New Haven, CT — Heading into last year’s National Team Championships, Yale was ranked third, having just beaten rival Harvard 5-4 in the Bulldogs’ final dual match of the season. Yale was poised to challenge Trinity and Princeton, the only teams to beat them in the regular season, but an upset loss to a surging Rochester squad knocked the Bulldogs out of the main draw before they had the chance. Though Yale regrouped to win the consolation final and finish fifth in the nation, the Bulldogs will be seeking better results when they host Nationals in February.
The desire to improve upon last season has inspired the Bulldogs to push themselves. “I am not satisfied with finishing at number 3,” senior captain Todd Ruth told Yale Sports Publicity. “I think if we train hard this summer and with our recruiting class next year we could have a shot at beating Princeton and Trinity.” Incoming first-year students Kenneth Chan of Singapore, Hywell Robinson of Wales, and Richard Dodd of South Africa will bring international experience to the seasoned squad, which will be led by Ruth and fellow seniors Aaron Fuchs, Sharyar Aziz, Chris Reid, and Rusty Feldman, a member of the United States’s silver-medal winning team at this year’s Maccabiah Games.
Even though the Bulldogs have big ambitions, they remain focused on the day-to-day: playing well, working hard, and having fun. “All our goals will be reached if we do this daily,” says assistant coach Pam Saunders.
2008-2009 Season Recap
SEASON RECORD: 16-3
FINAL RANKING: 5th
NATIONAL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS: 5th; 5th (consolation winner) in Potter Cup (A Division)
2009-2010 Season Preview
Returning Players from Team Championships: John Fulham ’11 (1; All-Ivy, 2nd-Team All-American); Todd Ruth ’10 (2); John Roberts ’12 (3); Aaron Fuchs ’10 (4); Ryan Dowd ’12 (5); Naishadh Lalwani ’11 (7); Christopher Plimpton ’11 (9); Robert Berner ’12 (10); Russell Feldman ’10; Christopher Reid ’10; Sharyar Aziz ’10; Sam Clayman ‘12
Graduating Players from Team Championships: Colin Campbell (6); Francis Johnson (8); William Hatch (11); Ethan Oetter (13)
Additions for the 2009-2010 Roster: Kenneth Chan, Hywell Robinson, and Richard Dodd
Captain: Todd Ruth
Team Goals: To play well, work hard, and have fun
Key Matches: Trinity, Princeton, Rochester, Harvard, and Cornell
To read other team previews, please visit the 2009 – 2010 College Squash Preview Page.
