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St. Luke's Girls Varsity Squash: Season Preview
The St. Luke’s Girls Varsity Squash team heads into the 2018-19 season with a number of last year’s squad back to compete once again.
Head Coach Lucia Mathias also returns for her third year and is thrilled with the group of girls she has to work with. “The team looks really good,” she said. “We have very strong players at the top of the ladder combined with great depth. I hope the depth and the competition between the girls will push everyone to improve. I am very excited.”
Caroline Pellegrino ‘21 returns to play in the number one position with younger sister, Claire Pellegrino ‘24, slotting in as the number two. Mathias is eager to see what the pair can achieve. “Caroline is a very talented player and will win a lot of matches for us at number one. I think Claire is an excellent player but is still only in 7th grade so she is going to have some tough games against some kids who are much older than her. I believe she will rise to the challenge.”
The team will be captained by a third member of the Pellegrino family with senior Katherine leading this year’s squad alongside Kendall Boege ‘19. Mathias believes she has a perfect combination to help guide the team through the season. “I really like our two captains. They are two very different personalities but I think they will compliment each other very well," she said. "Katherine is very bubbly, and I think she will help bring the team together on a social level. Kendall is very driven and when it comes to the fitness she is always pushing the team and really puts the girls to work.”
Girls Varsity Squash has added three new players in Lucy Ehlers ‘21, Kathleen Ehlers ‘21, and Caitlin Neafsey ‘22. Mathias has been impressed with what she has seen from the trio during preseason. “All three girls are very athletic and have worked very hard," she said. "I am confident they will continue to improve and really help the team this season.”
Mathias says her team is focused and ready to implement some changes she believes will catapult St. Luke’s Squash to a new level: “I have three things I really want the team to focus on this year. I absolutely want a great serve and return, and this is going to be the bread and butter of St. Luke’s Girls Squash. I also want the girls to really hit the ball hard and get the ball deep to help us win points. The final focus point is always getting back to the middle of the court. We have to get used to picking up everything and going back to the middle of the court. If we can get these things right the results will come.”
St. Luke’s opened up with an impressive 5-2 win against New Canaan High School on Tuesday, December 4, but Mathias is looking at more than just wins and losses this campaign. “One of our major goals is to enable the players to always give their best and to have a cohesive team. We have had a great start and I believe our captains are going to help us achieve this goal,” she said.
Next Up: Girls Varsity Squash is back o the courts on Wednesday, December 12, when the team hosts Sacred Heart School at 5:15pm.
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 35 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Center for Leadership builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
