The men’s squash team’s had few moments to savor during interterm. Despite two hard-fought victories against opponents Middlebury College and Hobart William-Smith, the men went winless during the month of January. While it’s hard not to measure success by a team’s win-loss record, one must give the men some credit. The team is young and inexperienced, and has been plagued by injuries and sickness. Many teams would have surrendered to such hopeless circumstances, but the Jeffs have remained motivated and courageous throughout. They have not lost their matches because of a lack of effort or fitness, and the players’ passion for the game has been plainly evident.
Earlier this month, the Jeffs traveled to New Haven, Conn. for the annual Yale Invitational. Also invited to the tournament were Franklin & Marshall and Middlebury Colleges. On day one of the competition, Amherst fell to Yale University and Franklin & Marshall 9-0 and 6-3, respectively.
However, instead of folding after the two disheartening losses, they rebounded with a win against NESCAC foe Middlebury College by a score of 5-4. The victory was a close one, and it was a true product of hard work and determination, as captain Mark Rapisarda was unable to play due to illness. The line-up needed to be rearranged to accommodate his absence, and the success came mainly from the heart of the line-up: positions two through six. The efforts of juniors Jerome Giovinazzo and Ben Bishop, first-years Tom Rapisarda and Kevin Cecala, and senior co-captain Andrew Slutsky were responsible for the invigorating win.
The Jeff’s next victory didn’t come until quite recently, as they struggled through a four-match losing streak. This past weekend, the men defeated Hobart College, 7-2, to put an end to the streak. The match was punctuated by several impressive 3-0 victories. Giovinazzo, Slutsky, Cecala, Bishop and sophomore Saahil Sud all won their matches in three straight games. Bishop’s immaculate, 9-0, 9-0, 9-0 performance also stood out. Also taking home victories were first-year Tom Rapisarda, whose opponent retired after one game due to injury, and sophomore Lee Banta, who won his match 3-1. Rapisarda couldn’t overstate the match’s significance: “I think our decisive victory over Hobart is the turning point for us this season. The team seems finally motivated and ready to post the big wins that we need to have a successful season.”
The team will no doubt look to carry the momentum from Sunday’s win into the NESCAC Tournament this coming weekend at Trinity College. But not matter the outcome, the Jeffs’ spirits will remain high because, as Rapisarda puts it, “Winning aside, the friendships we’ve made this year will undoubtedly last us a lifetime—what more could I ask?”