Placing third at NISRA tournament, Yale avenges loss to Princeton

The Bulldogs' victory over Princeton last weekend in the National Intercollegiate Squash Racquets Association (NIRSA) Championship tournament was sweet revenge. Following a disappointing 4-5 regular season loss at the hands of the Tigers, the Bulldogs entered the weekend prepared and hoping for an opportunity to face Princeton again.

MELISSA GARREN/YH Men's squash ended its season with a tremendous victory over Princeton.

Yale easily defeated Western Ontario 7-2 in the first round of competition on Fri., Feb. 23, winning in straight sets in all seven matches. The following day, however, the Bulldogs did not fare quite so well. Facing Trinity, the tournament's eventual champion, Yale lost 9-0, with a mere three players winning a game.

Despite the loss to Trinity, the Bulldogs rebounded on Sun., Feb. 25, when they not only capitalized on an opportunity to place third overall in the tournament, but also avenge their earlier Princeton loss. In the end, Yale won by one close match, topping Princeton 5-4. For the Elis, Ryan Byrnes, PC '04, A.J. McCrery, JE '04, Josh Baren-baum, CC '01, and Freddy Bouchardy, BK '01, won in positions six through nine, respectively.

Rounding out the victories was Peter Grote's, SM '02, win at the No. 2 position in an intense rematch from earlier in the season. Grote came back from a 2-0 deficit against Will Evans '03 to win the match 3-2 and clinch a Yale victory.

"The win over Princeton confirmed that Yale squash is officially back," Grote said. "The six seniors had a lot to do with this— their freshman year marked a turning point for our program, and each successive year there has been tremendous improvement."

Although Yale graduates six seniors, a host of underclassmen and returning talent remains to fill their shoes. "Hopefully the younger guys will realize that they are good enough to be the best, and with enough work and belief in themselves, they really can do it," Barenbaum said.

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