Volume 115 >> Issue 11 : Tuesday, March 14, 1995

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JV Squash Coach Wickham Captures Mass State 'B' Title

Robert Wickham G, Junior Varsity Squash Coach, Graduate Student in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and former Varsity Squash player for MIT from 1989-1993, can now add another item to his list of accomplishments.

On the eve of March 6 he respectfully earned the title of Massachusetts ŒB' Hardball Squash Champion 1994­95 by defeating last year's champion, Richard Speer of the Beverly Squash Club, in a spectacular 3­2 victory: 10­15, 15­9, 15­18, 15­12, 15­10.

After coming off to a slow start and losing the first game, Robert came back strong to win the second game with conviction. The third game was quite close as Speer edged Wickham out to go up in games 2­1. Fighting exhaustion and pressure, Wickham relied on his mental toughness and grace under pressure to come back to win the next two games with poise, and claim the title.

With this victory, Wickham became the first MIT former undergraduate who has won a Mass State Championship in almost half a century.

On a related note, Carol Matsuzaki '95 competed in the U.S. Women's Intercollegiate Squash Rackets Association National Championships this past weekend, which were held at the University of Pennsylvania.

Although clearly the least experienced at the tournament, she represented MIT well and managed to come away with a respectable record of 1­2, losing to players from Dartmouth (9­0, 9­2, 9­5) and Harvard (9­6, 9­2, 9­0) and winning an exciting 4­game match against a player from Colby (7­9, 9­5, 9­7, 9­7.) This dynamic experience has inspired her to continue practicing the sport of squash.