Welcome to Behind the Glass, a new Q&A series from the Buffalo Squash Racquets Association (BSRA) that takes you off the court and into the lives of the people helping steer Buffalo’s squash community. Each installment spotlights a different member of the BSRA Board—sharing their squash journey, love for the game, and what’s next for the BSRA. Whether you’re a tournament regular or just starting, this is your chance to get to know the leaders building our community—one rally at a time.
First up is Chris Saeli, our acting President and an unstoppable force on and off the court. From his college squash roots at UVA to leading the charge for national tournaments in Buffalo, Chris brings passion, energy, and a whole lot of horsepower (ha) to the BSRA. Let’s dive in.
In one sentence, describe your role on the BSRA Board.
My job boils down to supporting the incredible team we have at the BSRA in their initiatives to make all of our Buffalo squash events a huge success.
How long have you been in that role?
Since January of 2024.
Tell us about your squash story—when did you start and how?
I picked up the game on a whim during my first year of college in 2011 and managed to elevate my play level quickly enough that I was able to be a walk-on for the UVA Squash team until I graduated in 2015. A good friend of mine from high school knew I used to play racquetball and asked me to give squash a try. I immediately fell in love with the game.
In one word, how would you describe your squash ability?
Hectic.
What is your favorite part about being a member of the Buffalo squash community?
For me it’s the camaraderie of the tournament play we have. Everyone is an absolute blast to play with, and more importantly, we all have a tremendous time together off the court. I’ve made lifelong friends through the BSRA.
What is one exciting thing BSRA members should be excited about regarding the future of Buffalo squash?
The upcoming Parent-Child Doubles tournament. It’s been a while since we’ve hosted a national event, and getting Buffalo on the national stage is very important to me. It will demonstrate what a great city and squash community we have—and hopefully, it’s just the beginning of hosting more national events.
Outside of squash, I can be found…
At the race track. My family and I are avid automotive enthusiasts, and outside of squash and work, we’re either restoring or racing vintage and collector cars.
What is one question I haven’t asked that the squash community might want to know about you?
Who’s leading in the fabled John Cleary/Chris Saeli rivalry? It’s absolutely still John. The guy is just unbeatable sometimes. I’ve lost many dinner bets to him on the squash court.