Queen’s Women’s Squash celebrated nine OUA Championships in a row as they won another OUA Championship this weekend in Niagara.
After consecutively winning the OUA Championship the past eight seasons, there was pressure on the Gaels to do it again as they kicked off the tournament on Feb. 9.
“We were feeling pressured because we’re a team that’s expected to win,” said Maddie O’Connor, Med ’24. “I think we stepped up to that challenge and everyone was just incredibly focused and motivated. Honestly [we] left everything on the court, win or lose.”
On Friday, the Gaels played the University of Toronto Varsity Blues and the Waterloo Warriors in a round-robin tournament style. They beat the Varsity Blues 7-0 and the Warriors 6-1.
O’Connor specifically mentioned the Waterloo Warriors as having a very good team this year—they were their hardest competition, and who the team would play in the gold medal game. Waterloo would be the only team the Gaels would lose any games against all tournament.
On Feb. 10, the Gaels played the uOttawa Gee-Gees and the McMaster Marauders, winning both games 7-0.
With the gold medal game on Sunday, the Gaels and Warriors were set to compete one more time before one of them was crowned champion.
O’Connor said the Warriors sat one of their players during the round-robin game the teams had played on Friday, so the Gaels weren’t sure what to expect. She explained having a new player is like playing a new line up.
Despite a close battle, the Gaels managed to catch a lead and win 4-3, making the Gaels ninth consecutive champions.
“Number nine is a huge testament to how hard our team has worked,” O’Connor said. “It was so exciting to see how every one of my teammates showed up and competed. I saw them play some of the best squash I had ever seen them play.”
O’Connor ed the team in her first year of medical school, coming off a women’s varsity squash career in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), where she played during her undergrad.
Due to COVID-19, the team has only played two full seasons since her ing the roster.
“I was so excited to have the opportunity to the team at Queen’s just because I heard how accomplished and amazing they were” O’Connor said. “It was a way for me to continue playing the sport I love, in such a competitive and accomplished environment.”
O’Connor felt welcomed to the team from day one, and referenced the team’s Head Coach Lisa Coates as being a ive figure for the group.
“She’s fostered this culture within the team, of just really hard-working women who love the sport, love each other and want to each other, and are just excited and ionate about competing,” she said.
“I think this positive and enthusiastic environment and culture she’s created has allowed us, as a team, to shine and accomplish everything we’ve accomplished so far.”
O’Connor commended the Men’s Squash team following their upset in their championship weekend after losing 0-7 against the Western Mustangs in the OUA Gold Medal Game.
“It was exciting for our women’s team to watch them and cheer them on and see them accomplish something. I’m really proud of them and I think all of my team is,” O’Connor said.
“I think that this weekend really showcased how ive our teams are together and how we really come together and ed each other during these intense and difficult competitions. They had an incredible weekend as well.”
O’Connor was named OUA Athlete of the Week, a Women’s Squash OUA All-Star, and OUA Women’s MVP following this weekend’s performance.
“It’s a great honor to win those awards, but at the end of the day, it was really just everything that I’ve accomplished with this team that will stick with me forever,” she said. “I really cherish that the most.”
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