Crystal Springs’ Rohan Valia, right, in his opening-round match against St. Paul’s School.
Playing in the Division 1 bracket, the Gryphons won the consolation title to finish ninth at the U.S. High School Team Championships.
A year ago, a squash team representing Crystal Springs Uplands School made its debut in the U.S. High School Team Championships tournament in Philadelphia. The eight-member Gryphons squad finished sixth in Division 2 and 22nd overall.
The Gryphons returned to the High School Team Championships at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut that began last Friday. This time, however, Crystal Springs was placed in Division 1 — meaning they were one of the top 16 teams in the nation.
All the members of the Crystal Springs squad are ranked players on the juniors circuit, which helped them get slotted into the Division 1 bracket. Rob Cannone, Crystal Springs coach/administrator who also serves as the school’s middle school athletic director, said the team turned over half its roster from last season, but had even better talent join the team this season.
“We were better this year,” Cannone said.
That overall strength helped the Gryphons to the consolation championship of the Division 1 tournament, giving then an overall finish of No. 9 in the nation.
“It feels awesome. Our goal heading in was top 10,” said Udai Pal, Crystal Springs’ senior captain who was making his second appearance in the national team tournament. “[Division 1] was a huge jump in competition. The matches were so much closer. The squash was a whole other level. The intensity in Division 1 is miles more intense than Division II.”
The first match against St. Paul’s School proved that out, as four of the seven matches went the distance, five sets, with the Gryphons going 2-2: Arav Bhagwati and Shivin Kumar each won their matches, while Kunal Valia and Rohan Valia dropped theirs.
Pal won his No. 1 singles match in straight sets, but St. Paul’s School got win at No. 6 and No. 7 to pull out a 4-3 victory.
“Our first match, I think people were a little [nervous],” Pal said. “As we went on, we settled down.”
The initial loss sent Crystal Springs, the only team West of the Mississippi Cannone said, into the consolation bracket, where the Gryphons would win three straight to win the consolation title. They picked up their first win of the tournament by beating St. Ann’s NYL, 5-2. Pal, Bhagwati and Kumar all won their second matches — Bhagwati and Kumar in straight sets, while Pal needed a fourth set to post his win.
Rohan Valia and Himu Pannu each picked up their first wins of the tournament as Crystal Springs advanced to the consolation bracket semifinals.
The Gryphons advanced to the finals after beating McDonogh 5-2. Crystal Springs dropped the first two matches at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, but they won their final five matches to move into the consolation final.
Waiting for them there was Bronxville Varsity A, with the Gryphons holding on for a 4-3 victory. Three of the matches went five sets, with Crystal Springs going 2-1 in those matches, with Kunal Valia and Shivin Kumar pulling out the victories.
The Gryphons other two wins in the final came from Bhagwati and Rohan Valia.
The Gryphons definitely had one of the smaller rooting sections — considering it was comprised of the eight players and some chaperones.
But Pal said the atmosphere just made the whole experience a great one.
“The atmosphere is crazy. All your teammates cheering you on,” Pal said. “This is really the only time we compete as a team. … Playing for your teammates and the name of your school on the front of your shirt, it’s something not a lot of us have experienced before.”
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