Rye Country Day’s boys squash team had a stellar year, finishing the season at 14-4.
By Melanie Cane
Rye Country Day’s boys squash team had a stellar year, finishing the season at 14-4.
In post-season play, the Wildcats placed 12th in the New England Squash Championships, which Coach Brian O’Callaghan called impressive given the team lost five seniors to graduation last spring. This year, the top seven players were comprised of two seniors, two juniors, two freshmen, and an eighth grader.
At the New Englands, senior co-captain Matt Swain led the way in the third flight with a sixth place finish, losing a close match to Will Shattuck from Nobles. Freshman Carl Shuck placed eighth in the fifth flight. Senior co-captain John Shuck finished 11th place in the first flight. Junior Will Chai also finished 11th, in the fourth flight. Freshman Jared Yanis, Junior James Pierpont, and eighth grader Jack Mattson all finished in 13th place.
O’Callaghan praised Swain and Shuck for being “an excellent steadying presence and leading by example with a lot of class and character on the courts.”
The Wildcats’ girls squash team finished the season at 10-4. They entered the New England tournament with the lowest seed, No. 16, and ended up placing 12th. Coach Marie Vlcek said the team was thrilled with their finish.
At the New Englands, sophomores Michelle Haut and Mariana Lee, both first-year varsity players, performed the best of Rye Country Day’s top seven players.
Sophomore Caroline Kimmel was the top player on the team this season. Senior co-captains Liz Judd and Clare McClintock were the Wildcats’ No. 2 and No. 3 players.
The team’s No. 4 player was 8th grader Catherine Kimmel. And freshman Madeline Pierpont was the Wildcats’ No. 5 player. Coach Johnson said the team has good depth as evidenced by the tournament results.
— Photos by Todd Shapera Photography
