Our Team

Connie Barnes

Connie played Squash at State grade level in Australia for 15 years before arriving in Bethesda in 2002. An inaugural member of TPAC (The Professional Association of Coaches) and a USSquash representative, Connie is one of only 50 Level 2 coaches in the US. Connie’s passion is junior squash and she has taken the Chevy Chase area from a handful of juniors in 2002 when she arrived to over 150 players. Connie and her husband Rod have developed a strong program of elite and intermediate players with many having continued to play in college. Connie has been involved in nonprofits for 20 years and loves the idea of combining sport (specifically squash) with academics, and social and mentoring aspects to help children succeed.

Rod Barnes

Rod learned squash through the 1980’s in Brisbane, Australia during a golden era where several of the talented juniors in his cadre went on to be some of the world’s top players. Rod’s squash career became secondary in his later teens as he chose a professional career as a scientist, but through his prime he nevertheless maintained a level that was competitive at the top of the very strong regional leagues in Australia. Even as a lifelong part-timer Rod remains one of the top ranked amateur players in the tri-state area, and the top player in his over 45 age bracket. In addition Rod has nearly two decades of experience working with juniors and adults in Australia and the US, leading to many happy and successful protégés. Rod specializes in teaching advanced and elite potential juniors. Using his well-developed analytic and communication skills, Rod seeks to imbue good racquet technique in harmony with efficient movement, whilst matching tutelage to the student’s natural attributes.

Scholarship Recipient

Jacob Kao

When I started my junior year,​ ​I​ ​began​ ​to​ ​challenge​ ​myself​ ​with​ ​new​ ​activities.​ ​My​ ​school counselor​ ​introduced​ ​me​ ​to​ ​a​ ​squash​ ​coach​ ​who​ ​runs​ ​a​ ​great​ ​program​ ​for​ ​DC​ ​students.​ ​Squash​ ​is my​ ​main extracurricular​ ​activity.​ ​At​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​season,​ ​our​ ​coach​ ​invited​ ​us​ ​to​ ​attend​ ​an​ ​event at​ ​the​ ​Australian​ ​embassy.​ ​​ ​This​ ​was​ ​my​ ​first​ ​time​ ​giving​ ​a​ ​speech​ ​to​ ​a​ ​large​ ​audience.​ ​As someone​ ​who​ ​had​ ​struggled​ ​with​ ​speaking​ ​English,​ ​this​ ​was​ ​a​ ​huge​ ​accomplishment.​ ​​ ​Before​ ​I came​ ​to​ ​the​ ​United​ ​States​ ​I​ ​never​ ​thought​ ​that​ ​I​ ​could​ ​have​ ​such​ ​a​ ​wonderful​ ​chance​ ​to​ ​speak​ ​in public​ ​with​ ​my​ ​poor​ ​English.​ ​In​ ​college​ ​and​ ​beyond,​ ​I​ ​hope​ ​to​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​face​ ​and​ ​overcome these​ ​challenges. Jacob was recently accepted to George Washington University.