Ithaca, NY — For the first time in Ithaca’s four-year history, the team advanced out of the first round of the Men’s National Team Championships, thanks to a win over Vassar. After advancing further last season, the team will be traveling farther this season. Captain John Harriss explains: “We have added more trips to our schedule. As of now, we will be going to Annapolis, Baltimore, Connecticut, and Boston (for nationals).” The program will also see a substantial influx of new players, some with extensive squash experience and some new to the sport. While the experienced players will have an immediate impact on the competitive roster, the new players will help the Bombers continue to grow. “We are very excited for this season, as we believe that we have more than nine players that are capable of playing in the top nine, giving our roster more depth than it has had in the team’s first four years,” says Harriss. “Our goal as a team is to go out and have fun. Our team is still very dedicated to squash both on the court and in the weight room, as we improve our skills.” According to Harriss, the team plans to “continue building on what we’ve done the last four seasons. I think we have the talent to break the top 45, and I’d like to see us do that, along with win multiple matches at nationals.”
2012-2013 SEASON RECAP
Season Record: 4-8
Final Ranking: 52
Team Championships: 4th in the Hawthorn Cup
2013-2014 SEASON PREVIEW
Program Status: Emerging Club
Returning Players from Team Championships: 1. Sion Sennon (2016); 2. Mack Smith (2014); 5. John Harriss (2015); 6. Ethan Feller (2015); 8. Patrick Phillimore (2016); 9. Natasha Jones-SIkes (2014)
Graduated/Non-Returning Players from 2012-2013 Team Championships: 3. Ty Broderson (2013); 4. Fargo Balliet (2013); 7. Assad Anjum (2015); 10. Dan Metcalfe (2016)
Additions to the 2013-2014 Roster:
- Expected to play in the top 3: Mark Diffenderfer (Cheltenhm Highschool – Philidelphia, PA)
- Expected to play in the middle 3: RJ Bowman(Shipley School – Bryn Mawr, PA) and Tynisha Avila (returning to team after not playing last season)
- Expected to play in the bottom 3: Cameron Fitch (Salisbury School – Salisbury, CT)
- Other addition: Meredith Sager (Returning from studying in Los Angeles); Lauren Infantino (Dover High School – Dover Plains, NY); Mary Slack, (Jim Thorpe Highschool – Jim Thorpe, PA); Emily Meshumar (returning from study abroad in New Zealand); LaMarcus Grier (Ben Franklin Academy – Stone Mountain, GA); Oliver Roberts(Salem High School – Albany, NY); Nick Beldoch (Ardsley High School – Ardsley, NY); Hannah Montgomery (Wilton High School -Wilton, CT)
Captain: John Harriss
Team Goals: Continue building on what we’ve done the last 4 seasons
Key Matches: Bard, Bryant, and the College of Charleston
To read other team previews, please visit the 2013-2014 College Squash Season Previews page.
