The squash team climbed a little higher, clearing the 20 and over spots to hit No. 19. It was the first time since 1998, when the team was ranked No. 18 at the start of the ’98-’99 season.
The team kicked off their week against No. 18 Hamilton College looking to prove they belonged to the new club. Freshman Jim Bristow continued his War of the Roses campaign at the No. 1 seat with a 9-0, 9-1, 9-1 sweep. Freshman Yohay Wakabayashi couldn’t shut down his No. 2 opponent and fell 7-9, 10-9, 9-4, 9-0.
Junior Pat Harris brought out the broom against his No. 4 assailant with a 9-5, 9-4, 9-3 score. Freshmen Jamal Callendar and Alex Lee shook down their competitors for three straight wins 10-8, 9-3, 9-4 and 9-7, 9-4, 9-2, respectively.
Junior Jamie Lynn was knocked out early with a 9-2, 9-4, 9-6 beating. Sophomore Dan Carson overcame his No. 7 foe with a 9-0, 3-9, 9-6, 9-6 victory.
Sophomore Ori Goldman took his opponent to the cleaners with a 9-8, 9-0, 10-8 win. Senior Elie Biel couldn’t get out from under his challenger in the No. 9 spot and fell 9-4, 7-9, 9-3, 9-7. The six wins put the Yellowjackets on top of Hamilton’s three victories, closing out an impressive performance against another highly ranked team.
The Yellowjackets next took on No. 23 St. Lawrence University in the only home game to be played by the team this season. The Yellowjackets did not disappoint the fans at all. Bristow continued his cat and mouse game 9-0, 9-2, 9-1. Wakabayashi still couldn’t find any room to maneuver in his No. 2 seat, losing three straight, 10-8, 9-7, 9-4.
Harris tore down his SLU opponent 9-6, 3-9, 9-2, 9-1. Callender and Lee put out similar performances. Callender roasted his guy 9-7, 9-2, 9-0 and Lee had his broiled 9-2, 9-3, 9-0.
Lynn’s match wasn’t easy. He dropped the first 9-5 then went on to take the next two matches 9-6, 9-7.
He surrendered the fourth, 9-2, forcing a fifth game, but stole it and the match with a 9-6 win.
Carson got cheeky at the No. 7 position. He skirted past the first match 10-8, only to lose the second 9-5. He rebounded with two straight wins 9-0, 9-2 to seal a victory for his seat.
Goldman dug himself into an early 8-1 hole in the first only to climb out and have his opponent fall in with a 10-9 loss. Goldman lost the second 9-3, but pinned up two wins in the third and fourth matches 10-9, 9-5 to close out the No. 8 seat with a win. Biel also brought home a win for his No. 9 seat 9-3, 6-9, 10-8, 9-5.
The Yellowjackets hit the road to take on No. 14 Franklin and Marshall College. Bristow had the only real power to counter Franklin and Marshall’s talent with a 9-0, 9-4, 9-2 win. The rest of his teammates didn’t fair as well. Most of the Yellowjacket players exited their matches early, unable to put up much of a fight to their opponent’s skills.
The team continued embarking up the steep slope taking on No. 10 Naval Academy. The Yellowjackets turned in a performance similar to the one against Franklin and Marshall. Bristow kept up his tirade without any regard for his challenger’s 14th amendment right, dealing him a 9-2, 9-6, 9-0 shellacking.
So far Bristow is a cool 18-0 since joining the Yellowjackets. He’s 17 for 18 when it comes to beating his opponents in three straight. With his executioner-like numbers, it looks like Bristow will be ending the season amongst the top ten in the nation.
Lee was the only other man from the Yellowjackets able to squeeze out a win. He took the first two matches cleanly 9-2, 9-3 then ran into some trouble dropping the next two 9-5, 9-4. Lee climbed back into the driver’s seat though in the fifth match, plunking his opponent with a 9-2 win.
The Yellowjackets are slowly wrapping up their season. They take on Hobart College at Hobart next week and then head off to the College Squash Association team championships for a shot at the title.
Serafini is a member of the class of 2008.
