{"id":8341,"date":"2026-06-01T11:34:57","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T15:34:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/?page_id=8341"},"modified":"2026-06-02T13:17:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T17:17:14","slug":"empowering-youth-through-sport","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/","title":{"rendered":"Empowering Youth through Sport"},"content":{"rendered":"

Story by Andrew J. Concatelli
\nPhotos by Nick Caito<\/p>\n

Before representatives from the nonprofit Capitol Squash<\/a> came to his sixth-grade classroom at Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy, Angel J. Salgado \u201929 had never heard of the sport of squash.<\/p>\n

The visitors were there to tell Hartford students about the free after-school program based at Trinity College that pairs the fast-paced sport with academic support, mentoring, and community activities.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had no idea what squash was, but I knew I wanted to meet new people, learn new things, and be fit and active, and I saw Capitol Squash as a great way to start doing that,\u201d Salgado says. \u201cI thought it would be something fun to do after school for a couple of months, but I never thought it would get me to where I am today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seven years later, in the 2025\u201326 academic year, Salgado became the first Capitol Squash graduate to attend Trinity, where he joined one of the most prestigious and successful men\u2019s squash teams in the country. The Bantams are 18-time national champions, have won the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) championship for 19 consecutive years, and hold the record for the longest winning streak\u2014252 consecutive matches\u2014of any intercollegiate sport in U.S. history.<\/p>\n

Back to the Basics<\/h2>\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t touch a racquet for a couple of weeks,\u201d Salgado says of his introduction to the sport and to the mission of Capitol Squash. \u201cIt was about teamwork and building connections at first. For me, Capitol Squash was a place to do homework, have 100 percent focus, and get help if I needed it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Capitol Squash Executive Director Meg Taylor says that while squash is the hook that gets kids interested, the program\u2019s goal is improving educational outcomes and empowering Hartford youth to reach their potential as athletes, students, and engaged citizens<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a high-intensity program with long-term expectations and commitments,\u201d Taylor says. \u201cWe typically recruit students in third or fourth grade from neighborhood elementary schools. They come to us [in Trinity\u2019s Ferris Athletic Center] after school three days a week to work on academics and learn squash.\u201d Students also take part in weekend activities and a summer program.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Filip Madaric, top right, the nonprofit\u2019s director of squash, leads a cheer with the young student- athletes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today, 63 students from grades 3 through 12 participate, Taylor says, and an additional 25 high school graduates still receive support from Capitol Squash. Taylor calls the services and attention offered to students \u201creally high-impact and wide-ranging.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to academic assistance, Capitol Squash provides squash equipment and uniforms and covers the costs of SAT-prep work and college visits. \u201cIt\u2019s a way to level the playing field for our students,\u201d Taylor says. \u201cVisiting colleges helps them to see themselves on a college campus. Most of our students are first-generation college students, so this gives them an added level of confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Salgado notes that the care for participants goes well beyond the classroom and the court. \u201cWhen my dad passed away when I was 16, everyone at Capitol Squash was there for me,\u201d he says. \u201cThat was a very dark time, and they were the only bits of light I had.\u201d<\/p>\n

Participants work regularly with the six full-time Capitol Squash staff members, Trinity squash coaches and student-athletes, and volunteers to learn technique, footwork, and match play. As the younger student-athletes gain skills and confidence, they may compete in U.S. Squash Junior\u00a0tournaments against members of other programs within the Squash and Education Alliance (SEA), Capitol Squash\u2019s umbrella organization.<\/p>\n

The Trinity Advantage<\/h2>\n

The Trinity\u2013Capitol Squash partnership was launched in 2014 with support from Paul D. Assaiante, athletics ambassador and special assistant to the athletic director, and Wendy C. Bartlett, professor of physical education, emerita, longtime head coaches of Trinity\u2019s men\u2019s and women\u2019s squash teams who retired from coaching in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Both remain active with Capitol Squash as honorary board members.<\/p>\n

Trinity\u2019s teams are now led by Moustafa Hamada \u201915, instructor in physical education and head men\u2019s squash coach, and Lauren Patrizio, instructor in physical education and head women\u2019s squash coach, who encourage interactions between their players and Capitol Squash participants. Patrizio is the founder and former executive director of SquashDrive near Oakland, California, which\u2014like Capitol Squash\u2014is a member program of SEA.<\/p>\n

Bantam squash players volunteer to run instructional clinics with Capitol Squash and participate in large events, including an annual fundraiser. Trinity students also may earn credit through Capitol Squash internships. Taylor says that the younger players watch some of Trinity\u2019s matches. \u201cIt\u2019s fun to see it start to register with our younger students that the Trinity players they know are world-class athletes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Pat Purcell, Capitol Squash\u2019s college access and success manager, works with two participants on their math skills.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Taylor says that while 20 programs like this one exist across the country, few partner with a squash powerhouse like Trinity. \u201cTo have a small liberal arts college in a city, within walking distance to where our students live, is unique,\u201d she says. \u201cWe\u2019re not busing kids to another town; they live right here, and the squash courts are right here. It\u2019s a perfect combination of all these pieces working together, which is really special.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gavin Viano, Trinity\u2019s director of athletics and recreation, says that the connection between Capitol Squash and Trinity is an example of how the College and the city of Hartford support each other and thrive together. \u201cThis program helps Hartford students find pathways to education, in this case through athletics.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrinity\u2019s squash program has attracted student-athletes from all over the world for the better part of a quarter century, and we now have a Capitol Squash graduate from our hometown playing squash at Trinity,\u201d he adds. \u201cIt\u2019s hopefully the beginning of many Hartford students attending this caliber of school, all because of what Capitol Squash offers and because Trinity is invested in their success.\u201d<\/p>\n

