This winter will be the third year of Seven Hills having a school squash team, but the first year of having courts on campus bringing a heightened sense of excitement from current members and attracting new players to the program. While the courts were expected to be done on October 1st, due to complications regarding getting the courts shipped from Europe and unfortunate flooding in the Stoher gym, it is unsure when they will be completed. Despite the challenge of continuing the season without courts on campus, players are still enthusiastic for the upcoming year.
The girls team began in the winter of 2021 and has gone to nationals every year since, finishing 10th for Division II teams and 26th in the country in 2022, and in 2023 they placed 11th.
Current junior Lucie Pease has been a Varsity Team member since her freshman year when it was founded.
Her first year on the team, it was limited to a girls’ Varsity program with eight players, but last year there was a boys varsity who placed 14th at nationals along with a girls JV team and middle school team. “It has been really fun to be able to practice with the whole team and the school,” Pease said regarding the program’s growth.
Senior Aanvi Anand has played in tournaments both as an individual and on the Seven Hills team. “It is more emotionally supportive on the team because if you lose you still have your team,” Anand said. Anand’s older sister, Aanya Anand (Class of 2022), started the program at school, leading them to nationals in their first year.
With the expansion of the program and access to new courts, new players have joined the team. “I am excited to play squash,” junior William Hartmann said, who will be joining the boy’s team this year. This being only the second year with a boy’s team, they are hoping to have a more successful run at nationals due to more experience.
The new courts will also bring new experience to the younger players in both middle and lower school. Senior Maggie Motch is excited by the prospect of a long legacy of players. “I really feel like it is going to help the younger kids in the community to grow into the sport,” Motch said. A middle school team will also attend nationals this year
