Near the end of the winter season, the girls and boys squash teams headed down to Philadelphia to take part in the US High School Team Squash Championships. Spanning three days, both teams competed in brackets of their respective divisions facing off teams from across the country.
Girls Varsity Squash
The girl’s team were seeded number one in Division II. They first took on Nightingale-Bamford, whom they beat swiftly, with everyone winning their matches. To celebrate their victory, they ate at Koreana restaurant, continuing a tradition the team started years ago. On the next day, they defeated Germantown Friends with another sweep. In the afternoon, they secured another victory against Bronxville, winning 6-1.
In the finals, the girls played against Spence. On paper, Groton had stronger players at the top, but were matched with equally competitive opponents down the ladder. The fight for the title was not going to be easy. Chloe McAuliffe ’26 and Kayla Zheng ’26 both played a tight 5 game match, lasting 40 minutes each. Although they executed fantastic shots and had intense rallies, they were unable to come out on top.
Charlotte Ghaeli ’26 and Emma Xi ’29—seeded 1 and 2, respectively—helped even the total score through decisive victories. Despite fighting a closely-contested battle, Natalie Sun ’25 lost in a 5 game match. Then, against all odds, Caiyu Yang ’25 obtained a crucial win over a player of a higher rating, demonstrating determination and playing strategically with offensive shots that brought the overall score to 3-3. The deciding match lay in the hands of Anya Sun ’27. She performed remarkably under immense pressure, remaining focused and composed. Despite her efforts, she could not pull through with a win, losing with a score of 1-3.
The loss was certainly disappointing and somewhat unexpected. Reflecting on the match, Natalie Sun ’25 recalls the team’s mentality: “We went into the finals thinking that we would leave as the champions, and that was probably our fatal mistake.” The experience was definitely a learning experience for the team. The following weekend, they went into the New Englands Championships without any expectations and took on what Mr. Das calls a “be desperate” mindset, enabling them to capture the Division II title.
Boys Varsity Squash
Fatigue gave way to laughter as we gathered over Popeyes and the USA-Canada hockey game, playing on a small TV in Carter Lightburn ’25 and Kevin Cai ’26’s room. Later that evening, a late night “snacks” run to a CVS with Mr. Prockop turned into an ice bath adventure through the streets of Philadelphia. Although unable to find a CVS, the joint adventure in the freezing city toughened us up before we hit the courts the following morning.
The first match against Bronxville set the tone for the competition. Theo Zhang ’28 fought through a grueling 40 minute showdown, scraping out a dramatic 17-15 win in the last game. William Laws ’25 and Yanbo Pei ’29 followed with decisive, straight-set victories that gave the team a boost of momentum. With a 58 minute showdown by Jamie Abramson ’26 as the tie breaker, the team’s hopes hinged on each point and each game. When he clinched the final win, cheers erupted, fists pounded on the glass, and we were off to a great start. That evening’s boys and girls’ team dinner, overflowing with pizza, felt well-earned.
In the second round, Kingswood Oxford came out strong. The team faced tough losses at the top seeds but showcased grit. Hansen Zheng ’28, Yanbo, and William clawed back critical victories, making the match score neck to neck.
Facing unfamiliar opponents from Princeton Day School the following day, the team fought hard despite having to play with a shorthanded lineup (Theo sidelined with an injury (?)). Trip Wight ’25 stepped into the spotlight with a clutch win at the 7 seed. William, Yanbo, and Jamie secured additional victories, sealing the team’s success. It was late at night by the time the team won, and the exhaustion had set in, but it did not stop us from crowding into a Shake Shack booth, passing burgers and fries around the table. Captain Carter said, “these are the kind of moments that remind you why you love being part of a team.”
The tournament concluded with a final matchup against 1 seed St. Paul’s Maryland. Under mounting nerves, Samuel Lu ’27 delivered the performance of his season, securing a lopsided win that sparked hope. Hansen and Theo fought to extend that lead, pushing it to 3-1. But as the match wore on, St. Paul’s strength proved too much to overcome, tilting the match in their favor, point by point, game by game.
But Nationals wasn’t just about chasing victories, it was about the joy and camaraderie that we fostered throughout the experience. The laughter overshadowed the tears and sweat on court. Those moments not only filled the gaps between matches and energized the air during shared meals, but they also built a sense of belonging that made us more than a team. It is these happy memories we will carry with us, long after the scores are forgotten.
