Companions, Teammates and Competitors

Companions. Teammates. Competitors. Together, they've spent seven years climbing the squash ladder at Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard College.

Sheila Morrissey and Liz Reynolds, seniors and tri-captains of the women's squash team, have attended the same schools, played for the same teams, and shared many of the same awards. But now, with their Harvard squash careers coming to a close, the two are preparing to face different challenges, in different places, with different goals.

The link was established at Exeter, when Morrissey was a freshman and Reynolds a sophomore. As doubles partners on the tennis team in the fall, they laid the foundation for a lasting camaraderie. But in winter, they went their separate athletic ways--Reynolds pursuing squash and Morrissey swimming, or, rather, trying to swim.

"When I swam at Exeter, I was just sinking and so they suggested I get on land and try a land sport," Morrissey says.

From that time forth, the two were tennis and squash teammates.

Reynolds became captain of both squads, while Morrissey became renowned for her infamous "hard serve" in squash--a reputation which has followed her to Harvard.

Their tradition of athletic excellence continued to grow after Reynolds and Morrissey entered Harvard in 1984 and 1985, respectively. Once again, they focused their talents into a common sport--squash--and once again they excelled.

This year Morrissey, Harvard's number-two seed, earned first-team All-America honors for capturing 10 of 13 her matches. Reynolds, who plays at number five, won eight of 10. Behind the strength of the two, the Crimson has won three Ivy and national championships.

Neither Morrissey nor Reynolds has had a smooth climb to the top. Morrissey has had to contend with various physical obstacles, such as injured knees and a bad back. Reynolds took off two semesters--one in 1986 to study the transition to democracy in Nicaragua, and the other in 1988 to work on the Dukakis campaign.

"I would say time is my main obstacle [in squash]," Reynolds says. "But I don't regret the time I spent away from it. Squash isn't my primary focus at Harvard. Academics and friendship are."

Morrissey and Reynolds have earned the respect of both their Crimson teammates and Coach Steve Piltch. Junior Jenny Holleran, the third captain, credits the two with building a team spirit among the women's squash players.

"[Morrissey] is a terrific leader, a tremendous player, and she always keeps us laughing," Holleran says. "And [Reynolds] is just great for morale--a very solid leader and player."

And Piltch raves about the two seniors, whom he has coached throughout their climb up the squash ladder at Harvard.

"They're both incredibly well disciplined and hard working, with a good, healthy perspective about squash in context with other parts of their lives," Piltch says.

The feeling is mutual. Both Morrissey and Reynolds cite Piltch as the person who has most influenced their squash careers.

"He's instilled in me the confidence that I could get better, that there were new heights I could reach--and I did reach them," Morrissey says.

Reynolds echoes this sentiment. "He knows the game better than anyone," she says. "He doesn't teach just the technical skills, but he teaches the mental approach to the game."

Now, one day before they enter the intercollegiate championships for their last college squash matches, the two are preparing to finally go their separate ways.

Morrissey, an economics major, hopes to go to New York to become an investment banker. Reynolds, a government major, will broaden her international experience by attending Cambridge University on a Charles Henry Fiske Scholarship next year.

However, Reynolds won't leave fair Harvard without first fulfilling her squash dream.

"I have a dream," Reynolds laughs, "to hit a good three-wall nick."

Meanwhile, Morrissey's already reached her squash goal.

"I'm just happy to be a member of such a great team," she says. "The team is a fundamental part of my time at Harvard."

Before last Sunday's Dartmouth match, Morrissey and Reynolds got up from the wooden squash stands at Hemenway Gymnasium, wished each other luck in their upcoming matches, and walked to their separate courts.

After this weekend's national competition, these two companions, teammates, and competitors will walk away from the courts together for the final time--leaving behind a shared legacy of excellence, but heading down separate paths.