The Men's Squash Team played two of its best matches this weekend, upsetting 14th-ranked Tufts 5-4 and 11th-ranked Brown 6-3.
The matcha against Tufts on Friday, January 26, secured the team a spot in the B division of the national championships in February. It also gave the team the confidence and momentum to topple unsuspecting Brown the next day.
The men began the weekend with one purpose: to upset Tufts in order to regain their spot in the B division for nationals. To this purpose they prepared for the weekend, focusing on the home match against the Jumbos. After two rounds (six matches) of play, the teams were tied, with three wins to each team: the outcome of the match had come down to the last three matches. Co-captain Matt Dresher '07, playing No. 2, first-year David Funk playing No. 4, and Ray Carta '08 at No. 7 stepped onto their courts with tensions high for both teams.
The many spectators from both teams watched as Tufts and Bowdoin battled for every point in each match. Carta finished off his opponent after overcoming an injury during the fifth and final game. Funk followed suit soon after, clinching the significant win for Bowdoin.
Amidst enthusiastic Brown fans on the Providence courts, the Polar Bears' relentless work ethic proved enough to break the Ivy League team.
"Beating Brown was amazing," said Funk, who also scored a key win for the team against Brown. "It showed us how hard we work and how well we can play."
"In our team meetings we kept discussing the fact that we have immense potential and that we can beat any team that is already in the Bs?including Brown," Dresher said.
"The first three matches went on and we were immediately winning all of them," he added. "Suddenly the mood of the team changed. Everyone started yelling for their teammates and this determined look came across all the faces of the kids warming up to go on next. We knew going in that we could win the match, but it was that moment that we all realized the match began to lean in our favor."
"We've been working hard all season," said co-captain Jake Sack '08. "Finally this weekend we saw our efforts pay off. This marks a new chapter in Bowdoin squash."
The team hopes to bring the momentum it gained over the weekend to the NESCAC championships, which both Bowdoin teams will attend this weekend at Trinity.
The women's squash team swept Tufts 9-0 last weekend, but was unable to defeat seventh-ranked Brown, to whom the team fell 9-0.
"We were definitely feeling some nerves during our Brown match, and we probably could have played with a little more intensity," said Biz Gillespie '09. "It was so inspirational to see the men claim the win as the underdogs: I think this victory will give both the men's and the women's teams even more drive and motivation to play hard at NESCACs this weekend."
Teammate Jackie Deysher '09 agreed.
"We all loved watching the men's team's sheer determination and heart result in a big win last weekend," she said. "Hopefully we will be seeing more upsets at NESCACs this weekend on both the men's and women's teams."