Standout freshman Katie Tuturone told an opponent from Connecticut's Greenwich Academy during the U.S. Squash National High School Team Tournament that she played for Roland Park Country School.

"She said she never heard of my school," Tuturone said.

Not for long.

Roland Park coach Pat Wong said that word is getting out now that the Reds won the Division II championship, beating teams from Delaware, New York and Connecticut at Yale University.

Division II features about 50 top-caliber squads, she said.

"This is the largest tournament in the world," Wong said. "There are over 1,000 kids participating. I think its the first national title for a Roland Park team ever. The strongest teams in the country come to this event and I think we put Baltimore on the map for good high school squash."

Roland Park didn't even come close to winning last year, placing 23rd.

Loaded with confidence, the Reds just might step up to Division I for the 2011 season.

"We didn't expect to win," Wong said. "We were hoping to be competitive. The girls played their best squash of the season. What I enjoyed the most is the way the girls coached and cheered for each other. We beat two of the teams, 4-3, with two of the matches going five (games)."

Roland Park edged New York's Chapin School in the championship match, 4-3, as Tuturone, Wong's junior daughter Lindsay Wong, sophomore Jenna Reisler and junior Casey Merbler won matches.

Tuturone, ranked third nationally by U.S. Squash in her age-group, prevailed in the deciding match.

"She is just a phenomenal squash player and athlete," Pat Wong said. "We can always count on her for a win. She can beat some boys."

The Reds had an easier time in a semifinal against Delaware's St. Andrews School, cruising, 6-1.

Senior Olive Waxter, juniors Caroline Chriss and Jodi Askew, Tuturone, Reisler and Lindsay Wong were all winners.

"Our lower-ranked players played better than I have ever seen them," Tuturone said.

Roland Park opened the tournament with a 4-3 victory over Connecticut's St. Luke's School.

All of Reds' success has made Pat Wong and her players eager for the 2011 U.S. High School Team championships.

"We want to go after the Division-I programs," the coach said.

That's the bracket in which Gilman excelled, finishing fourth among 16 Division-I teams at the event for coach Boo Smith.

Katie Tutrone's older brother, Taylor, David Hoffman, Will Hanley and Jay Brooks powered the Greyhounds.

"Baltimore is not the hotbed of squash," Smith said. "For a Baltimore team to finish that high is excellent. The nationals were the highlight of our season."

Gilman was fresh off winning its third straight Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association championship.

In that event, the Greyhounds blanked McDonogh, 7-0. Tutrone, Hoffman, Hanley, Michael East, Peter Dewire, Jakob Metz and Harrison Ebeling prevailed.

Tutrone, Hoffman and Dewire went a perfect 16-0 in league matches.

"The league is in its third year and it has gotten more competitive," Smith said. "It's rewarding to see our improvement keep pace with the league."

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