Before the squash program enjoyed yet another successful weekend, where women’s and men’s teams placed third and fourth respectively in the NESCAC Tournament, “ABC Local 22” Sports Director Erin Cofiell dropped by the squash center to visit with Annie Wymard ’15 and David Cromwell ’16 for the news program’s ‘Darin’ Erin’ segment. Erin went up against Wymard in a best of three matches while Cromwell served as her coach. Though Wymard only needed two of the possible three to knock off Darin’ Erin, Wymard provided good, encouraging and informative instruction to the sports director who had minimal previous exposure to the sport. After the fun on the court was over, Erin asked Cromwell what he thought of her effort against Wymard. With great restraint and a slight smile he responded to what he had witnessed by encouraging Darin’ Erin: “I thought you did well, for a rookie.”
With that serving to loosen them up, the squash program headed to Williamstown, Mass. for the NESCAC tournament.
Highlights on the men’s side included a five to four win over Wesleyan on Saturday in the quarterfinals where Middlebury picked up straight-set victories from Wyatt French ’17 in the third slot (11 to four, 11 to seven and 11 to seven), William Kurth ’18 in the fifth slot (11 to eight, 11 to three and 11 to six) and captain Robert Galluccio ’15 in the eighth slot (11 to four, 11 to five and 11 to seven). Galluccio and French ruled the day for the Panthers. In the afternoon’s narrow five to four semifinals loss against Williams, French and Galluccio recorded their second victories of the day. French earned a point for the Panthers with a four set victory from the third slot, despite dropping his first match (seven to 11, 12 to 10, 11 to seven and 11 to six). Galluccio was slotted ninth for the Panthers against Williams and won in four sets (11 to nine, 11 to eight, eight to 11 and 13 to 11). Sunday, the Panthers lost the third place match to Bates by a tally of six to three, although it was just two weeks ago when the score was flipped and Middlebury got a home win in the squash center.
The weekend was even brighter for the women’s side as the team placed third in the tournament after defeating Bates seven to two on Sunday. The Panthers success was spearheaded by the aforementioned Wymard as well as Charlotte Dewey ’15 and Zoe Carey ’16. The trio earned victories in all three matches the team played at the tournament. In Friday’s nine to zero quarterfinals victory over Hamilton, Dewey dominated her opponent from the third slot 11 to two, 11 to four and 11 to five. Carey also won in straight sets 11 to seven, 11 to nine and 11 to five from the sixth slot. Wymard battled back from a 12 to 10 loss in her first set, as she swept her remaining sets 11 to five, 11 to six and 11 to four to earn a point in the second slot.
The three earned the Panthers’ only points in Saturday’s six to three semifinals loss to Williams. Williams provided more of a challenge for the trio, but each managed to overcome a lost set and earn Middlebury a point. Carey went the distance, overcoming a two to zero deficit after dropping her first two sets 13 to 11 and 11 to six. Though all might have looked lost, she found in herself the will to battle back and win the final three sets 11 to seven, 11 to nine and 11 to five.
The seniors, Wymard and Dewey, each dropped one set 11 to six but managed to gain four set victories. Yet, the seven to two third place match victory over Bates on Sunday proved a breeze for Dewey, as she won in straight sets 11 to six, 11 to five and 11 to three. Carey and Wymard each would have to overcome deficits to earn points for the Panthers. Carey dropped the first set 12 to 10, but still managed to close out her opponent in four frames, winning three straight 11 to three, 11 to six and 11 to seven. Wymard overcame a two to one deficit, as she dropped the first and third set 11 to five and 11 to seven respectively. She managed to win thanks in part to her 11 to seven wins in her second and fifth sets. Where she really won the match, however, was in her 12 to 10 grind-it-out victory in the fourth set which broke the back of her opponent and earned the Panthers a big point toward their third place finish.
With their third place finish and a 15 and six record, the women’s squad has all but wrapped up its 10th straight berth in the “B” division tournament to take place this weekend in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
“With our third place finish we earned the chance to play Williams at Nationals this weekend,“ Wymard said. “After losing closely to them twice this season we’re ready for revenge and to move forward in the tournament competing against non-NESCAC schools.“
The men’s side, however, entered the NESCAC Tournament with an 11-5 record, ranked 15th and in prime position to finally break into the “B” division after winning four of the last six “C” division tournaments for the “Summers Cup.” After their close call against 13th ranked Williams and their loss to 18th ranked Bates in the third place game, with no matches left to play before the men’s national championships next weekend in New Haven, Conn., their postseason destiny remains uncertain and out of their hands.
