As their season draws to a close, the Bates men’s squash team was back in action last week looking to rebound from a tough recent stretch of matches.
Ranked fourteenth in the nation, the men took on Bowdoin on Wednesday.
“I always love beating Bowdoin, it’s more than just a squash rivalry: it’s about pride over the Maine schools,” said sophomore Andy Cannon. “It’s great to go to Bowdoin and get the win on their courts.”
Led by freshman Ahmed Abdel Khalek, senior captain Walter Cabot, and freshman Filip Michalsky, the Bobcats made short work of the visiting Polar Bears by a decisive score of 8-1.
Abdel Khalek continued his stellar season by cruising to an 11-5, 11-1, 11-6 victory over Bowdoin No.1 Andrew Hilboldt.
“It is great to continue the streak of 22 consecutive wins against Bowdoin, were proud of the streak,” said Cannon.
Cabot and Michalsky were the other Bobcats to win straight set victories on the day; Cabot won 11-9, 11-4, 11-4 at No. 3, and Michalsky won 11-8, 11-7, and 11-8 at No. 6.
Following their win against Bowdoin, the men took the court for Senior Night on Friday night against Boston College.
“It was a very emotional night for everyone on the team to see such a large senior class and such a great group of kids wearing the uniform for the last time at home,” Cannon said.
The Bobcats rolled over the Eagles in their final home match of the season, easily closing out BC by a score of 9-0.
All five seniors won in the final home match of their career. Captain Walter Cabot, playing No. 1, won a four set decision.
“Nearing the end of my Bates squash career, the significance of winning in front of the home crowd on Senior Night is memorable,” said Cabot.
RJ Keating (No. 2), David Born (No. 7), Will Fearnley (No. 8), and Matt Ross (No. 9) were the other seniors who scored wins in the match. Keating, Born, and Fearnley won in straight sets, while Ross, in the Bates starting lineup for the first time, won his match 3-1.
“All five seniors were crucial parts to our team and such a large class will be missed,” Cannon said.
The Bobcats’ underclassmen also ran into little trouble on the way to the blowout win. Every underclassman won their match in straight sets.
Bates then headed down to Connecticut College on Saturday, and took care of twenty-third ranked Camels 6-3.
Bates swept the top five positions to clinch the match, with Abdel Khalek, junior Kristian Muldoon, Cabot, Keating, and Michalsky winning comfortably.
The men then ended their tough week with an incredibly tough match at Brown on Sunday.
Despite Abdel Khalek running his record at the No. 1 position to 11-1 on the season, Bates went down in a close 5-4 match.
Abdel Khalek won 3-0 for the 10th time on the season, taking his match 11-5, 11-6, 11-8.
Senior RJ Keating also won, winning his match at the No. 4 position in five games, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9, 11-13, 11-4.
Cabot went up 2-0 in his match before succumbing in five sets, 10-12, 8-11, 11-5, 13-11, 12-10.
After going 3-1 on the week, Bates moves to 9-8 on the season. Next up for the Bobcats is the NESCAC Championship, which begins this Friday at Trinity and Wesleyan. Bates’ opponent has yet to be determined.
