Rochester, NY — In their Women’s National Team Championships (Howe Cup) debut, the Rochester Yellowjackets came in second in the “E” Division. Rochester also won two matches off Wellesley, who swept all of the other teams en route to the inaugural “E” Division title.
Rochester’s performance at the Women’s National Team Championships should give the enthusiastic young squad a boost coming into the new season. All but three players from last year’s championship roster are returning, and the empty spots should be filled. Team captain Lauren Reynolds reports that, “We have quite a few upperclassmen who should make leaps up the ladder this year and several new players entering the sport.”
“Our girls are very involved on campus,” Reynolds adds. “You can find our members working as RAs, playing on other sports teams, and participating as sisters of Greek life, yet they are still very dedicated to their studies, mostly in neuroscience or brain and cognitive science but in several other disciplines as well. They are always willing to help each other, too. To have individuals with such different hobbies, interests and responsibilities yet to all be so close and dedicated to the team I believe is unique.”
The team will continue to work with coach John Walsh, who will help them work towards being more competitive with varsity programs. The team will have two opportunities to play William Smith, at home in November and in Geneva in February. Those matches should serve as a measuring stick for Rochester’s growth throughout the season.
“We have a lot of players who are new to the sport but athletic and dedicated to learning it, “says Reynolds. “We are always eager to see our improvements from match to match and look at the hardest games with optimism, never defeat.”
2009-2010 SEASON RECAP
Season Record: 2-4
Final Ranking: 34
Team Championships: 34th Over All; 2nd in the “E” Division
2010-2011 SEASON PREVIEW
Program Status: Club
Returning Players from Team Championships: Lauren Reynolds(2); Laura Chess (7); Eliza Friedman (4); Sarah Hulbert (8); Clarissa Perkins (6); Clare Zweig (1); Kate Weber (10)
Graduates on Last Season’s Team Championships Roster: Erica Gelb (3); Hannah Lee (9); Amanda Pollock (5)
Captains: Lauren Reynolds
Team Goals: Schedule more matches and win more points against the more seasoned varsity team opponents
Key Matches: William Smith
To read other team previews, please visit the 2010 – 2011 College Squash Preview Page.
