The Baldwin School's 2016-17 Varsity Squash Team
Bottom Row left to right: Sumi Mudgil (12), Alexis Shatzman (10), Saachi Singh (9), Angela Yang (11) Top Row left to right: Maansi Mudgil (11), Sara Syed (11), Grace Steelman (11), Pallavi Sreedhar (12), Meghna Sreedhar (9)
BRYN MAWR, PA—The Baldwin Polar Bears are calm, cool, collected and ready to reclaim their National Title against a familiar foe.
The Baldwin Varsity squash team remained undefeated this season winning their 7th Inter-Ac title in the last 8 years.
Baldwin finished their regular season with a 9-0 win over Agnes Irwin this past Tuesday. Tuesday’s match was geared to getting both teams ready for MASA this weekend and Nationals beginning Feb. 10th.
“This match sharpened them up a little bit,” said Agnes Irwin head coach Alex Stait about his team after the match. “If we can get through a couple of rounds then maybe we can play these guys in the final. They are a great team (Baldwin), so we have a lot of work to do.”
Baldwin Senior Co-Captain Sumi Mudgil (Stanford) talks about the difference in her team this year.
Baldwin, whose ranked #2 in the nation, has some incredible stats.
Since the inception of their squash team in 2010, Baldwin has won 7 Inter-Ac Titles (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017). Their only loss in 2015 was to Episcopal Academy. They have won 5 MASA (Mid-Atlantic Squash Association) Championships and a National Championship Title in 2015 against then eight-time defending champs Greenwich Academy from CT.
Last year the two teams met again in the final. Greenwich defeated the Polar Bears 5-2 reclaiming the title. Fast forward a year later; Baldwin is very much hoping that this third meeting will be a charm.
Their secret comes in the form of their powerful squad; Seniors Sumi Mudgil and Pallavi Sreedhar, juniors Angela Yang, Maansi Mudgil, Sara Syed, and Grace Steelman, sophomore Alexis Shatzman, and freshmen Saachi Singh and Meghna Sreedhar.
“What makes us unique is that we are really cohesive and supportive of each other,” said senior co-captain and Stanford commit Sumi Mudgil. “We do little things that make a huge difference. We coach each other and even outside of school at other squash tournaments, I’ll always have a Baldwin girl cheering for me."
The other equation to their success comes from their coaching staff which consists of physical fitness and assistant coach Bruce Kelly and head coach Richard Glanfield. Glanfield, his first season at the helm, has introduced a mind-set in his team that every game played during the season is the foundation for that National Title.
"Nationals are our goal, so we have taken this season and separated it into different phases," said Glanfield.
Baldwin Head Coach Richard Glanfield explains the significance of each match
“Each of my high school years the coaching team has been fantastic. This year’s has been particularly exceptional,” said Mudgil.
“Our coach (Richard) is intertwined in our lives. If we are at a tournament, he will have us text him our results and give us feedback. Even throughout our school day, we will get emails about different squash videos and on the court when we are drilling, he will walk in and critique us. He is definitely more pro-active and that has made a huge difference,” said Mudgil.
Baldwin Senior Co-Captain Pallavi Sreedhar (Columbia) explains the peaking process.
It’s that preparation and pro-active approach that has proven to be the winning formula to this squad’s success.
Senior co-captain and Columbia commit Pallavi Sreedhar knows first-hand how well that mind-set has shaped the pace for the entire season.
“This season has been really great,” said Sreedhar. “We have been focusing on peaking right before Nationals. In both fitness and on court work, we have been doing certain drills that culminate at a certain point, so the work we have been doing in the last two weeks is the hardest all season preparing us for Nationals."
The Polar Bears will compete for the MASA Title this weekend at Episcopal Academy. Nationals will be held in Hartford, CT February 10th to the 12th.
“Our girls they are young, hungry and fearless. We have to be confident we are going there to win. But, I am confident above anything else, that we will perform to the best of our abilities,” said Glanfield.