For the first time in several years, the girls’ varsity squash team defeated Millbrook in their game on Wednesday, January 23. However, this is not the only unique aspect of the team this year.

The season began with severe cuts during tryouts; 34 girls lined up at the new courts, but only eight would make it past. In 2018, the girls’ varsity team graduated five seniors, creating room for a very different team this year. Now with only half the girls from last year’s team returning, two players joining from JV, and two students playing for the first time, the team is thoroughly mixed, bringing a variety of different strengths that they can use to their advantage.

“We are building. There is a different type of mentality this year, especially from the younger girls, and we have more skill level all the way down,” said captain Caitlin Martin ’19.

Likewise, the girls were previously coached by Ms. Anderson for the past six years, but this year’s team brought new leaders: Coach Ross and Assistant Coach Kastilahn. Ross was the captain of varsity women’s squash at Cornell, so her experience and excitement have brought fresh vigor to the program. At the girls’ request, she added regular fitness, including lifting, to their practice schedules. “This is a varsity team, so we must pull twice the weight,” said Ross.

The camaraderie of the girls is impeccable and evident by the spirit the whole team radiates, both on and off the courts, whether or not they are competing. Consequently, their track record has improved tremendously. When competing against Millbrook they claimed five out of seven wins. However, this excitement is nothing compared to the joy of gradual hard work paying off. For the first time, the team was able to challenge Taft’s varsity team.

“Squash isn’t a joke. It’s important, and other schools are noticing too; we are serious competitors,” said team member Sloane Grover-Dodge ’20.

Squash is a solitary sport, but Coach Ross works hard to “remind the players they aren’t playing alone” because “good players don’t.”