Of Dads, Camps, Bandanas and Home

Sometimes schools have to search far and wide to find the best squash players.

Then there are those that find them in their own backyard.

One kid who grew up in the Boston area is now the number-one player for the Harvard men's squash team.

Harvard Coach Dave Fish knew about junior Jon Bernheimer when he used to participate in Fish's youth squash camps during the summer months in Cambridge.

But Bernheimer can thank his father, Lenny, a pro squash player, for introducing him to the sport.

"I started playing when I was eight," Bernheimer says. "I used to go down to the University Club of Boston and watch him play. There really wasn't anyone to play against, so I just hit by myself in the dungeon courts while he played his match."

Soon, the native Bostonian was taking home all the honors, and his dad was watching him play.

Bernheimer had an illustrious junior career, winning the 12-and-under and 14-and-under championships. He was also ranked in the top three during each of his six years as a junior.

But it wasn't until he was 17 or 18 that the younger Bernheimer was good enough to beat his senior.

"I could never beat him," Bernheimer says. "I used to get really mad."

After he finally beat his dad?

"Then he got really mad," Bernheimer says. "We had some real battles. There was a lot of swearing, and neither one of us would give an inch. Now I think I got him. But he might think otherwise."

Although Dad may no longer be the king of the court in the Bernheimer family, he still attends all of his son's games at Hemenway Gym.

"It's great to have your dad really involved in what you're doing and vice-versa," Bernheimer says. "If I'm not playing well, I can call him up and discuss what's going on."

And when it came to college, Bernheimer decided to go to the one that was just couple of "T" stops away.

"I wanted to go to a city school," Bernheimer says. "Harvard had an excellent coach and program, and I knew a lot of people on the team. It was the place to be in terms of squash and academics."

During his freshman year at Harvard, Bernheimer reached the number-four position on an experienced and deep Crimson squad that posted a perfect 11-0 record and captured the nine-man, six-man and Ivy championships.

"It was great," Bernheimer says. "I was psyched to be on the team. My expectations were really low going into the season. I just wanted to be in the top nine."

Low expectations? He ended up being named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year. As for his on-the-court antics, Bernheimer's trademark was a Samurai bandana he wore during his matches.

"I gave it to [teammate] Jon Masland," Bernheimer says. "I've never got it back. I'm going to ask him about it the next time I see him."

Bernheimer's sophomore year started off as a nightmare. During the first week of school, he broke his wrist--an injury that would sideline him for eight weeks. Then he sprained his ankle while playing in the team's last match in Europe.

"It was a frustrating year," Bernheimer says. "First I broke my wrist, then my girlfriend broke up with me, then I sprained my ankle. All the while, I was flunking Ec 10. It was the worst semester of my life."

When he eventually returned to the team last year, he captured a big five-game decision against Princeton's Roy Robin. But it was still a frustrating season because Bernheimer knew he wasn't playing up to his potential, losing several close matches to less talented players.

Things got worse when his dad suffered a mild heart attack, prompting Bernheimer to have his cholesterol level checked.

"He was in the hospital for a week," Bernheimer says. "I was really worried a first. But everything is back to normal now. He's playing some really good squash."

After his stormy sophomore year, Bernheimer considered taking the first semester of his junior year off, but, fortunately for Harvard, he stayed. Bernheimer has been the number-one player on the team since December.

"I'm psyched to play at number one," Bernheimer says. "But playing at number nine is just as important as playing at number one. A win is a win. It doesn't matter where you're playing."

When decsribing Bernheimer's talents, his teammates agree on one thing--the Crimson's number-one player is one unique individual.

"He does every aspect of the game well," Harvard Co-Captain Doug Lifford says. "He's an excellent player. He's especially good because he's psychotic. He's like Jack Nicholson busting through the door in The Shining. He has that crazy look on his face when he's on the court. It's like 'Heeeere's Johnny.'"

Assistant Coach John Anz says that Bernheimer wears a t-shirt of Nicholson's mug and the "Heeeere's Johnny" saying.

"Jon is to squash as the Cadillac is to the car world," sophomore George Polsky says. "He's got that sleek, lanky frame and he moves just so smoothly out there. He's not all that flashy, but he'll get the job down. In a Churchellian sense of the word, he's a classy dude."

As for this year's goals, Bernheimer's are simple: Beat Yale tonight and win the nine-man, post-season national championship this weekend in New Haven.

The kid that used to follow his dad to matches and attend Harvard squash camps is now the number-one player for the Crimson.

A hometown boy makes good.