BOYS SQUASH

KENT, CT--A modified boys' varsity squash team traveled to the far reaches of Connecticut to face off against the Fighting Episcopalians. Choate gave its top three players the day off and drafted JV team members Charlie Depman '06, Chip Robie '06, and Gray Sanders '06 to round out the squad. As was hoped, the modified ladder created much more exciting matches from top to bottom. Chip Robie's thrilling five-game match ended up a gut-wrenching 9-10 loss in the final game, though Chip certainly improved dramatically as the match went on. Elsewhere, Mac Bartels '04 claimed a 3-1 victory after he was able to adjust to playing on the narrow courts and Yuhwon Lee '04 was victorious 3-0. When the second round of play began, Choate held a 2-1 match lead, but the second wave of matches ended any Kent hopes of an upset. Eliot Reitz '04, Charlie Depman '06, and Gray Sanders '06 all managed 3-0 wins in their matches, effectively sealing the match by giving the visitors a 5-1 lead in the team scoring. In the marquee number one match-up, Abe Chiang lost to a feisty Kent lefty, 1-3. So, the long trip ended successfully, as the Wild Boars were able to secure the first win of the season, 5-2.

WALLINGFORD, CT--Two of Choate's players, seniors Mike Gelinas and Yuhwon Lee, were down with illness, so the Choate crew that took to the courts knew that already tough matches were going to be that much tougher. In the day's first match against Loomis, Jack Fennebresque '04 and Mac Bartels '04 managed the team's two wins: Jack in three games and Mac in four. Elsewhere, Choate struggled to match the Pelicans' depth, but Eliot Reitz battled hard in a close 2-3 loss to his opponent. In the second match of the day, Choate defeated Tabor Academy. An ailing Pat Phelan '04 lost at number 1, but the rest of the Choate players were able to dispatch their Tabor counterparts. Of particular note was Abe Chiang's 3-2 victory over a Seawolf, which included a 9-7 final game. Choate now turns its attention to its final match before Christmas, against league powerhouse Brunswick.

WALLINGFORD, CT--Choate lost to Brunswick 5-2 today, which in many ways is an encouraging result.  Each of the last two years, Choate has failed to take a single match from this perennial powerhouse of squash, losing 7-0 in each of the last four matches.  Today’s two victories came in the number six and number seven matches.  Eliot Reitz ‘04, playing number seven, used a combination of tenacious hustle and consistent play to defeat his Brunswick counterpart 3-1 in games.  At number six, fellow senior Mac Bartels ‘04 fought to the bitter end, winning in a tie-breaker, 10-8, in the fifth and final game.  While the rest of the matches ended in losses, each Choate player bravely contested each and every point.

WALLINGFORD, CT-Choate lost to a strong Taft team today by the score of 0-7.  Though the match score looks one-sided, the actual play on the courts was quite even and exciting, featuring long rallies and some tough games.  In the number seven match, Eliot Reitz ‘04 once again demonstrated his tenacity by taking his opponent all the way to a fifth game.  Though he dropped the last game 7-9, Eliot played very hard and improved immeasurably throughout the match.  Everywhere else on the ladder, every player battled hard for every point.  Mike Gelinas ‘04 won his first game 9-6 on the strength of good hustle and smart shots, but his Taft opponent wore him down in the second game and was then able to win the match.  “We played much better today than we did this past weekend,” said Coach Morris.  “It was unfortunate that we had to face one of the toughest teams in the league on a day when we played so much better, but every player got better today.  We’ll get some more good experience this weekend during our 5-man tournament, then attack the rest of our schedule.”

WALLINGFORD, CT--Choate won two matches in convincing fashion today, beating both Suffield Academy and Millbrook School without dropping a single game.  Of particular note was the nearly flawless play of Eliot Jia ‘06, who in two matches only surrendered one point to one of his opponents.  “It was nice to notch a couple of wins today,” said Coach Morris.  “Next week features three matches, so we’ll be busy, and we’ll try to keep the winning streak going!”

