Kids are the heart and soul of SquashBusters. Selected for the program in sixth grade, from either the James P. Timilty or Dearborn Middle Schools in Roxbury, students can participate in the program for up to seven years – from 6th through 12th grade. 

SquashBusters intentionally keeps the ratio of students to staff and volunteers low, 1:1 for tutoring and coaching and 1:6 for group activities like community service projects and cultural outings. Through this attention, kids and adults get to know each other well, developing close relationships over a long period of time.

The kids who participate in SquashBusters bring a wide variety of ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds and experiences to the program. The thread that weaves through them all, connecting them to the program, is the effort they put forth in their school work and on the court, the respect they show for themselves and others, and the high motivation they have to be part of the SquashBusters team.

SquashBusters has a strong alliance with its two main educational partners, the Dearborn and  Timilty Schools in Roxbury. The leadership within both schools is extremely supportive of SquashBusters. The former Timilty principal, Roger Harris, serves on the Advisory Board of Directors. The teachers stay connected to the program and the kids by meeting each week with SquashBusters’ Academic and Community Service Director. The schools applaud the effect SquashBusters is having on each student’s academic performance. Teachers attend practices, squash tournaments, the annual teachers vs. students squash match and the year-end picnic.

“Never have we seen an after-school program which offers such an intense combination of athletics and academic support for our students. A very important educational partnership between the Timilty School community and SquashBusters has been forged. It is a partnership that is positively impacting the academic, athletic, and social lives of many inner-city children.”

Gert Sweeney, 6th Grade Coordinator
James P. Timilty Middle School

This year, we will have two middle school teams, one 6th grade team and one 8th grade team, and our high school team will be made up of 9th-12th grade students. 

Team 8 - 6th Grade

Randolph Alvarez
Stephani Augustin
Janet Day
Danny Ha
Estefany Pujols
Miryan Ruiz
Shelby Shipley
Calvin Cepeda Smith
Adolfo Thistle
Nicholas Thomas
Isaak Williams
Savannah Bell
Jason Cerone
Katherine Christopher
Mayda Curet
William Pope Dedrick
Stephen Grace
Tiana Grant
Shawn Harris
Darius Hollis
Lisa Imafidon
Jada McNeil
Kadeem Murrell
Josh Ocasio
Ricardo Ortiz
Zusex Romeo
Kevin Smith

Team 7 - 7th Grade

Henry Ascencio
Anairys Calderon
Louis Casiano
William Fernandes
Reginald Gay
Carolina Gil
LeKiara Gray
Khalilah Jones
Gloria Nwahoa
Ngozi Nwahoa
Benedict Osajie
David Pham
Christian Rodriguez
Zoe Russell
Amy Sanchez
Sadiki Solomon
Brendy Velez
Valandrhah Abraham
Stephanie Almeida
Vanessa Anderson
Tenaya Bacon
Edmilson Barbosa
Aaron Coss
Anna Dau
Joshua Figueroa
Angelica Gomez
Gary Gonzalez
Abel Hailu
Kyana Houston
Kiana Lara
Jermaine Maddrey
Frank Melo
Jerome Mitchell
Darwyn Nunez
Jalin Nunezn
Devin Rogers
Henry Santana
Jamie Ryans
Yamiles Urena

High School Team

Jocelyn Arocho
Kevin Baptista
Randy Coplin
Ashley Dona
Chelsea Ellis
Juan Esteves
Carlota Feliciano
Alicia Forde
Rodney Galvao
Ashley Garrett
Ronald German
Abdiel Gonzalez
Diego Gonzalez
Joel Gonzalez
Jessica Greaves
Audrey Guerrero
Jenny Huynh
Mahmud Jalloh
Ellery Kirkconnell
Ida Kirnon
Iva Kirnon
Soranyi Luna
Humzuh Mahmood
Mustapha Mahmood
Paloma Munoz
Luis Peguero
Carlos Richardson
Darryl Soto
Trinh Tat
Andrea Tran
Hoai Tran
T Tran
Bianca Vega
Nicole Vila