Girls’ Squash Holds Tryouts
By Georgie Venci
This past Saturday, the Big Red Girls’ Squash team held their final tryouts on the courts of the Fisher Squash Center. Despite masks and social distance regulations, the tryouts occurred similarly to the old normal. Returning athletes played against each other in matches according to their previous position on the team ladder, a ranking of the team based on wins. New athletes played each other in hopes of getting on the ladder.
Due to new COVID-19 restrictions, tryouts were limited to merely three athletes per squash court, and masks were required during play. Still, “I think people want to go to practice, just because it’s a bit of normalcy and fun,” lower Athen Wang said.
Prior to tryouts, the team practiced in the parking lot behind the Love Gym during the off-season. Typically, the space is used for athlete pick-ups for away games. Team members did many cardio-based exercises, as well as strength and conditioning, to prepare for in-season play. After a few rounds of testing, the team progressed indoors, where they did solo stationary exercises. Eventually, the girls played matches full-on.
“By the end of the term, we were able to play our matches with our partners in the courts while wearing our masks, which we all really enjoyed,” upper Danielle Sung said.
The team is led this year by seniors Catherine Fortin and Emily Baxter. Multiple athletes recognized Fortin and Baxter’s willingness to work hard and succeed in the face of challenges. “They’ve been spending a lot of time with the new players and helping them get acquainted with the team. The captains always ask how we’re doing and check in on us before we start playing; it’s great that they can prioritize our well-being before practice starts,” upper Dorothy Baker said.
The captains were also recognized for welcoming new athletes and helping them become familiarized with the team. “They are never afraid to reach out to new students and have a conversation with them, and the rest of us sometimes join them and get to know each other more,” Sung described.
The athletes were grateful to have such dedicated captains leading the way as the team continues into a new season. Upper Lucy Weil expressed gratitude, saying the captains “are doing a great job of helping everyone get situated and they are always so kind whenever we get to practice.”
Looking forward, all students will be remote from Nov. 24 through Feb. 11, cutting through the heart of the winter squash season. During this time, the team is hoping to host many virtual events and stay connected, as they won’t be able to practice together. “We are going to hopefully do some Zoom calls as a team and have a fun group chat,” Baker said. The team will also be participating in remote workouts to stay fit for the end of winter term, when they will be on campus. Despite the prospect of an off-campus term, Sung expressed hope for the end of winter term, saying, “I am looking forward to seeing my friends once we get back on campus and have the opportunity to play each other.”