WILLIAMSTOWN, MA -- This afternoon saw an incredible display of grit and determination from the Williams College men's squash team (5-4), which downed visiting Bates 5-4.
The win was the Ephs' third in a row and lifted them over .500 on the year.
Traveling hours from the freezing temperatures of Maine, the Bates College Bobcats brought their talents to Williamstown for an NESCAC battle. "This match was extremely important for our standing in the NESCAC and in the past couple years we have had some incredible matches with Bates," said co-captain Chris Wilkinson '15. "We lost to them at nationals last year so we were really looking to perform well today."
After the previous day's doubleheader and hardfought wins against Colby and Bowdoin, the Ephs were plagued with injury and exhaustion.
The match would be played in a three court system, in which the numbers three, six, and nine were the first on court. All three matches went to five games, with Williams taking the first two.
First to play was first year Jamie Havran at the nine position. Facing Bates' Spencer Burt, Havran showed composure beyond his years, taking the match in five grueling games to secure the first win of the afternoon for the Ephs.
Another five-game battle between the Williams number six John Shuck '17 and Bates' Caran Arora, took place on court two, in which Shuck maintained focus and persevered to take the win. Shuck barely lost the second and fourth game, but re-grouped to capture the fifth game and a point for the Ephs.
Co-captain Chris Wilkinson faced Darrius Campbell on court one. Wilkinson looked impressive in the first game, playing at a blistering pace and winning 11-6. Campbell responded to take the second, reversing the score. The next three games were a textbook example of clinical squash, however, Wilkinson was finally overcome in five games.
While the Ephs came out of the first round with a 2-1 advantage, Bates responded taking two of the next three matches. Kevin Chen '15 played the 2013 national semi-finalist Ahmed Abdel Khalek at the number two position, falling in three games.
Galen Squiers '16, while able to take the third game of his match, was also overcome by his Bates opponent.
The lone victory of the second round for the Ephs was recorded by senior Conor McClintock who took the victory against Williamstown resident and Bates number eight, Carlos Ames.
This victory brought the contest to a tie at 3-3. The final round of matches would determine the victor. On court one, Jamie Ruggiero '17 faced off against Bates number one Ahmed Hatata. The sophomore started strong, taking the first game, but was overcome in four games by his opponent.
On court three, however, senior co-captain Nicholas Greaves-Tunnel evened the score. "Nick played spectacular squash," said Ruggiero. The three-game win placed the outcome of the match solely in the hands of senior Kai Graham.
Graham began his match in spectacular fashion, exhibiting superior length and shot-making. The first game went to Graham 18-16. The Eph used this momentum to take the second game 11-3. While a brief resurgence from his opponent resulted in the loss of the third game, the Eph senior returned reinvigorated to take the fourth game 11-8, and secure the match win for Williams.
The Ephs enjoy a week of respite before they travel to Annapolis next weekend.
