Frank Millet’s Graduates Invitational Squash Tournament. Trading shots and swapping memories, Mr. Millet’s former players pay homage to the founder of Milton squash.
