Brooke Hayes and Claudia Udolf of West Hartford, who both excelled at squash while students at Kingswood Oxford, have earned student-athlete honors and have been named captains of their college teams.

Kingswood Oxford alum Brooke Hayes of West Hartford, a junior at William Smith College, earned academic honors and was named captain of the school’s Women’s Squash team for next year. Photo credit: William Smith College (submitted photo)

Submitted by Michelle M. Murphy, Kingswood Oxford School

Two of Kingswood Oxford’s outstanding girls squash players are now earning honors in their college squash programs as well.

Brooke Hayes ’13, a junior at William Smith College, has been named a Women’s College Squash Association Scholar-Athlete. To earn this distinction, a student-athlete must have won at least two Varsity letters, have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, be a junior or senior, play at a top-10 ladder position for most of the scheduled CSA-sanctioned matches during the season, and have been enrolled in their college for at least one full year before the present term.

She has also been named captain for next year.

The daughter of Eleanor and Randall Hayes ’74 of West Hartford, Hayes played in all 26 matches this season at William Smith. Playing at Nos. 4-7, she posted a team-best 17-9 record. Overall, she’s played in 58 career matches at William Smith, with a 37-21 record.

At KO, Hayes was a four-year starter and captain of the varsity squash team. She also played varsity soccer and tennis and was captain of the tennis team.

Meanwhile, Tufts sophomore Claudia Udolf ’14 was named to the NESCAC All-Academic team for the winter ’16 season. She, too, was named team captain for next year.

To qualify for the NESCAC All-Academic team, a player must be a sophomore who’s won a varsity letter and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.35.

Udolf, the daughter of Robert and Danielle Udolf of West Hartford, was a five-year Varsity starter and captain of KO’s Varsity Squash team.

And, in October 2013, she was named the Young Philanthropist of the Year by the Aurora Foundation for Women and Girls, in recognition of her extraordinary community service and the way in which she “inspires others to join her in her efforts,” according to the group.

Udolf has volunteered extensively with the Ronald McDonald House in Springfield, MA, since 2007. She and her siblings, Samantha Udolf ’12 and Dylan Udolf ‘16, have also raised more than $54,000 for the House through their web site, www.samsraceforaplace.com, and other grass-roots efforts.

“Brooke and Claudia were great leaders in the classroom and on the squash courts at KO, and I’m not surprised to see them assume the same roles at the next level,” said KO’s head girls varsity squash coach Andy Carr. “They are wonderful role models for our current students – many of whom also hope to play in college.”