Girls Squash by Bob York
front: Caroline Kjorlein, Tori Dewey (captain), Carey Danforth, Samantha Chai back: Karinne Heise, Lindsey Dewey, Abby Ingrassia, Emily Jones, Addie Fulton, Katie Swindell Missing: Hunter Sechrest
12
Spring 2012
Jeff Brown
along albany road
OFF THE WALL
Less than 48 hours had elapsed since their season came to a close, and the Big Green walked away from the New England Prep School Girls Squash Tournament with a silver medal in hand . . . but by Tuesday afternoon the offseason was already over for some, as a handful of players made their way back to Deerfield’s Dewey Squash Center to get ready for next year. “It only took me two days to get back here . . . I’m usually good for at least a week between seasons,” quipped Tori Dewey, one of a half-dozen players who were on hand. This visit, however, was probably more for reflection on the past than preparation for the future. Dewey, who was this year’s team captain, was the lone senior on the roster and was thinking what every four-year player would probably be thinking at that particular moment: “I can’t believe I’m leaving.” Next winter Dewey will be playing squash for the Big Green of Dartmouth, but she certainly helped leave a winning legacy at Deerfield. The team reached the medals podium at the New England tournament all four years with Dewey on board—earning one gold medal, a pair of silvers, and a bronze, and back-to-back second-place showings at the Nationals the past two years. “Tori had an outstanding season, both as a player and as a team leader,” said Coach Karinne Heise. “She’s totally dedicated to the sport . . . she worked hard during the summer and fall and took her game to a new level. In fact, her game improved so much that she moved from the number five slot to the number two slot, and at this level of squash, that’s a huge jump.” Dewey’s improvement was pretty much a necessity this season, because Deerfield lost three of its top six players from last year’s title team to graduation, including its top two players, who just happen to be Dewey’s cousins: Hallie and Charlotte Dewey. There were other pieces of the puzzle that had to fit into place as well for this team to have a successful season—and they did. Emily Jones ’13, whom Heise hailed as “a very strong player, who worked hard during the offseason to improve her game,” moved up to number one from number three, “and was simply outstanding,” while newcomer Samantha Chai ’15 took over the third spot and won her division at the New England tournament. Another rookie, Carey Danforth ’14, hit it off at number four and placed second at the New Englands, as Addie Fulton ’14 won the fifth spot and finished second at the New England tourney, as well. Hunter Sechrest ’13 was sixth and another silver medalist at the New Englands, while Tori’s sister, Lindsey Dewey ’14, was number seven, and won her bracket at the NE meet. Rounding out the roster were number eight Caroline Kjorlien ’13, number nine Abby Ingrassia ’13, and number ten Katie Swindell ’14. Despite losing nearly half of her starters to graduation, including Hallie Dewey, which meant losing the services of one of the premier players in her age bracket throughout the entire country, Heise wasn’t surprised one bit that her charges finished second in New England. “I knew how hard everyone had worked on improving their game prior to the season,” said the Big Green mentor, “and the new kids picked up the slack. I also knew Greenwich (Academy) would be tough to beat, however, they just had too many of their veterans returning.”