2004-2005 Varsity Girls' Squash

Season Summary

This year’s Girls Squash season was another uphill struggle but we once again had nice wins over teams that beat us the first time we met this season (Millbrook and Berkshire). The squad also had a solid win over a strong Suffield team. The team worked hard at improving skills and conditioning, making significant strides in both areas throughout the winter term. The season was marked by several individual highlights: Samantha Grant had a 5-game win over Berkshire to seal our team victory; Katie Hubbel recorded a 5-game victory over a tough Miss Porter’s opponent; Nse Umoh finished 6th out of 16 at the NE tournament in her first year on varsity; and Sophie Runquist at #1 also finished 6th of 16 at NE’s and had a season record of 12 wins and 4 losses, including two victories over opponents who beat her soundly last year. We will greatly miss our graduating seniors: Captain Sophie Runquist, Nse Umoh, Samantha Chu, Samantha Grant, Simone Grant, and Sasha Poon.

A Word from the Coach

I came to squash late in life after many years as a tennis player and this has given me even greater respect and love for the sport. I have coached the girl's varsity squash team for 10 years at Kent and am continually fascinated by the combination of physical skills and quick judgment needed to do well in the sport. It is not for nothing that it is known as chess with racquets.

Many players here learn the game at Kent so there is plenty of room for novices on the team. What is important for me as a coach is that the player measures herself against her own progress and effort. I care less that a player wins than that she knows she has given her best, has demonstrated good sportsmanship and comes off every match knowing that she has learned something. With those critical issues in mind, the winning takes care of itself and we grow as people.

Squash is a fantastic lifetime sport. It can be enjoyed at many levels - as a hard hitting teenager who can run all day, through to the wily old expert who has shots you didn't know existed when you were 17. If you want to be part of a small group that is not afraid to work hard and are looking for a sport you can play for years this is for you!

Björn Runquist