Andrea Toth is heading to Princeton University in August as a national junior champion for the first time in her decorated squash career.
After numerous close calls, it was at last a breakthrough performance for the 2018 JN Burnett graduate at the Junior Nationals in Toronto.
Toth rallied to beat Prince Edward Island’s Emma Jinks 7-11, 11-6, 11-6 and 11-7 in another chapter of the friendly rivalry between the tournament’s No. 2 and No. 1 seeds respectively. The U19 girls were on the Canadian team that attended the 2017 Junior Worlds in New Zealand.
“I was so happy to be able to accomplish it before I made it out of (the junior level),” said Toth. “It’s almost like it was too good to be true in my head (to win nationals). I have come so close multiple times and, even when I have been in the finals, it’s been like a big hurdle for me to overcome.
“It was just a matter of really believing in myself and getting on the court and doing what I was trained to do. There was no overthinking this time.”
National champion or not, Toth was still considered a top university recruit and continue what has become a family tradition of taking her game to a U.S. school.
She was determined to go the Ivy League route and follow her older sister Alex who recently graduated from Princeton. Her brother Matthew just completed his second-year at the University of Rochester.
Back in September, Toth visited Princeton, Harvard and Yale.
“I knew what I wanted to do was play at a pretty high level of squash in college,” continued Toth. “Visiting all three of them, there really was no wrong decision. They all were absolutely unbelievable. I was so lucky to have those choices.
“No matter where I picked, I would have been happy but within 30 minutes of getting to Princeton and meeting the team, I was texting my parents, knowing I would fit in. Everything just clicked, the dynamic and environment.”
Sure, Toth would have loved to be playing alongside her sister but is also looking forward to heading to the New Jersey school on her own.
“I’m kind of following her footsteps but at the same time doing my own thing since Alex graduated last year,” Toth added.
Princeton coach Gail Ramsay is looking forward to having the Canadian champion in her program.
“She has made some impressive jumps in her game over the past 18 months and will bring her fast pace and powerful game to the line-up,” said Ramsay. “Andrea is arguably one of Canada's best junior players over the past decade. She will add strength in the top of the ladder."
Toth’s performance was part of an outstanding showing for the West Coast High Performance Squash Academy at Junior Nationals. The program, which is based out of Sport Central in Richmond and headed by former Mexico national coach and top ranked player Marco Toriz, produced four national titles.
Gabriel Yun won the U15 boys title in decisive fashion, not dropping a single game. Jacob Lin defeated teammate and Andrea’s brother Joseph Toth to win the boys U13 crown and Maria Min won the girls U13 title.
