Pragun Seth ’25 wins against his Exeter opponent.
Andover 6-1 Exeter
This past week, Boys Squash faced two highly-anticipated challenges: the High School National Championships in Philadelphia and a rivalry match against Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter). Despite a challenging draw at Nationals, the team fought hard to place 13th overall before returning home to dominate Exeter 6-1 the following Wednesday.
Prior to Nationals Andover was seeded 11th. However, when Boys Squash began the tournament against the sixth seed Deerfield, it lost 5-2 and pushed the team into the ninth-16th place bracket. Later that day, the team also lost in a close 3-4 match against Mercersburg, before winning its remaining games against Choate and Pingree.
“This weekend, we took a seven-hour trip to Philadelphia and played some of the best teams in the nation. We faced a strong Deerfield squad and, despite tough matches, lost 5-2. After spending all day in the squash center, we played another late-night match and, due to sheer exhaustion, lost again. But after that, we won the rest of our matches and finished 13th overall,” said Corey Shen ’26.
Although the team finished below its original seeding, spirits remained high. Thanks to teammates and parents who continued to cheer each game, despite being so far from home, the team felt supported throughout the tournament.
“I didn’t feel like we were out of place. I was really happy that many of our players’ parents came and provided us with snacks, water, and energy drinks. Even though we were away from home, it felt like we were cared for. We also matched the energy of teams with bigger crowds, cheering for each other every step of the way,” said Shen.
Despite the absence of Co-Captain Avery Lin ’25 due to an ACL tear, the team stayed mentally sharp and used Lin’s injury as motivation to push forward. Shen praised Co-Captain Will Weissman ’25, who ended his Nationals losing streak with a five-set win against Deerfield.
“Our other captain, Avery Lin, suffered a bad injury, which made the team nervous, especially for Will. He’s a great player, and losing him impacted our ability to compete, but we fought for him on the court and kept him in our thoughts. [Weissman] stepped up, played a really close match, and flipped the script on his five-set losses. His opponent was being a jerk on and off the court, so we were all thrilled when Will pulled through,” said Shen.
Aaron Bai ’27 praised Alex Yang ’26, who won the deciding game against Choate. In Yang’s match, he came back from an 8-3 deficit in three separate games, showing incredible resilience under pressure.
“Alex Yang helped us secure our win against Choate in a very tight game. He came back in three separate games from being down 8-3 to eventually win all three, so that was pretty good to see,” said Bai.
After Nationals, Boys Squash refocused on its rivalry match against Exeter, delivering a dominant 6-1 win. It was an emotional and passion-driven match, as Franklin Kozol ’27, in his first A/E appearance, selflessly gave up his No. 7 spot to let a senior teammate compete in his final A/E match.
“On a team and in life, you can’t always put yourself first. In squash, you’re playing alone but also representing your team. I gave up my seventh spot, so a Senior could play his last match, and that’s just part of what makes a strong team. There was definitely a lot of cheering, especially for the seniors. If it had been at home, I think more people would have come to watch, but the energy was still there,” said Kozol.
With Nationals and the Exeter match behind them, the team is now focused on the New England Championships in Newport. The team faces a demanding schedule, balancing matches, schoolwork, and finals preparation, but remains determined to finish the season strong.
“After four matches in three days, plus Exeter, it’s been a lot, especially with finals coming up. When we’re not playing squash, eating, or sleeping, we’ll be working. I love Newport; it’s one of my favorite places ever. Winning that challenge match gave me the extra push to make sure I got to go back,” said Kozol.
With Nationals behind them and a decisive victory over Exeter, Boys Squash enters New Englands with confidence, aiming to close out the season on a high note.
