Blue Tornado Squash

McCallie began its squash program in 2018, and it has grown quickly in quantity and quality.

Dan Sharplin was hired in the summer of 2021 to direct the program and has rocketed McCallie Squash on an incredible trajectory. Coach Sharplin attended the UDC Finance Squash Institute in New Zealand for elite squash players and played professionally on the PSA World Pro Tour. He has directed and coached at several clubs around the world and had the opportunity to serve as a National Coach of the Luxembourg Squash Federation. Prior to moving to Chattanooga, he coached the Noble and Greenough School (Mass.) boys varsity team and was founder and director of Squashfit Academy in New England.

Under Coach Sharplin, the Blue Tornado continue to climb the national ladder. In 2025, the squad was rated Division II out of six for the annual U.S. High School National Championships in Philadelphia. The Blue Tornado advanced to the national finals and fell just short of the title, 5-2 to Gilman (Md.). En route to the championship match, McCallie scored victories over Blair Academy (N.J.), Crystal Springs Upland (Calif.), and Noble and Greenough. The Blue Tornado lost only two matches on the season, the other one coming to Phillips Andover (Mass.).

With the new on-campus Squash Center, McCallie hosted its first-ever squash tournament in December 2024 and also hosted a Southeast Region Gold Tournament in January 2025.

In 2024, just its fifth full season of competition, the squash team received the ultimate compliment by being placed in Division I, the top boys division at the Nationals. The Blue Tornado have come a long way since qualifying at the Division VI level several years ago. McCallie had a strong showing at Nationals, going 2-2 with wins over Milburn (N.J.) and Rye Country Day (Conn.), advancing to the consolation semifinals and finishing 11th nationally. Several players earned national rankings.

In year two of the program, 2021-22, the Blue Tornado qualified for Nationals and advanced to the finals of the fifth division, nearly bringing home a National Championship trophy.

The state-of-the-art squash center opened in 2024 and features eight squash courts, each with live-streaming capabilities. Designed by architect Jay Caughman ‘85 and built by Dillard Construction, the Squash Center is already attracting national tournaments and top caliber players.

Check out McCallie Squash livestreams:

McCallie Squash Live!