Ally Snyder '28
Dec 12, 2025
Last weekend, Mercersburg Academy hosted the Thomas Flanagan Invitational at the Davenport Squash Center. Both the girls and boys squash teams faced high-ranking programs from across the country. Head coach Dom Benequista noted the high stakes of the tournament, saying, “We obviously wanted to defend our title in this tournament.”
The boys team delivered, not losing a single game on their way to a repeat championship. The girls battled hard and finished fourth out of six teams.
Each team has grown and changed over the last year. Riley Choi ‘28, a captain on the girls' team, said: “Last year's team was better than this year's because many of the best players graduated. This year, the team will be almost developmental.” Sarah Howley ‘26 added, “We are not as strong as last year, but we can still win some for sure. We know we have to step up, and I think that challenge is bringing us closer as a team.”
The boys' team, on the other hand, has only gotten stronger. Dior Mitchell ’26, a captain of the boys team, said, “We lost a few pieces, but I think we got deeper from our new recruits.” Sid Shah ’26, the other boys captain, continued, “The team is looking better than last year; we’ve got a lot more depth.”
The chemistry on the squash courts is unparalleled. Benequista explained: “A lot of the
players worked all fall together, and within our practice, the girls and guys mix in, so it's not really two separate teams. They really support each other.” Audrey Hua ‘26 agreed, saying, “It doesn’t feel like there's a hierarchy, it just feels like a very supportive environment to be in.” The players all around seem to agree that the program is supportive. Rayyan Khan ‘27 added, “Everyone has good connections, and we all carry each other through hard times.”
To prepare for the invitational, the teams worked hard together every practice. Choi said, “The boys' varsity team has been helping us, feeding us balls.” Mitchell continued, “We’ve been staying consistent, doing tempos, trying to bond as a team.”
The squash players entered the tournament with enthusiasm and anticipation. Khan explained, “My goal for the team [was] just to work hard, give our best, and stay connected.”
The idea of prioritizing effort and improvement over results is common amongst the players. Hua added, “For me, even if I don’t win my matches, I want to learn from my opponents.”
Benequista summarized the goal of the program as a whole: “I hope that all of them just enjoy it. That everyone wants to come back the year after. If they look forward to it, year after year, that's what we're looking for.”