Mathur and Shannon Cap Squash Careers at the CSA Invitational
By Blanca Myers, Staff Writer John Redmond, Staff Writer
This past weekend senior and co-captain squash players Auloke Mathur and Caroline Shannon traveled to Princeton, N.J., to participate in the College Squash Association (CSA) Individual Championships. The CSA Championships are highly competitive and carry enormous prestige, featuring top players in all divisons and from all around the country. The tournament splits the men's and women's fields into two divisions: Potter and Molloy, and Ramsay and Holleran, respectively. Mathur competed in the Mollow Divison and Shannon competed in the Molloy. Both players represented Amherst in top form, as each advanced to the round of 16 before falling to top-of-the-nation talent.

In first round play, third-seeded Mathur faced Anshuman Beri of Vassar College. He trounced his competition in three games, winning 9-0, 9-1, 9-0. With this victory, he advanced to the round of 16 in which he met with Edward Newhouse of Dartmouth College. The match was tightly played, with each player setting forth his best effort. Despite his early lead, Mathur eventually fell to his opponent in the fifth and final game losing 6-9, 9-1, 9-4, 4-9, 7-9.

After the loss, Mathur played a quarterfinal match in the consolation bracket against Jp Sardi from Middlebury College. The first two games were played very close, as Mathur barely lost 7-9 and 8-10. He came back strong in the third game and won 9-3. However, due to injury Mathur did not compete in the fourth game and was forced to retire.

Shannon faced opponent Emily Kraft of Vassar College in first-round play, winning with ease 9-5, 9-5, 9-5. Moving on to the round of 16, Shannon faced first seed, and eventual tournament champion, Kaitlin Sennatt of Princeton University. Despite Shannon's efforts, she succumbed to her opponent in three games, 1-9, 0-9, 0-9. In the consolation round, Shannon lost a close match to NESCAC opponent Emilie McKenna of Bowdoin College by a score of 7-9, 3-9, 9-5, 7-9.

The championships are the last squash event of both player's collegiate careers, and each were satisfied with their final showings. Even though both players failed to advance to the tournament's later rounds, it seems they were satisfied simply with the opportunity to compete. Always with a positive outlook, Shannon said, "It is always fun to go to individuals, if not just to see old squash friends and to compete for fun."

Issue 18, Submitted 2007-03-07 04:43:37