WALLINGFORD, CT--The middle of the ladder carried Choate today in a 5-2 victory over visiting Hotchkiss School.  Hotchkiss has had a very strong number one player for the last four years, who this year may be one of the very best in New England.  Pat Phelan battled gamely, but the control just wasn’t there today, and he fell in three games.  Mike Gelinas, Jack Fennebresque, Mac Bartels and Abe Chiang all won in 3 games, thus securing the match with four wins for the team.  Eliot Jia dropped his first game 1-9, but thanks to terrific retrieving and good shot-making, he battled back to take the second game 9-7.  His opponent exhausted, Eliot took control of the match and won the next two games 9-1 and 9-0.  At number 7, Eliot Reitz ran into a feisty Hotchkiss opponent who was able to control play at the front of the court.  Eliot could never find a comfortable rhythm, and so dropped the match.  “Every match this year challenges us in one way or another,” said Coach Morris, “but during every match, we get better.  This weekend’s two contests against Belmont Hill and Andover loom large, so we’ll have to be ready to play our best.”

SIMSBURY, CT--Choate traveled to Westminster School for a double-dual match against visiting northern schools Belmont Hill and Andover.  In the first match of the afternoon, Choate lost to Belmont Hill 1-6.  Belmont Hill’s top four players were all quite good, but Mac Bartels ‘04 played some terrific squash to beat his opponent in three games.  While the rest of the team dropped their matches, Eliot Reitz ‘04 and Angelo Coclanis ‘05 battled gamely in 5 set slug-fests, only to drop the fifth games.

In the second match of the afternoon, Choate faced off against Andover for the second time this season.  In their first meeting, at Andover, Choate lost 1-6, but thanks to several peak performances Choate took this second meeting 4-3.  The first round of matches were the even spots on the ladder.  Eliot Jia ‘06, playing number 6, dropped the first game 7-9, but adjusted his game well and took the next three games to earn a 3-1 match victory.  At number four, Bartels took the first game 9-2, but his left-handed opponent had the better of him in the latter games of the match.  Bartels lost 1-3.  At number 2, Michael Gelinas ‘04 had his back to the wall in the fourth game.  Already down 2-1 in games, Mike trailed 8-5 in the fourth game.  He fought off six match points to bring the game to a tie-breaker, before winning it 10-8. Mike then took the fifth game convincingly to give Choate a 2-1 match lead after the first round.  In the second round of matches, an ailing Abe Chiang ‘04 lost his match at number 5, and Eliot Reitz ‘04, perhaps tired from his long first match, lost at number 7.  So, now down 2 matches to Andover’s 3, Choate needed wins at positions 1 and 3 to take the match.  Jack Fennebresque ‘04 won his match 3-1, at number 3.  Jack played very well, especially after coming off minor toe surgery last week, to knot the match at 3-3, with the number one match left to play.  As both teams gathered to watch the final match, Pat Phelan won his first game 9-5 and then lost the second game 8-10.  With both teams hanging on every shot, Pat dropped the third game 9-10, but his scrambling, aggressive play took its toll on his opponent.  Pat took the fourth game 9-7, again thanks to some terrific retrieving, to bring the fate of the entire match to a decisive fifth game.  Pat had already done the hard work, though, and his exhausted opponent barely put up a fight in the fifth game.  So, Pat won 3-2 to give the team a 4-3 win.  “Today’s win was the most exciting team win in recent memory,” said Coach Morris.  “Everyone contributed to the win against Andover, whether by winning a match, or by supporting their teammates.  What a day for Choate Boys Squash!”

WALLINGFORD, CT--Choate notched another great team victory Thursday afternoon, defeating a talented Rye Country Day School team 4-3.  Rye’s top three players were impressive, handing defeats to Pat Phelan, Mike Gelinas, and Jack Fennebresque.  Jack battled gamely with his opponent, taking the match to a fifth game, but his opponent came up with great shots to take the match in five.  It was Choate’s depth, then, that carried the match today, as the bottom five all won their matches.  Mac Bartels won in four games at number 4, in what was an impressive performance.  Eliot Jia, Abe Chiang and Angelo Coclanis all played great matches as well.  Eliot Reitz, playing in the exhibition slot today, also turned in an impressive result, winning all three games 9-0.  “Today was a great team win,” said Coach Morris.  “Rye was strong at the top, but our depth allowed us to carry the day.”