BGS STUDIES ABROAD PROGRAM: Hannah Seckendorf and Nicholas Pitaro.
Barcelona Global Squash caught up with Brown players Hannah Seckendorf and Nicholas Pitaro as they came to the end of their 4 month training period in BGS while doing a Study Abroad Program in Barcelona.
Who are I-ConSports?
I-ConSports was founded in Barcelona in 2003 by Marc Becker and Alexandra Costa with the addition of Rafa Nadal’s manager Carlos Costa as a partner. It’s goal is to help athletes in the complex and competitive process of attending universities in USA with athletic scholarships. Both Marc and Alexandra studied and competed in an American College by means of a sports scholarship. Their unique experience encouraged them to set up I-ConSports in 2003 with the aim of offering a similar experience to international student-athletes. I-ConSports has an international professional team with a vast experience in the sports and educational field. They offer a high quality personalised service to each and every student-athlete known as the I-Con difference.
How does I-ConSports assist players?
I-ConSports works with athletes from around the world in any sport that is offered by universities in the USA. It works closely with the Rafa Nadal Academy and Rafa Nadal Foundation. The new collaboration with Barcelona Global Squash will offer international squash athletes the opportunity to study a university degree with the help of a squash scholarship and/or financial aid to compete at the highest level by being part of a collegiate athletic program.The combination of high performance varsity sport together with a university degree in the USA, in addition to the personal development acquired through living with fellow student-athletes from all over the world, makes a difference in the people that have the privilege of living this adventure, giving them the tools to be the leaders of tomorrow. Now that various top US colleges are offering 100% SQUASH SCHOLARSHIPS, i-ConSports now works with international junior squash players who are looking for the opportunity to continue their high performance sports development and in parallel continue with their academic studies in an American college.
How does BGS colaborate with I-ConSports?
The collaboration with I-ConSports will permit BGS to identify potential late junior players who have aspirations to study in the USA and continue their squash and athletic development within the ever increasingly competitive American College Squash Association; The BGS Performance Academy is responsible for the squash / sports development of the players during a GAP year (something encouraged by many coaches), is responsible for improving their game and their athletic value to the college. I-ConSports has a proven track record of obtaining improvements on initial offers made by colleges based on the student-athlete’s improved athletic performance achieved during a GAP year before arriving at college for their freshman year. BGS is one of very few options available for top late junior players to take their game forward into the PSA Professional World Tour and/or prepare for American College Squash, offering opportunities to train IN a professional environment and WITH professionals. Meanwhile our partner i-ConSports is responsible for ALL the process including academic preparation as well as administration support that the student-athlete requires to obtain a scholarship.
Contact BGS and I-ConSports.
If the college option is something you are interested in exploring but at the same time you want to keep your options open for competing on the PSA World Tour, then BGS is certainly one of the better options within Europe and the one that can prepare you for both. For more information contact Adrian Blakemore, CEO of Barcelona Global Squash at Adrian@barcelonaglobalsquash.com.