Squash teams encounter off-court obstacles

Elizabeth Pacheco Senior Editor

For Vassar’s men’s and women’s squash teams, the winter season is off to a shaky start. With each squad boasting only one freshman this season, they are lacking the depth necessary to defeat their league opponents. Although both teams dropped all of their matches at the Liberty League Tournament on Nov. 17-18, the Brewers remain hopeful that with a majority of their season left to play, continued practice and dedication will raise their competition level.

After finishing 19th at Nationals last season, the women’s team was ready for another winning season, even though they graduated four seniors last spring, leaving the No. 4, 6, 8, 9 and 10 positions open. Another obstacle arose last May when co-captain Nadia Jihad ’09 made the decision to study abroad during the fall semester, opening up the No. 3 position. Then, at the start of the season, freshman Kristine Bell, who is the Jamaican under-19 champion, and Emilie Kraft ’09, who played at the No. 1 position and finished last season with 11 wins, both fell ill and will be unable to compete this year.

While the opening positions have been filled, the players are inexperienced and competing at positions beyond their experience and skill levels. Despite these difficulties, Head Coach Jane Parker is pleased with how her team has handled the situation. “They have all seen opportunity in this situation and have taken up the challenge to get stronger and fitter, so that they can at least give their opposition a few worrying moments to deal with,” she said.

Having sustained the injury and illness of top players Aniruddh Mundra ’08 and Jake Kantrowitz ’09 last season, the team dropped to 38th place. This season, however, players are healthy and the team has added freshman Jose Rivera to the No. 8 position.

So far, the only injury this season has been No. 4 Austin Minkowski ’09, who recently injured his shoulder. Parker however, is most concerned about the team’s future beyond this season. “We will graduate one senior, Mundra, at the end of the fall semester and our three top-ranked players in Spring 2008: Anshuman Beri, Greg Kantrowitz, Ryan McGinley-Stempel. If we do not at least replace these four players, we will no doubt take a further plunge into the 40s [ranking].”