team finished second in national championship competitions. In both situations, he says, he and his teammates helped each other bounce back from the losses. They formed bonds and friendships that last to this day. “I lost my personal match in high school and I cost my team the victory,” he says. “In college I won my match, but still the team lost. But the people I played with are still close.” Since 2004, Mr. Gregg has run SquashSmarts. The program, which is free to students, introduces Philadelphia children to squash and prepares them to compete in the sport. It also teaches them the value of staying in shape, eating nutri- tiously, and getting enough sleep. Participating students receive academic help and develop life skills. “We focus on relationships,” Mr. Gregg says. “It’s about building a team, but also individuals. It’s about commitment, not ability. I believe every middle schooler can be a great student and a great athlete.” Students in SquashSmarts typically participate in the program for seven years, starting in the sixth grade. Three times a week they visit a squash center in Philadelphia to practice and to receive tutoring and special enrichment programs. Students also can take part in trips and summer camps. Stephen Gregg Emphasizing teamwork and the value of fitness At first, you might be confused when you learn that Stephen Gregg is a big fan of squash. You might think he is passionate about the vegetable. But you’d be wrong. Mr. Gregg loves the sport of squash. Yes, squash is a sport. Mr. Gregg describes it as “a racket sport with two people and a ball that anyone can play. ... It’s played in a small box and there is nowhere to hide.” The players take turns hitting the ball against a wall. A player wins a point when his opponent fails to return the ball. Mr. Gregg started playing squash when he was in sixth grade. His father and brother encouraged him to join his middle school’s team. Why did he choose squash over other sports? “I wasn’t any good in basketball, nor baseball,” says Mr. Gregg. He also realized that he liked squash and he was pretty good at it. So he stuck with it, playing in high school and college and as an adult. He knows from his own experiences that you can learn a lot of lessons by participating in sports. In fact, two major defeats taught him resilience: In high school and then again in college his 14