Choate Clobbers Hopkins Squash Squad 7--0

    Just one day after defeating a squash team from Madison, the Hopkins boys varsity squash team prepared to take on a team from Choate.  Coach Ewen knew that this would be a daunting task, since his top two players (TJ Dembinski and Spencer Lovejoy) were traveling to a weekend squash tournament in Philadelphia and would be unavailable to compete for Hopkins.  Furthermore, Choate had beaten Hopkins handily a year ago, winning the bottom five squash matches by decisive 3--0 scores.

    The match was begun with the even numbered contests being played first.  It did not take long for Choate to draw first blood, as Choate's Ed Speyer at #4 singles outmaneuvered a game but overmatched Luke McCrory, 11/5, 11/4, 11/5.  Then Choate's #6, Will Sternlicht got off to a very quick start against Hopkins' Nader Rastegar, and then withstood Nader's late challenge, 11/0, 11/8,  12/10.  Finally, Choate's Will Gregory at #2 used a combination of hard and accurate hitting to best Hopkins' Jack McLean at #2, 11/3, 11/2, 11/4.  Choate also won decisive 3--0 exhibition matches at #8 and # 10 against Hopkins players Michael McCarthy and Theo Wuest.

    Attention then turned to the odd numbered contests which followed.  At #1, Hopkins' Doug Schaffer had some chances against Choate's Max Fuller but could not convert several game points and wound up dropping a hard fought 12/10, 11/8, 11/3 contest.  At #3 singles, Griffin Smilow fought hard for Hopkins but could not overcome Matt Fasano's superior strength and speed, losing 11/4, 11/4, 11/5.  Griffin is to be commended for not giving up but rather playing his hardest from the first point right to the last.  At #5 singles, Jacky Yang exploited Steve Falcigno's short backhand strokes and kept him deep in the backhand corner through out the match, triumphing 11/3, 11/1, 11/2 in the process.  Then, in the #7 singles contest, Hopkins' Matt Hodel had some very good points against Choate's Billy Remsen but was unable to match Billy's height and speed, coming up short 11/0, 11/6, 11/4. At this point, only one exhibition match remained at #9 singles, pitting Hopkins' Teddy Schaffer against Choate's Jeremy Reikes.  But the outcome proved to be the same as in all the other matches, with Choate earning a decisive 3--0 victory.

    All in all, this match called attention to the fact that further drill is needed on maintaining better depth, preparing one's racquet earlier, and responding with a deeper shot once we wind up behind our opponent.  Hopkins' next match is against Rye Country Day School on Tuesday, January 18--a team that soundly defeated Hopkins 7--0 a year ago.    

With best regards,

William L. Ewen