An ‘intense’ win for top player
One of Matamata’s most promising young squash players has taken the title of women’s champion in a five-game cliff-hanger at the Squash Waikato Junior Open.
Competing against a highergraded player, 18-year-old Sarah Harrison was initially two games down in the final but fought back to win the next three.
“I was down 6-0 in the fifth game but I thought I have come this far, I have to keep going,” Harrison said.
“It was so intense. When I won it was just a big sigh of relief and then excitement.”
Along with taking home the championship, the Matamata College student also made it to B grade status.
“Those were two of my biggest goals so I was pretty happy,” she said.
Harrison has also been selected for the 2012 Waikato Junior National Team and will venture to the junior nationals in Palmerston North in October.
The team is made up of 10 players and Harrison is to compete in team and individual events.
It is the third year Harrison has made the team, which she said was a huge accomplishment.
“There’s a lot more opportunity in the Waikato squads – better coaches, more training.
“There’s also more motivation to push yourself when you are training with other people.”
Closer to home, Harrison is the women’s champion at Matamata Squash Club, as well as the Matamata College Champion.
The independence of the game is what most attracted Harrison to squash.
“You don’t have to rely on anyone else,” she said. ‘‘I just love being able to do it by myself.”