For Immediate Release
March 4, 2008
Wellesley Sports Information
Wellesley's Sarah Odell Competes at CSA Individual Championships
PRINCETON, NJ – This weekend I had the privilege of traveling down to the CSA Individual Championships at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Held one week after the Howe Cup National Team Championships, Individuals are an opportunity for a select group of college squash players to compete against others who they may not see during a given season. At the end of the weekend, the CSA ranking committee gathers for the final time of the season to rank those who have competed individually.
On Thursday afternoon I arrived in Annapolis with Coach Wendy Berry and far too much luggage. After checking into our hotel, we headed over to the courts at the Naval Academy. The courts were already busy, even though competition would not begin until Friday morning. Dartmouth, Trinity and Harvard were practicing on the glass back courts in Halsey Field House while the Navy Midshipmen were all gathered around the all glass court set up in the middle of their track. Will Pappas, a junior at the Naval Academy and good friend, agreed to be my drilling partner for the evening. After an hour and a half of hard work, Coach and I headed out for dinner and then sleep, as I had a 9:00 a.m. match the next morning.
My first round match was against Bates’ Hannah Laverty. Bates was not on our schedule this season, so I only knew what to expect by reputation. Bates had finished fourth in the B division at the Howe Cup and usually had a stellar and deep ladder. I knew my match was going to be tough. Coach sensed my nervousness and pulled me aside before the start of the match. “Just play a good, tight game,” she said, “put her in the back. And have fun!” I was able to put Laverty in the back, but she had a killer drop shot that seemed to continually find its way into the nick. I lost to Laverty 9-2, 9-2, 9-2.
Day two brought me face to face with one of my toughest and favorite competitors of the season. Kate Whitesell, of Smith College, always challenged both my endurance and court sense. Each time we played through the season, we went to five games. Saturday proved to be no different, as Kate and I found ourselves at 2-2 going into game five. We pushed each other into back corners, twisting and turning with each cross court. There seemed a moment in the fifth when I thought I had her at 5-5. But Kate pulled away, and won the final game 9-5.
For the next day and a half I had the opportunity to cheer for friends on other teams, catch up with people I had attended high school with and see some amazing squash. Annapolis is a beautiful town and the Naval Academy was a great venue. I know that I have much to work on before next season, but I feel that I learned a lot and got to play some great squash this past weekend.