Baldwin School squash looking to send senior class out on high note
Bryn Mawr – Last winter, the Baldwin School squash program experienced the highs and lows of what a team sport has to offer.
First, archrival Episcopal Academy reclaimed the Inter-Ac crown that Baldwin proudly held for the previous five years. Next came the Mid-Atlantic Squash Association championships. Again, Baldwin saw another title they previously held get claimed by another school.
As they approached the National Championships, Baldwin could have sulked about coming up short in the Inter-Ac followed by MASA. Instead, the Polar Bears lived up to their nickname and clawed their way to the program’s first National title in school history when they defeated eight-time defending champion and No. 1 seed Greenwich Academy in the finals.
“We all experienced success on our own,” said Baldwin senior co-captain Morgan Steelman, referring to players competing in tournaments outside of high school. “It’s a different feeling when you win as a team. It was difficult when we lost the Inter-Ac and MASA but the feeling we had when won Nationals was unmatchable to anything I ever felt before.”
“Nothing compares to winning as a team,” added junior Sumrin Mudgil. “We all compete in big tournaments outside of school but words cannot describe how amazing it was. I always smile whenever I think about winning the National title last year.”
After working hard all summer, Baldwin entered the year with hopes of sending their seniors off in style. With that thought in mind, their goals for 2016 were clear-cut:
- Win the Inter-Ac. Check
- Win MASA Championship (Mid-Atlantic Squash Association): Check
Two down, one to go.
“I think it was a real confidence boost for the team to win back the Inter-Ac and MASA titles,” said Jamie Macaulay, Baldwin’s Director of Squash. “Last year we spent a lot of time focusing on winning our first National title and this years senior class felt like we were capable of winning all three. The team performed really well and we are excited to try to earn the repeat National title Feb. 14.”
“This has been my ultimate goal since I committed to Columbia,” added senior co-captain Olivia Horwitz. “I really started focusing on helping the team re-claim the Inter-Ac and MASA titles along with repeating as National Champions.”
What started back in 2010 with its first Inter-Ac program in school history was just the start of Baldwin’s rise to one of the premier program’s in the area.
During the past seven years, Baldwin has garnered six Inter-Ac titles (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016); five Varsity MASA championships (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016) and one National championship (2015).
Leading the way through the years dating back to 2009 where Baldwin started showing signs of a bright future have included many notable alumnae that have continued their career in college: Stephanie Tzarnas ’09 (Franklin and Marshall College), Alexandra Sawin ’10 (Princeton University), Caroline Sawin ‘11 (Williams College), Alisha Maity ‘11 (Columbia University), Hillary Gray ’11 (Hamilton), Tiffany Hau ‘12 (Middlebury College), Marina Crowe ’12 (MIT – played on the men’s team), Alexa Tzarnas ‘12 (George Washington University), Maya Patel ’13 (Columbia University), Selena Maity ‘14 (Yale University), Ryan Morgan ‘14 (Drexel University) and Alexa Horwitz ’15 (Bowdoin College).
“The transformation of the Baldwin Squash Program since 2009 is a tribute over the years to the commitment, time, expertise, spirit and support in all ways from the coaching staff, parents and most importantly our squash athletes, who believe ultimately in team and accept the work it takes to build and support that team,” said Baldwin Athletic Director Deb Surgi. “The Baldwin squash timeline is rich in milestones and at Baldwin we are committed to continuing to seek new goals; always as a team. This year’s team, under the leadership of our talented captains and coaching staff has already richly added to the Squash timeline with the National Tournament still ahead.”
Each year the graduating seniors have passed the torch to the rising seniors to carry on the winning tradition. The latest group to the take the leadership reins has been Steelman, Olivia Horwitz, the younger sister of Alexa, who graduated last spring along with Angela Luo and Kristy Wong.
“This senior group are exceptional as we have four girls who all display excellent leadership qualities and get along very well,” said Macaulay. “They are a pleasure to work with.”
“We have team lunches and try to get to the match as early as possible so we can spend time with each other and hang out,” said Steelman, who will be playing squash at Princeton next fall. “We have a group that is very supportive of each other.”
“Olivia and Morgan have been tremendous leaders for this team,” said Mudgil. “I used to watch them play while I was in middle school and I have always looked up them. I try to emulate the way the play. They are great role models.”
With two goals checked off their list from the beginning of the season, they now start preparing for the final hurdle- the High School Nationals that take place Feb. 12-14.
