WashU ladies’s membership squash gained the Ebbs Cup this 12 months. (Courtesy of Olivia Stephan)
When sophomore Raina Patel entered the Arlen Specter US Squash Heart in Philadelphia on Feb. 16, she walked into her first ever squash event. Patel, who has solely performed squash for one semester, made her event debut on the School Squash Affiliation’s (CSA) ladies’s membership championship, referred to as the Epps Cup. Beside her stood her suitemate and shut buddy Olivia Stephan, the staff’s president and one in all its captains, who has performed the game for many of her life.
By the tip of the weekend, the 2 helped lead WashU ladies’s membership squash to a nationwide championship, one by years of apply and the opposite by her relentless power.
For Stephan, the nationwide championship was a chance to point out her prowess after years and years of enjoying squash. Stephan ended up going undefeated for the Bears over the weekend as one of many two top-ranked gamers on the staff, tied with junior Lily Levitsky.
“[Levitzky] is so nonchalantly good at squash,” Patel mentioned. “I didn’t know the way proficient she was till I noticed her play in opposition to different high seeded gamers. She is so easy when she performs and simply makes it look really easy. She will get probably the most insane photographs and you’ll actually simply inform that she has performed for years.”
The extent of dedication is mirrored in the entire staff. Levitsky is finding out overseas in Madrid this semester however flew again to Philadelphia for 4 days to compete at nationals — WashU paid for her airplane ticket. She landed, competed, after which went proper again to Spain after the event wrapped up.
Patel served in a special position for the staff. Her background is in badminton, and she or he didn’t have as a lot success on the courtroom as Stephan. Patel made her presence recognized by her unwavering help on the sidelines.
“Raina simply jumped proper in and didn’t even ask any questions,” Stephan mentioned. “She was the staff’s primary cheerleader and she or he introduced the power. It was nice, and we love her a lot for that.”
The membership squash staff had been constructing momentum for years, which culminated of their nationwide championship. Two years in the past, the Bears positioned fourth in the identical event, and so they positioned third final 12 months. Being within the Midwest poses the staff with one other problem. Most collegiate membership squash groups are positioned on the East Coast, so WashU doesn’t have many applications close to them that they’ll compete in opposition to. The Bears typically must journey for competitors. The CSA requires that groups play a minimal variety of matches, forcing the Bears to journey to cities like Chicago and Boston all year long. Their lack of varsity sources poses a number of challenges to the staff, nevertheless it didn’t cease them from rising to the event. This season, this system made an necessary funding by including a coach to their staff. The staff started working with coach Emma Charlton, a former top-20 participant on the earth from the UK, who now works in St. Louis attempting to develop the game of squash. Charlton attends one squash apply per week, bringing a degree of construction and depth to higher put together gamers.
“It was good to have somebody who’s been by the warmth of the second,” Patel mentioned. “[Charlton] provides us recommendation and suggestions after we want it most.”
Hiring and touring with a coach added one other factor that required elevated funding, particularly for a membership sport. The staff labored with the Scholar Union Treasury to safe funding, as they noticed teaching as essential to compete at the next degree. The Bears had been in a position to deliver Charlton with them to Philadelphia, which is the primary time they didn’t simply coach themselves at this competitors.
“I don’t suppose there was ever a doubt she would make it, so long as it was logistically possible,” Stephan mentioned. “This simply actually reveals the extent of dedication that our staff has to one another and the way a lot we need to succeed. As a result of if she hadn’t been there, we wouldn’t have gained.”
One other important staff member is latest graduate Lily Lippert, who has been the staff’s captain for 2 years. Lippert reveals as much as and runs each single apply. Even on days off, Lippert will textual content folks to go to the fitness center or apply hitting.
“Lily is so accessible and all the time placing within the time and inspiring others to do the identical,” Stephan mentioned. “I feel her degree of dedication has been actually extraordinary.”
Collectively, these people’ efforts replicate a staff that’s passionate and works exhausting for one another. This may be achieved by years of aggressive squash expertise, management in apply, or simply exhibiting up with power and enthusiasm, and every participant has contributed to the success of the staff in a particular approach. This has allowed this system to develop in each ability degree and their dedication to enchancment.
The staff is presently working to have their trophy on show within the Athletic Advanced to make their presence extra seen and celebrated within the broader WashU athletics neighborhood. Alongside their need to be celebrated for his or her accomplishments, the staff believes higher recognition may assist form this system’s future. As a membership sport, funding and recruitment are tied to the staff’s consciousness.
“We wish folks to come back to WashU understanding that there’s a membership staff, as a result of that’s how we construct our staff,” Stephan mentioned.
