by Tom Utescher The boys squash teams at Germantown Friends School and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy each graduated four first-string players from their 2010-2011 line-ups, but the SCH Blue Devils …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
The boys squash teams at Germantown Friends School and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy each graduated four first-string players from their 2010-2011 line-ups, but the SCH Blue Devils appeared to have suffered less than the GFS Tigers when the two teams met at the Germantown Cricket Club last Tuesday afternoon.
[caption id="attachment_10188" align="aligncenter" width="550" caption="Eying a ball hit by SCH senior Alex Ambrosini (background left), GFS junior Sam York lines up a backhand stroke. (Photo by Tom Utescher)"][/caption] Junior Max McCafferty won the number one match for the host team, but SCH prevailed in each of the other bouts to take home an 8-1 victory. It was the season opener for the Tigers, while the Devils had fielded what was essentially a JV team in a contest against underpowered Malvern Prep on December 1.
Last Tuesday there were three tough games in the top match, and the Tigers’ McCafferty claimed them all. After opening with an 11-8 win, he went up 10-2 in the second round, but SCH senior Augie Frank rallied and almost drew even before the GFS junior wrapped it up, 11-9. The third game went into the squash equivalent of extra innings, ending at 14-12. There was a more positive development for Frank at the end of the week, when he was officially notified that he would be able to continue his academic and athletic careers at the University of Pennsylvania.
Two of the other matches extended to four games before the visiting racquetmen secured a “W”. At number four McCafferty’s eighth-grade brother, Calvin, lost to Blue Devils sophomore Brian Giegerich, 11-8, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, and in the fifth position SCH senior Alex Ambrosini overcame a Germantown junior, Sam York, 7-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-6.
Up in the second spot, visiting junior Alex McCall won 11-2, 11-9, 11-3 over senior Diego Sanz, while SCH sophomore Philip Kelly got by junior David Sneed, 11-6, 11-5, 13-11.
Two more 11th-graders joined battle in the sixth spot, with Christian Dorff of the Devils carrying the day against Drew Wallace of GFS, 13-11, 11-6, 11-5.
On the lower third of the team ladder the visitors secured convincing three-game wins, starting with an 11-2, 11-1, 11-2 victory by Matt Geigerich over fellow freshman Ben Carabello.
Satya and Anand Butler, ninth-grade twins, played the eighth and ninth spots, respectively, for GFS. SCH senior Sam Sheppard sank Satya, 11-1, 11-4, 11-1, while the other Butler brother was beaten by Brian Hamilton, a Blue Devils freshman, 11-3, 11-3, 11-4.
The players from victorious SCH may not appear in this playing order again this season. Coach Mike Jeffereys said that the Devils had not yet finished their intra-squad challenge matches, and that other candidates for varsity positions include senior Greg Baird, junior Peter Ferraro, sophomore Mason Blake, and freshman Michael Bown.