The men’s squash team played in the NESCAC Championship last weekend at the Bostwick Family Squash Center in Middlebury, VT, where they played three matches against Bowdoin College, Wesleyan University, and Connecticut College. Unfortunately, the team dropped all three matches to fall to 3–12 for the year. It is, however, a young team with potential.
The tournament provided the young team with experience. Many players have shown improvement throughout the year, an encouraging sign for next season’s squad.
The first match of the weekend for the Continentals was against the Bowdoin Polar Bears.
Bowdoin was the sixth-seeded team in the tournament, and the #23 team nationally, while Hamilton was seeded at #11 for the tournament, #34 nationally. The team dropped the match 0–9, with none of the Continentals winning their games. This was the first time all season that men’s squash had a chance to challenge the Bowdoin team. With this match the team dropped to 3–9 on the season.
Callum Sondhi ’20 had some close matches in the second game, dropping the game with a score of 9–11. Rufus Somerby ’22, Tristan Chaix ’20, and Oliver Constable ’22 all played close matches but ended with the same results. The team looks to improve upon their performance in the next match against Wesleyan.
In the consolation bracket, the first matchup was against Wesleyan College, where the Continentals dropped the match 1–8. Still, there were impressive performances for the team against a good Wesleyan team. First-year Somerby was able to come away from the match with a victory, winning 13–11, 11–8, and 11–9. Atticus Jones ’19 also played well in his match, winning the third game of his match 11–8 before losing the fourth game to drop the match. Constable also played well, coming away with a game and losing a hard fought first game with a score of 10–12. The Continentals dropped this match to put them against the Connecticut College.
The Camels are the #27-ranked team in the nation, and the Continentals dropped the match 7–2. For the most part, though, the team played well and only lost by a narrow margin.
The two wins came from Sondhi and Somerby and showcased to the team’s young talent. Somerby won for the sixth time this year — he ends the season leading the team in wins.
Chaix played well against his opponent, winning the first two games before dropping the next three.
Men’s squash season is over following the NESCAC Championship losses. However, women’s squash (8–4) takes on Connecticut College away in Hartford, CT, at Trinity College’s Kellner Squash Center in the first round of the NESCAC Championships on Friday, Feb. 8 at 6:00 PM.