Salgado has spent a good deal of time this year with Capitol Squash participants, assisting at tryouts and serving as a mentor. \u201cTo give my input and sometimes be able to help out on the court is a full-circle moment,\u201d he says. \u201cI remember first seeing the glass courts as a kid. Now I\u2019m on the Trinity team, playing on the same courts. I can\u2019t believe I\u2019ve come this far.\u201d<\/p>\n

Preparation for Life<\/h2>\n

Taylor says that the program\u2019s success is measured by the success of its participants, who have achieved a 100-percent high school graduation rate, with 19 of those 25 graduates going on to college. \u201cTwelve play college squash: eight varsity and four club,\u201d Taylor says. \u201cIn the four classes that have graduated high school so far, our students have earned $3.8 million in scholarships.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trinity\u2019s Admissions and Aid Office hosts workshops to help guide Capitol Squash participants through the college application process. Seeing a long-term commitment to an academic and athletic program on an application can hold great appeal to admissions teams, Taylor notes. \u201cColleges want to know they are investing in someone who will stick with something, who shows\u00a0resilience. This kind of discipline, sportsmanship, and teamwork are things that colleges look for,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

The members of Capitol Squash\u2019s oldest class\u2014who joined when they were in fifth grade\u2014are graduating college this year. \u201cOne accepted a full-time job through a connection made through Capitol Squash,\u201d Taylor says. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about getting into college, but through college, and then preparing for a career.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, the support that Salgado and other postsecondary students receive from Capitol Squash takes the form of alumni gatherings, career advancement opportunities, informational meetings with various businesses, and work on applications for internships or jobs. \u201cThe program helped to make me the person that I am,\u201d Salgado adds. \u201cI have no idea where I\u2019d be right now without Capitol Squash.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Header: Capitol Squash alum and current Trinity\u2019s men\u2019s squash team member Angel J. Salgado \u201929, in back, joins several current Capitol Squash student-athletes on the court.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Story by Andrew J. Concatelli Photos by Nick Caito Before representatives from the nonprofit Capitol Squash came to his sixth-grade classroom at Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy, Angel J. Salgado \u201929 had never heard of the sport of squash. The visitors were there to tell Hartford students about the free after-school program based at Trinity […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":139,"featured_media":0,"parent":8229,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-reporter-article.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8341","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","reporter_issue-spring-2026"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nEmpowering Youth through Sport - The Trinity Reporter<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Empowering Youth through Sport\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Story by Andrew J. Concatelli Photos by Nick Caito Before representatives from the nonprofit Capitol Squash came to his sixth-grade classroom at Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy, Angel J. Salgado \u201929 had never heard of the sport of squash. The visitors were there to tell Hartford students about the free after-school program based at Trinity […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Trinity Reporter\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-02T17:17:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/143\/2026\/06\/Magazine-Capitol-Squash-56.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/\",\"name\":\"Empowering Youth through Sport - The Trinity Reporter\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/143\/2026\/06\/Magazine-Capitol-Squash-56-300x200.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-01T15:34:57+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-06-02T17:17:14+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/143\/2026\/06\/Magazine-Capitol-Squash-56.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/143\/2026\/06\/Magazine-Capitol-Squash-56.jpg\",\"width\":600,\"height\":400,\"caption\":\"Filip Madaric, top right, the nonprofit\u2019s director of squash, leads a cheer with the young student- athletes.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The Trinity Reporter Spring 2026\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Features\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Empowering Youth through Sport\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/\",\"name\":\"The Trinity Reporter\",\"description\":\"The Trinity College alumni magazine\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Empowering Youth through Sport - The Trinity Reporter","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Empowering Youth through Sport","og_description":"Story by Andrew J. Concatelli Photos by Nick Caito Before representatives from the nonprofit Capitol Squash came to his sixth-grade classroom at Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy, Angel J. Salgado \u201929 had never heard of the sport of squash. The visitors were there to tell Hartford students about the free after-school program based at Trinity […]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/","og_site_name":"The Trinity Reporter","article_modified_time":"2026-06-02T17:17:14+00:00","og_image":[{"width":600,"height":400,"url":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/143\/2026\/06\/Magazine-Capitol-Squash-56.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/","url":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/","name":"Empowering Youth through Sport - The Trinity Reporter","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/143\/2026\/06\/Magazine-Capitol-Squash-56-300x200.jpg","datePublished":"2026-06-01T15:34:57+00:00","dateModified":"2026-06-02T17:17:14+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/143\/2026\/06\/Magazine-Capitol-Squash-56.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/143\/2026\/06\/Magazine-Capitol-Squash-56.jpg","width":600,"height":400,"caption":"Filip Madaric, top right, the nonprofit\u2019s director of squash, leads a cheer with the young student- athletes."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/empowering-youth-through-sport\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Trinity Reporter Spring 2026","item":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Features","item":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/spring-2026\/features\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Empowering Youth through Sport"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/","name":"The Trinity Reporter","description":"The Trinity College alumni magazine","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8341","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/139"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8341"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8341\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8587,"href":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8341\/revisions\/8587"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trincoll.edu\/reporter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}