January 19, 2016 – San Diego, CA – The Access Youth Academy girls under 17 team have won a second straight National Championship this past weekend at Northeastern University in Boston.

The team, comprised of 6 local students from The Preuss School UCSD, Alejandra Perez, Felicia Jordan, Lisette Diaz, Lynh Chan, Djulia Sekariyongo, and Madison Ochoa, came into the National Urban Squash and Education Associations (NUSEA) National Urban Team Championships as the number one seed and defending champions.

The team played three games winning all three in comprehensive fashion. 5-0 vs. Squash Haven from Connecticut, 4-1 vs. City Squash from The Bronx, and dominating the final 5-0 vs. StreetSquash Harlem.

Access Youth Academy Executive Director, Renato Paiva, was ecstatic at leading yet another team to national glory. This was Access Youth Academy’s 13th National Title in the organizations 10-year history.

“I am extremely proud of the girls and their coach Yuri Franca. This win truly comes down to months of hard work and preparation both on and off the court.

“Academically and athletically, our national team members make the grade. Along with demonstrating a high level in squash, each student must maintain a GPA of 3.5 or greater, to participate” Mr. Paiva said.

Since 2004, the NUSEA Urban Team Nationals competition draws more than 400 participants per year from across the US. Access Youth Academy was also represented in the Boys Under 19 Competition and won the consolation play-off. This was a terrific achievement for the team of Johnny Hayes, Louie Nilsson, Eric Garcia, Zenon Leal, and Felipe De La Cruz, with four of the five playing up an age-group.

The boys team lost their first match 4-1 to StreetSquash Harlem, but came back strong in the consolation round defeating Impact 360 from Denver 5-0 and Metro Squash from Chicago 3-2 in their final match.

The next competition for the students of Access Youth Academy will be the upcoming SoCal League Tournaments beginning later this month.

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About Access Youth Academy

Access Youth Academy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was founded in 2006 and helps transform the lives of underserved youth through academic enrichment, health and wellness, social responsibility and leadership through squash.

In partnership with The Preuss School at UCSD, children are selected in the 7th grade to enter the 12-year program, which is delivered in three phases – 6 years through high school, 4 years in college, and 2 years post college.

During these fundamental years, we provide guidance for building essential life skills to becoming responsible and honorable adults. By creating a culture of healthy lifestyle and exercise, students find the discipline and dedication to unlock their potential and achieve their goals. Family members are involved in the transformation process, as these skills translate to all members of a family and ultimately a community.

Access Youth Academy has achieved a 100% high school graduation rate, 97% four‐year college acceptance rate, secured over $4.2 Million in earned scholarships for 33 students, and won 13 National Urban Squash Titles.

Contact

Ryan Ginard, 858-333-2545, ryan@accessyouthacademy.org

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