But the match can't start without officials, and since there are no professional paid judges for collegiate squash events, Harvard's Shondip Ghosh and Williams' Zafrir Levy will do the honors. This will be a physical contest with lots of bumps and bruises, and the judges will have difficult decisions to make. But the Indian Ghosh and Israeli Levy, who compete for rival schools, will nevertheless call a fair match.

Yik went on to beat Lefika in four games, but by now the moral of the story should be clear. Beyond being immensely entertaining, college squash teaches valuable lessons about cooperation and unity, respect and class.

Rivals join forces to officiate their teammates' matches. With every reason not to be friends, including different national identities and different university affiliations, players overcome artificial boundaries that seem so insurmountable in other walks of life. Barnaby Courts or Yale's Brady Center are places for everyone.

In addition to cooperation, players and fans benefit from the diversity of experiences and attitudes that players draw upon. Lefika, having played two years on the pro tour, brings a calm exuberance, a relaxed enthusiasm that conveys an important message: win or lose, everything is going to be OK.

If Lefika is the innocent prankster on the court, Harvard co-captain Deepak Abraham is the consummate professional. He is stoic and focused, and he is determined to make every shot count. He's also got a lot to teach his fellow opponents because he too has played throughout the world and knows what it means to excel.

Players in every sport deliver stock phrases about respecting their opponents and valuing their competition. But when squash players from various teams and countries sit next to each other and compare cuts on their legs, when they joke with each other and when they exhibit camaraderie off the court, you really get the feeling that they mean it.

Harvard sophomore Dylan Patterson put things in perspective soon after losing a marathon match on Saturday to his teammate, Abraham.