Written by Sadie Kolodner

The start of winter not only marks the beginning of snow days and hot chocolate, but also the start of the winter sports season, including the kick off for Girls Varsity Squash! With both new and familiar faces, the Wildcats are eager to see what this year has in store.

Tryouts began on November 14th where the team held the first round for level placement. Each day, a player plays one or two matches, and the results are then used to calculate the “ladder,” or players’ rankings from position 1-10. This ranking system is crucial, because it determines who each player will compete against from the opposing team, as each RCDS player’s number coordinates with a number on the other school’s team. However, a player’s ranking is not permanent because every few weeks all the players play either one up or one down, allowing for them to move up the ladder throughout the season. As a result of this constant shift in position, it adds in a little bit of fun competition between teammates, since players push each other harder every day.

Starting the season off strong, AJ Bodenstein ‘26 is seeded first, followed by Georgina Murphy ‘28 and Alexandra Lynch ‘27. As one of the captains on the team, Sophia Lynch ‘25 explained that she is “most excited for Nationals! It’s an incredible experience, and this year feels even more special since it’s my last chance to play. I’m looking forward to giving it my all and hopefully finishing on a high note!” Continuing on this note, when asked her feelings about the upcoming squash season, Lynch stated, “I love the team this year, and I think we are set for an amazing season!”

The Wildcats’ first official match this season took place on December 5th at 4:00pm, facing off Sacred Heart. Then, just a week later, on December 11th, the team will played Sacred Heart again for a rematch. Although the squash teams only have a few matches before break, come January the team will be hitting the courts constantly, with many opportunities for visitors to come watch and cheer on the players. With a full calendar ahead of matches and championships, the squash teams end the year at Nationals, a three day competition at the end of February. Some other things to look out for include the team’s competing in NYSAIS and FAA tournaments, both taking place in mid-February. 

This winter, the Girls Squash team is ready to have an exciting season filled with triumphs, challenges, and unforgettable moments.