In spite of two tough losses against Choate and Taft last Saturday, the Andover Boys squash team is steadily improving as the season progresses. The team looks for more success going forward as younger payers gain more match experience. Hunter Schlacks ’11 said, “We are gaining team unity and some players are getting close to victories. The matches are becoming closer, and the team is improving.” Last Saturday the team traveled to Choate to face Choate and Taft. Andover lost 7-0 in both matches but look to gain valuable experience from the losses. Lack of conditioning was Andover’s downfall. Coach Tom Hodgson said, “Choate’s young team was fitter than ours after our longer layoff. In the second round matches against Taft, our relative lack of conditioning came into play as we lost tough 5 game matches with Luke Hanson ’11 and TJ Lenzo ’12.” Schlacks forced Choate’s number 1 player to work for his win with excellent volleying skills. The Taft seed used his understanding of how to shift from defense to offense to defeat Captain Jared Curtis ’11. Andover’s lack of experience combined with a lack of conditioning proved too tough to overcome. The team has played three matches this season and has 12 left to go. Schlacks said, “We have a new, young team, so it will take time, but people are moving better, getting into better shape and playing more intelligently.” The three schools that Andover has played so far including Tabor, have talented and experienced squash teams. The major goal for this season is improvement. Coach Hodgson said, “To earn better results we need to upgrade our basic strokes, our movement, our decision-making, our squash IQ and our conditioning Wednesday’s match against Deerfield was cancelled due to the weather conditions, but Andover is eager to prove itself against Groton this Friday. Following the Groton match Andover will square off with the Middlesex School on their home court. The match will begin at 1:00 p.m.
