New Canaan Country School Squash Teams Top 5 In Nation

NEW CANAAN, CT — From New Canaan Country School: The New Canaan Country School girls' squash team earned a fourth place national ranking following three days of hard-fought matches in the 2018 U.S. Middle School Team Squash Championship held at Yale University Jan. 19-21. Seeded in Division 1, the seventh and eighth grade girls played a total of four matches, winning two.

“The girls battled with focus, energy, emotion, poise and enthusiasm while displaying tremendous sportsmanship,” said Head Coach Cynthia Badan. Members of the girls’ team included seventh graders Maeve Baker and Cece Salvatore, both of New Canaan, and eighth graders Mary Duffy of Darien, Amanda Miller of New Canaan and Ella Schoonmaker of Darien.

The boys’ squash team enjoyed success as well; placing third in the nation in Division II competition.

“The boys’ team has shown enormous improvement as both competitors and teammates since the beginning of our season and they should be proud of their individual accomplishments as well as how they represented Country School,” said Coach Badan who is assisted this season by Apprentice Teacher and Coach Madeleine Ker.

The boys’ team consisted of seventh graders Dean Ambrose of Rowayton and Parakram Karnik of New Canaan, and eighth graders Stanley Bright, Cody Comyns and Peter Miller, all of New Canaan.

The 11th annual tournament, although a national event open to all fifth through eighth grade teams, drew heavily from CT, PA, MA and MD with a total of 62 teams and 300 players competing. Country School varsity squash co-captains, ninth graders James Kontulis and Daly Baker, both of New Canaan, provided valuable leadership and support to their teammates in the days leading up to the contest, as well as during and following critical matches.

New Canaan Country School is a co-ed, independent, day school for students in Pre-K (ages 3 & 4) through Grade 9. Located on a 75-acre campus in New Canaan, the school offers transportation to families living throughout Fairfield and Westchester counties. For more information about the school and its athletics program, please visit www.countryschool.net.

Photo 1: New Canaan Country School athletes who earned fourth place Division II honors at the 11th annual U.S. Middle School Team Squash Championships held at Yale University included (from left to right): Stanley Bright (New Canaan), Dean Ambrose (Rowayton), Parakram Karnik (New Canaan), Peter Miller (New Canaan), James Kontulis (New Canaan) and Cody Comyns (New Canaan); Photo 2: New Canaan Country School athletes who earned fourth place in Division I honors at the 11th annual U.S. Middle School Team Squash Championships held at Yale University included (front row from left) Cece Salvatore (New Canaan), Maeve Baker (New Canaan); (in back row from left) Amanda Miller (New Canaan), Ella Schoonmaker (Darien) and Mary Duffy (Darien). Photo credit: New Canaan Country School