The McGill Women’s Squash team captured their second straight Jesters League championship on Jan. 18 in a dramatic finale against the University of Toronto (UofT), showcasing both their competitive excellence and remarkable team spirit. The victory represents another milestone in the program’s extraordinary growth over the past four years, achieved entirely through student leadership, community spirit, and sheer determination. 

Team captain Chloe Stoneburgh, U4 Management, sat down with The Tribune for an interview. 

“It’s literally two completely different things, when I came into then versus what it is now. [In 2020] I stumbled across tryouts on Facebook halfway through the year, and they were still looking for people because they couldn’t even form a team,” she said. 

From those humble beginnings, the program has transformed into a formidable force in collegiate squash, bringing home the Jesters League trophy in both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.

The championship-deciding competition against UofT epitomized the team’s journey, coming down to the final match with the teams deadlocked at 3-3. The tension was palpable as both teams gathered to watch the decisive first-seed matchup, long after other universities had departed. Team member Lialah Mavani, U2 Arts, flew in from British Columbia specifically for the tournament, demonstrating the extraordinary commitment that has become the team’s hallmark.

However, despite success, McGill Squash faces a unique challenge: As a club team, they are unable to advance to the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) playoffs, despite competing against and defeating varsity programs throughout the regular season. 

Ava Bicknell, U3 Arts, is a team captain currently on exchange in London. 

“We can get by, we take ourselves to games, we pay our coaches, we organize our accommodation. All we really need is the varsity title to gain access to the OUA,” she told The Tribune.

The team’s recent achievements are particularly noteworthy given their entirely student-run operation. Without varsity status, they handle everything from fundraising and alumni relations to practice scheduling and logistics. 

Their success stems from what Stoneburgh describes as “the intrinsic push from student leaders” and a culture that sees near-perfect practice attendance despite no formal requirements.

“There’s a fight that comes from knowing that we’re at this disadvantage; we have great players and we can win,” Stoneburgh explained. “I think there’s this little bit of gritty feist that comes with knowing that we can win, we fight on and off the court with a chip on our shoulders. We have a point to prove.”

The program, which held varsity status until 2010 when it was released from the varsity program, likely due to budget cuts, has demonstrated remarkable growth through strategic initiatives such as social media presence, alumni engagement, and successful fundraising campaigns. Their recent achievements suggest immense potential for development, particularly if granted the opportunity to compete at the highest level.

“We’re hoping that it’ll boost our reputation even more. Obviously as an academic school, but maybe even being considered for playing competitive squash. That wasn’t really a thing before, and now, with these wins under our belt, we’re hoping that gives recognition,” Bicknell said. 

Men’s captain, Mo Kamal, U3 Science, emphasized that the women’s success stems from their team chemistry. He was particularly impressed by the team’s performance in the championship match.

“One thing that really stood out was the passion they brought to every moment. They got into a zone where they truly peaked, pushing themselves to battle through some incredibly close matches,” Kamal said.

Speaking to the program’s evolution, Kamal reflected on the broader impact of women’s achievements.

“The women’s team’s success is especially meaningful because it highlights the incredible growth of McGill squash. The program has transformed; the women’s team’s great results have played a huge role in driving that change,” Kamal said. 

Individual players from McGill Squash will compete in the Canadian University and Collegiate Squash Championships, hosted at McGill from March 14-16.