Although the Colby women’s squash team finished its team season last weekend, the men’s season continued at Harvard University this past Saturday. The men came up short in the overall team competition but several players finished the season on a high note as they turned in strong performances.

During their first match of the weekend, the Mules faced 19th-ranked Bowdoin College. Despite some impressive individual results, the team ultimately fell in a heartbreaking 5-4 decision. In the consolation bracket, the Mules defeated Stanford University, 7-2, before falling to Columbia University, 5-4. 

Harry Smith ’12 in the number-one spot, Alex Fulton ’11 in the number-three spot and Pete Gabranski ’13 all went undefeated in the tournament. Smith earned glowing praise from his coach for his 11-2, 11-6, 11-5 win against Bowdoin. Coach Sakhi Khan said, “Harry continues to improve. He won all three of his matches and was never tested in the Nationals. He has been a great example for the team and has been the best number one we've seen.”

Smith’s performance, both in this tournament and over the course of the season, earned him his second consecutive team most valuable player award. This marks the first time that the number-one player has recorded the most wins for the team in two consecutive seasons.

Senior captain Fulton also turned in a solid final performance, winning in four games against his Bowdoin opponent before taking that momentum into the matches against Stanford and Columbia. Khan also had kind words for his captain, praising his fitness and mental toughness and commenting that the team will certainly miss his consistency in the third position next season. 

The last player to finish the weekend with a spotless record was Gabranski in the number-nine slot. “Gabranski is one of the best number nines we've had; he has proved he is one of the fittest squash players in the lineup,” said Coach Khan. Gabranski showed off his toughness in a five-game marathon match that ended in a nail-biting 12-10 game.

Now that the team season has finished, both the men and women will look to have good showings at the Individual Intercollegiate Championships next weekend in Hanover, N.H.