Some say that it is a long journey to the top. But it has come quickly for talented freshman squash player, Laura Gemmell.

Undefeated thus far, No.1 Gemmell met her match this past Saturday against Penn’s Kristin Lange, the reigning Ivy League Player of the Year. For Gemmell, it was like any other game.

“Even though she knows her opponent was ranked number one in squash, her attitude is as if she’s like anybody else,” Harvard coach Satinder Bajwa said. “Laura comes in, has a very good work ethic, and doesn’t take anything for granted.”

Gemmell soundly defeated Lange in three games, 11-3, 11-9, 11-7, reinforcing her reputation as the top player in the country and placing herself in a good position to claim Lange’s title at the end of the season.

Although she was aware it would be a difficult match, Gemmell was never intimidated.

“Being a freshman and playing against upperclassmen who have been playing at the college level for awhile, I don’t put pressure on myself. I just try to play my game and be as good as I can be,” she said.

However, her personal best has always surpassed expectations, causing her to be virtually unstoppable this season.

“Even when great players are not playing their best, they will win day in and day out against their toughest opponents. Laura is one of those types of players,” Bajwa said.

These complimentary words are supported by her remarkable work on the court throughout the campaign, in which she has demonstrated precocious talent, an unwavering work ethic, and a developed confidence in her own abilities.

The freshman has adjusted to playing at the collegiate level at a remarkable speed, proven by the fact that she has not dropped a single game to anyone, exhibiting her ever-growing confidence.

Only one week shy of maintaining a perfect record in the Ivy League, Gemmell has demonstrated to be a resounding competitor in her first year with the Crimson squad.

For her teammates, Gemmell is more than just a rookie. “She projects to everyone how a good work ethic and going through the basic training you need to do to maintain your level is so important to be a top player,” Coach Bajwa said. “She is so far ahead, yet she works as hard as anybody on the team to stay ahead.”

Gemmell, however, sees her improvement and hard work from an unselfish perspective.

“When you are on the court, you are not just playing for yourself; you are playing for the whole team,” Gemmell said.

This attitude has helped her lead Harvard to the top of the Ivy League, and she has been vocal about her support for her teammates and the assistance they have given her on the court.

Rounding out the weekend with a match against Princeton on Sunday, Gemmell defeated her opponent in a similarly decisive fashion, aiding the Crimson in achieving an emotional win over the Tigers.

Last year, Harvard lost in the finals of the national championship to Princeton, so the victory served as a sort of retribution for the Crimson.

In its matchup against Yale this weekend, Harvard will fight for sole possession of the Ivy League title, with the national team and individual championships taking place in subsequent weekends.

Gemmell expressed her high hopes for success in the Crimson’s quest for a sweep of the titles. “We have nationals coming up where we hope to win that as a team. And then I have the individual tournament, and it is one of my main goals to win that as well.”

Considering the strength of Harvard’s roster, and with Gemmell in the lead, it is within the Crimson’s ability to win the national championships this year and for years to come.

With her amazing work ethic and resounding victories, Gemmell has risen to claim the top spot in the nation during her first year at Harvard. This is a position the squash prodigy will not be giving up any time soon.