The McDonogh Squash program recently wrapped up a solid MIAA season, finishing with an 11-4 record. Led by Captains Rohan Korn and Joe Radek, the Eagles will be graduating six seniors this season, who will surely be missed in the program next year and beyond. The Eagles will have to fill holes at the 1 and 2 spots, vacated by Korn and Schuster, as well as at 4 and 5, who will lose Zain Khan and Radek to graduation as well. This group of seniors is also perhaps McDonogh’s most accomplished in the history of the program, winning one national championship (2017) and two MIAA championships (2018 and 2019); losing that experience and pedigree will certainly present a difficult challenge for the Eagles in 2021. Among the seniors, Korn and Schuster will be continuing their squash careers at the collegiate level as well, with Korn attending Drexel University and Schuster heading to Dartmouth College, respectively.

The Eagles’ most competitive matches this season came against St. Paul’s, with the Crusaders taking the season score (thus far, a fourth matchup is possible at high school nationals) two matches to one. It was perhaps during McDonogh’s sole win against St. Paul’s that it saw its most clutch performance of the season thus far, with sophomore Jake Wang pulling out a tie-breaking match in five games. Wang battled back from a 2-0 deficit to pull out the fifth game with a score of 14-12, clinched on a beautiful cross-court drop to officially seal the victory for McDonogh and avenge its early season loss to the Crusaders. St. Paul’s then knocked McDonogh out of the MIAA Team Semi-Final, handing a difficult 4-3 blow to the Eagles, thwarting their attempt at a third team championship in a row. However, the Eagles were able to capture one championship, with Korn winning the MIAA Individual Title in an exciting 5 game match with Gilman’s Ned Gildea, representing the school with the fourth individual championship in five seasons.

Despite the ups and downs of a strenuous four month season, the Eagles enjoyed many fun practices and team comradery while also adjusting to a new coaching style. The team’s seniors enjoyed their last season together, considering the close bond the group has developed over the past four years, while also helping the newer members develop their skills. One such opportunity came during the team’s match against the Naval Academy JV team, allowing many younger varsity and JV players the opportunity to compete in competitive match play while also getting the unique opportunity of venturing inside the gates of the Academy. Additionally, Reagan Martin joined the Eagles’ coaching staff this season, bringing a wealth of experience and a relaxed, calm personality to teach and instruct the McDonogh squad. Hopefully Martin and assistant coach Tyler Ebeling will lead the Eagles to a few more big victories at the U.S. Squash High School National Tournament, where McDonogh will compete in the second division as it hopes to cap off a successful, competitive, and exciting high school squash season.