Sports

Squash falls in National Championships

By Rachel Sobel '15

March 7, 2013

For the seventh year in a row, the men’s squash team competed at Wesleyan University’s Rosenbaum Squash Center in the 2013 National Team Championships  from Feb. 22 to 24. The No. 23 ranked Continentals (7-14) competed in the Division C bracket for the Summer Cup along with seven other teams ranked No. 17-24 by the College Squash Association (CSA). 

No. 18 George Washington University prevailed over the Continentals in a close 5-4 victory during a quarterfinal decision on the 22. Despite overtaking Drexel in a 5-4 victory earlier in the season, Hamilton endured an 8-1 loss against No. 19 Drexel on Saturday in the first round of the consolation bracket. This was followed by a close loss to Connecticut College on the 24 (5-4).

Mac Pivirotto ’15 had three wins over the weekend and finished the season winning eight of his last 10 matches. Peter Harrison ’15, Teddy Black ’15 and Marc Dudzik ’16 finished the weekend’s competitions with two victories each.

Harrison leads the team with 11 victories this season. Black prevailed against his Conn. College opponent in just four games at the second position and Harrison similarly defeated his George Washington opponent in four games at the sixth position. After trailing 2-1 in matches against his George Washington and Connecticut College opponents, Dudzik pushed for two victories at the fourth position.

On March 1 two-time NESCAC All-Conference selection Martin Bawden ’14 competed in the 2013 College Squash Association Individual Championships at Trinity College. Hamilton has sent players to the CSA Individual Championships for the past seven years straight.

Bawden lost to Justin Singh of Drexel University in the Molloy “B” Division Friday morning followed by a loss to Walter Cabot III of Bates College after moving into the first round of the consolation bracket.

Although he did not win these matches, Bawden was appreciative of the chance “to pick the brains of some great players and try to get feedback on ways to improve my own game.”

He finished the season with 12 career wins, playing 20 matches at the No. 1 position this year. Junior Xander Kerman admires how Bawden “led by example at the one spot with his characteristic dignity on court.”

The Continentals completed the season ranked 24th with a record of 7-14, mirroring last season’s 7-13 record, even after losing two of their top three players last season. Highlights of the season include a 6-3 victory over Stanford on Nov. 17, an 8-1 victory over Hobart on Dec. 2, a 9-0 victory over Siena Jan. 27 and a 5-4 win over No. 25 ranked Colby Feb. 1 in the NESCAC Championship first round. Seniors Ronald German, Harry Keeshan and Lyman Munschauer will be missed as they finish their last season at Hamilton with 58 career wins and seven varsity letters among them.

Kerman, who transferred to Hamilton this fall, felt welcomed by the team from the start and believes it “has the potential to become truly great next season.” All in all, the Continentals worked hard to improve their game play over the course of the season and with time, they are sure to continue boosting their NESCAC rankings in the seasons to come.

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