SquashTalk >CSA > 03-04 Princeton Womens Squash

CSA 03-04 Previews

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Women's 03-04 Season Outlook:
The 2003-04 season for Princeton Women’s Squash program has started with a bang as it brings a bright and shining group of new faces that will add a much-needed punch to the Tiger’s line-up. After a third place finish (a three-way tie with Penn and Dartmouth) in Ivy League play and placing number six nationally, head coach Gail Ramsay is looking to energize the returning players and integrate a bunch of talented recruits into an aggressive and more competitive team.

“I think this team has great potential and we plan to work hard to make a move up in the rankings. I have seen good things so far in our pre-season preparation from both the returning and incoming players. They are working well together and motivating each other to reach the next level. We are coming off a .500 season, which is not something we are used to at Princeton, and I am optimistic this team will be able to improve on that. I am very excited and look forward to a great year.”

The Tigers lost only two players in the top 10 to graduation, co-captains Helen Smith and Jen Shingleton. The recruited Class of 2007 brings some real challenges to the returning top 10 players, and all of them will be fighting for a spots in the starting line-up. The Tigers will be lead by co-captains Annie Rein-Weston ‘04 and Tricia Gadsden ’05, who will contribute upper-classmen experience and leadership; this combined with their outstanding work ethic should be a vital component in the success of this squad.

At No.1 for the Princeton team last season was Ruchika Kumar ’06, who took over the number one spot following Julia Beaver’s departure. Ruchika finished up as the number six ranked CSA player and is determined to improve on last year’s performance. Ruchika says "I have very high expectations for our team this year. We have amazing incoming freshman who will really raise the overall skill level, as well as exceptional team leadership coming from the returning players. Our team is fit, hard working, motivated and very determined and I am confident we will achieve all the goals we set out for ourselves this season."

Other key players returning from last season are juniors Franny McKay, Anne Warner, and Francie Comey, and sophomore Rebecca Shingleton. Together with junior Casey Degan, and seniors Elizabeth Johnson and Caroline Yao, they will compete to secure a spot on the travel and competition squad.

Says Ramsay “I think the season will start with some very hard-fought challenge matches, which will prepare us for some tough matches against both league and non-league opponents. Our pre-season fitness test showed that everyone has come in fitter this fall then last fall and I am sure this was due to awareness of the challenge posed by newcomers to the squad.” The class of 2007 consists of Claire Rein-Weston (Seattle, WA), Ali Pearson (Philadelphia, PA), Gen Lessard (Montreal, Canada), Marilla Hiltz (Brooklyn, NY), Anina Nolan (New York, NY), Martha Kelley (Philadelphia, PA), and Alex Day (Greenwich, CT).

PLAYER BRIEFS
Annie Rein-Weston ‘04 brings a lot of collegiate match experience to her senior year in the Princeton program, which she will be able to draw on in her role as a team leader. Having been often outgunned at times in her first three years, playing any where from 1-4 in the line-up, she should be able to use the competition provided by a more well-balanced squad to end her career on a winning note.

Tricia Gadsden ’05 improved significantly last season, particularly in her court coverage, and showed the Princeton team what hard work, organization, and diligence can do to improve your game. Her example will be a key factor in helping this year’s team to develop and grow.

Franny McKay ‘05 showed some real improvement in technique in the 2002-03 season, and her level of commitment and determination is unquestionable. If she can continue that improvement and stays fit , she will be able to make an important contribution to the team in match play.

Francie Comey ’05 is possibly the best competitor on the team, and was a huge inspiration in several key matches last season. Provided she can continue to survive and overcome the problems posed by injuries, her approach to match play and her competitive heart and determination will be a real asset to the team.

Claire Rein Weston ’07 comes to Princeton from Seattle, Washington. She joins her sister Annie as a member of the Princeton varsity. “Claire is coming off a great junior career where she represented the U.S. at the Junior Women’s World Championships in Cairo in August, 2003. I enjoyed watching Claire compete in junior events over the past season, she showed real heart in all of her matches and is one of the most competitive players out there,” Coach Ramsay explains. “She reached the third round (at the World Championships) of the individuals with some very impressive wins (over Claire Kidd, Scotland, and Sally Looi, Malaysia). The US team placed 10th overall.”

Marilla Hiltz ’07 is a graduate of the Brooklyn Heights Casino Junior program. She was a top ranking junior in the U.S. and a consistent participant in the U.S. Squads events, but just missed securing a spot on the national team this last summer. Her physical attributes have helped her develop an attacking style of play that keeps her opponents under constant pressure.

Genevieve Lessard ’07 is from Montreal, Canada and is starting her undergraduate studies in engineering at Princeton. She was a finalist in the U.S. Junior Olympics U17 last year and has played internationally over the past two seasons. She is still eligible for the Girls U19 and plans to hit several big junior squash events including the Canadian Open, U.S. Junior Olympics, and British Junior Open. Genevieve is looking forward to the coming season, “I am excited for the next season because it will be the first time that I play on a team. I have always trained on my own and played individual tournaments.”

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