Freshman Laura Gemmell claimed the individual national championship with a narrow, five-game win over Trinity’s Pamela Hathway.

How does an athlete manage to climb to the top of the national rankings, post an undefeated record, and claim the individual national title—all in her first season?

If you’re Laura Gemmell, you make it look easy.

In her rookie season, Gemmell compiled a spotless 16-0 overall record at the No. 1 position on the Harvard women’s squash team. She also won the CSA individual championships in a drawn-out five-game match.

Then, in the aftermath of the season, she picked up numerous awards and accolades, including Ivy League Player of the Year.

“She’s a great leader on the court,” freshman Natasha Kingshott said. “She brings a new level to the game.”

Before considering her athletic skill, impressive alone is the fact that Gemmell started in the top slot for the Crimson. As a result, her matches often pitted her against upperclassmen.

“It can be really frightening as a freshman to face off against a senior who’s been playing for four years,” co-captain Johanna Snyder said.

But Gemmell’s experience in the junior national circuit—she came to Cambridge with 21 national-championship titles under her belt—helped allay any fears she may have had in preseason.

“I was more excited to play No. 1 on the Harvard team [than nervous],” Gemmell said.

Gemmell first took to the courts against Williams in the squad’s second match of the season. Her opponent was senior Toby Eyre, a three-time All-American and one of the three players ranked above Gemmell at the start of the season.

Three games later, Gemmell had the first win of her collegiate career. The sweep, coming with scores of 11-6, 11-7, 11-8, was the first of many.

“She’s so confident in her squash,” Snyder said. “In a freshman, you don’t find that very often.”

Later in the season, with six victories to her name, Gemmell was set to face Penn’s Kristen Lange—another three-time All-American who was ranked above Gemmell coming into the season.

Gemmell, though, was unfazed; Lange fell, 11-3, 11-9, 11-7, as the Crimson defeated the Quakers, 8-1.

“She’s one of the most dedicated players that I’ve ever seen,” Kingshott said. “I had great respect for her before Harvard...She has the perfect balance of being serious about the sport and also being able to take a step back.”