The junior circuit and world championships allowed the Gemmells to travel around North America and abroad to compete.

Each year, there are four major tournaments—the Canadian Open, US Open, Scottish Open, and British Open—at which they would compete in consecutive weeks.

“[Those four weeks] would be the most fun times of the circuit,” Michelle said. “At each [tournament], you would be around the same people. It was a close group at the very top who would travel internationally. One of the great experiences I got out of it was meeting people from different countries.”

But even though both of the younger Gemmell sisters represented Canada at the Junior World Squash Championships, they never represented their country at the same time.

“The year we were supposed to be together, I just missed the cut,” Michelle said.

In 2011, when Michelle represented Canada in the Junior World Championships, the event was to be held in Egypt but was relocated to Cambridge, Mass. because of political unrest.

“[The tournament in Cambridge] is kind of why I ended up wanting to come to [Harvard],” Michelle said. “I loved it. It was awesome.”

So far, the two younger Gemmell sisters have helped Harvard to the start of what looks to be another dominant season, although the No. 1 Crimson has yet to face its toughest tests. Laura has led the Crimson from the No. 1 spot in two of its first three matches.

Three years ago, Laura, a freshman at the time, won an individual College Squash Association championship, while also helping the Crimson to a team national title the same year. Michelle, a loyal supporter, was there to watch.

Currently women’s squash is not an Olympic sport. There was an international push to add it to the Rio de Janeiro games of 2016, but the attempt proved fruitless.

—Staff writer Jacob W. Lynch can be reached at jacoblynch@college.harvard.edu.