The Garnets’ season culminated in the U.S. High School Team Squash Championships in Philadelphia last month, the world’s largest squash tournament, but not before a successful run in the Fairwest Public School Squash League.
By Georgetta L. Morque
The Garnets’ season culminated in the U.S. High School Team Squash Championships in Philadelphia last month, the world’s largest squash tournament, but not before a successful run in the Fairwest Public School Squash League.
The team consists of three squads of players who made their mark in each competitive arena. Team 1 had an 8-7 record and won Fairwest Flight A, while Team 2, with a 5-5 record, captured Flight B. Team 3 ended up with a 3-5 record.
All three teams competed in the national tournament, along with 1,400 players from 151 schools representing 16 states. Competing in Division III, Team 1 faced a difficult hurdle when senior co-captain Stephanie Mullane suffered an injury in her first match against Mercersburg Academy and was forced to withdraw. Despite that, the team managed to rally for a 4-3 win, according to Coach Tony Campbell.
In the following round, they lost to Phillips Exeter 6-1, which put them in the classic plate draw. There, they narrowly lost to Blair Academy, 4-3, before succumbing to Greenwich High School in another close one, 4-3, in the classic plate playoff. Caroline Neave went undefeated playing No. 1 against “stiff competition,” noted Campbell.
Team 2, competing in Division IV, lost to St. Luke’s in the opening round, but defeated Buffalo Seminary 6-1 in the consolations. Ultimately, they succumbed to Lancaster Country Day in a nail-biting consolation final, 4-3. Team 3, also in Division IV, lost to MICDS from St. Louis in the opening round, and was stopped by Lancaster Country Day in the consolation semifinals.
In the year-end Whelan Cup championship, Neave was the champ. The in-house handicap tournament is named for Susie Whelan, the founder of the girls’ team.
