Senior captain Hank Alexander '06, playing in his final collegiate matches, did not like the slight at the hands of the rankers.
"Despite the fact that we had beaten them, Williams managed to draw the seven seed for the tournament," he said. "They also received an award at the banquet on Saturday night for being the most improved team. As a result of both of these facts, we were pumped to show them that they really were a B-side Dartmouth and that we were a better team."
The men in green did just that, wiping Williams clean off of their radar with a resounding 7-2 triumph on Sunday. The Dartmouth victory boosted the team to the No. 7 position at the end of the tournament, meeting head coach John Power's desired place of finish. And the coach was pleased with his boys.
"The lads put up a great showing this past weekend and indeed all season. With a team of four starting freshmen and not really picked to finish in the top 10, a final seventh place in the national rankings was really an excellent showing for the team."
Alexander turned in a strong effort against the Ephs, beating his opponent in three games. Dartmouth's other senior captain Adam Slutsky '06 also ended his collegiate career with an impressive victory.
Slutsky was proud of the way the team performed over the weekend and throughout the season. "It was with great pride that Hank and I watched the team exceed both our seeded ranking and our goals for the season. It has been a great honor for me to be able to lead the team this year, and I will sorely miss Dartmouth squash."
Prior to its domination of Williams, the Dartmouth men's squash team had fallen to seven-time defending national champion Trinity 9-0 on Friday and the tough University of Pennsylvania outfit 6-3 on Saturday. However, both losses furnished some big bright spots for the Big Green next season. Against the heavily favored UPenn No. 1 Gilly Lane, rookie sensation Andrew Boumford '09 put in a valiant effort at the No. 1 position, going down in four sets. Assistant coach David Heath believes that Boumford's efforts are a sign of great things to come for Dartmouth's talented youngster.
"Boumford showed his considerable talent against the highly touted Gilly Lane and played some of the best squash of his short college career, giving an indication of what might be to come when he adds experience and a stronger physical presence on court to his fine racquet skills," he said.
Against UPenn, early wins from the two senior captains and Adam King '08 put the Big Green up 3-2. However, the Quakers were able to shake the early results and turn them upside down, as they triumphed over the Big Green 6-3.
Still, Power was overjoyed at the play of his team and especially proud of his duo of senior stalwarts. "Special kudos go to our two senior captains Hank Alexander and Adam Slutsky who each won two matches over the weekend, finishing off their collegiate careers in fine fashion," he said.
Indeed, this was a fine finish to the careers of two of Dartmouth's best squash players; and the team will sorely miss them next season. However, with a strong class of young players, the Big Green will look to improve on this year's seventh-place finish.
Alexander perhaps best expressed the nostalgic feeling that most Big Green players are quickly developing for this season.
"It was a bit of a rollercoaster ride of a season but there were definitely more ups than downs," he said. "The team came together better than any other team in my three years prior. It's been a most memorable season and I'm really going to miss all the camaraderie."
Alexander also lamented with bittersweet satisfaction the end of his competitive squash career.
"As for it being the end of my career, I'm really going to miss it," he said. "I started playing competitive squash when I was 12 years old. It's been a defining aspect of my experience here at Dartmouth, and now it's over. I really can't believe it. At the same time, I can't think of a better way to go out. It was really a great weekend and a great way to close out my career."
The Dartmouth community will miss Alexander and Slutsky, but it is time for a new breed of Big Green squash players to control the courts If their immediate predecessors are any indication, expectations will be squashed in the coming seasons as the Big Green continues to climb up the national rankings.
