By Divit Gupta and August Zangrilli, Staff Reporters
Following an intense final, the JV boys squash players gathered together in an emotional huddle, celebrating their hard-fought victory. The win marked a significant moment for the team.
From Jan. 24-26, the boys’ JV squash team competed in the 2025 National Interscholastic Team Squash Championships at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in Philadelphia, winning first place. This success came after a series of wins throughout the season.
Competing in a pool of teams from across the country, the Pioneers battled through matches that tested the team’s endurance. Sophomore and player Calvin Kan viewed the team’s strategy as critical to its success before entering the championship.
“None of us had competed in this tournament before, so we all tried to come in with a fresh mind, and making sure we got through it as a team, because we weren’t sure of the skill level of the teams we were playing,” Kan said.
While Conestoga has participated in Interscholastics before, this year’s championships marked its first-ever win.
Junior Andrew Galka highlighted how he adapted his mindset to find success in his matches. He stressed the importance of staying focused and maintaining a positive attitude.
“The way the matches were set up, if I was down a game, I could just reset my mental state so that I could win the next match,” Galka said.
Kan emphasized that players consistently pushed each other both on and off the court. He believes that the team’s unity played a crucial role in its success.
“Squash is a very individual sport, but our cheering on the sides and the support from our teammates was not only motivating for our players but also demoralizing for the opponent,” Kan said. “One of our main strategies was to cheer as loud as possible so that our support could be heard by everybody.”
Echoing this sentiment, Galka attributed the team’s high placement to a supportive environment.He viewed the team’s culture of supporting one another as essential in building confidence and motivation throughout the matches and during the competition.
“I feel that everyone is really supportive, and if you are struggling with a specific skill, then people are always willing to help because everyone is willing to improve,” Galka said.
Kan observed that the team consistently refined its approach to adapt to various challenges. He reflected on his performance at the competition and noted areas for improvement moving forward next season.
“I think I could have been more aggressive with how I played,” Kan said. “It wasn’t dramatic enough to make me lose a match, but I will definitely have to become more offensive in my future matches because I will be playing against better players.”
The victory at the Interscholastic competition has paved the way for the JV teams’ future accomplishments. Coach Jeremie Fischer believes that the team’s commitment to continuous improvement will be key to its continued success.
“I think that in the future this experience will help the players understand how important it is to individually put in the work for the best of the team,” Fischer said. “I’m confident the ’Stoga squash program will remain competitive and keep growing to reach higher divisions to compete in.”
Divit Gupta can be reached at [email protected].
