Congratulations to Claire Davidson '16, who is in her first year at Tufts University, for her Harrow Sports College Squash Player of the Week honors. On December 7, 2016, the College Squash Association news posted a wrap-up of Claire's stellar performance saying, "Tufts ventured to New York this weekend for back-to-back matches with 20th-ranked Hamilton and 19th-ranked St. Lawrence. First-year student Claire Davidson, Tufts' #2, played 10 games in those two team matches. Against Hamilton, she defeated Megan Grip (11-6, 11-6, 12-10, 6-11, and 11-5) and against St. Lawrence, she defeated Emily Terry (11-9, 11-7, 3-11, 5-11, and 11-7). These individual wins helped 21st-ranked Tufts to a pair of 6-3 victories."
Tufts University summed up Claire's early contribution to the Jumbos saying, "After an undefeated week for the team and herself individually, freshman Claire Davidson of the Tufts University women's squash team has been named the Harrow Sports College Squash Player of the Week. Davidson, who hails from Portsmouth, Rhode Island and the Portsmouth Abbey School, played in four of the five matches during the week. Playing at #2, she opened with a three-game win over Mount Holyoke's Ragini Ghose. On Saturday (December 3), her five-game wins at #2 against Megan Gripp from Hamilton and Emily Terry from St. Lawrence helped the Jumbos earn big wins over those national top 20 programs. Terry was one of the College Squash Association's top 80 players in 2015-16. Davidson played at #1 against Bard on Sunday and defeated Francesca Cornali in three. For the year, Davidson has a 5-1 record overall."
While a student-athlete at Portsmouth Abbey, Claire was 18-3 for her Sixth-Form season on the Girls' Varsity Squash Team and was named EIL All-League. Claire also finished fourth in the first flight of the New England B Level Squash Tournament. Abbey Head Girls' Varsity Squash Coach Corie McDermott-Fazzino summarized, "As a multi-year captain and four-year, number-one player, she brought tremendous energy and talent to the team." Upon graduation Claire also received the Squash Coach's Trophy, the St. Gregory Award " for those who have generously offered their gifts of time and talent on behalf of others," and Red Key recognition. In addition, she was chosen by her Abbey peers to give one of the two student commencement speeches.