Our Team

 

Connie Barnes, Owner and COO

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 US Squash representative, Connie is one of only 50 Level 2 coaches in the US. Connie’s passion is junior squash and she has taken her DC program 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. The program at Charlotte includes internal and external leagues, lessons, clinics, camp, High School and a Middle School leagues.

Contact Connie at: Conniesquash@gmail.com or Connie’s cell (301) 807-9905

 

Sid Sharma

Sid Sharma has recently moved to Charlotte with his family from New Delhi, India.  Sid was a top ranked doubles player at the prestigious Delhi Gymkhana Club which was established by the British in 1930.  He was formerly captain of the squash team at the University of Rochester where he was recruited on a squash scholarship and earned four varsity letters.  Prior to that he has represented his high school in New Delhi and has won numerous single and team events in various age categories and has been playing for the last 35 years.  He has three children who actively play at the Charlotte Squash and were highly ranked players in India prior to moving to Charlotte.  Most recently, his son, Prithvi, took first position at the Atlanta Community Squash Bronze tournament in December 2022.

Dr. Rod Barnes, Owner rod-team-pic (1)

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 coaching 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.