Haverford, PA — The 2009-2010 season will bring big changes to Haverford. Damon Leedale-Brown will take over as head coach for Sean Sloane, who retired from coaching squash this summer. Eight players graduated last season, including former captain and number 1, Evan Stiegel. But despite these changes, the team’s goals remain consistent: to work hard to improve skills and conditioning, to have fun, and to always have great sportsmanship, on and off the court.
Four players will return from last season’s 38th-ranked squad: seniors Jake Ralston and Mike Gelberg, and sophomores Zef Konst and Robert Thompson. The team, which will be captained by Konst and Ralston, will be joined by two experienced first-year players, former Choate captain Andy McComas and Chris Tyson from Germantown Friends. Two former baseball players with squash experience, including Exeter’s Alex Spiliotes, may also help fill out the Fords’ roster. Vassar and Drexel will be key matches for the Haverford men, who joined with the women’s team to volunteer at SquashSmarts of Philadelphia last season.
“With over 50% of their students involved in varsity-level collegiate sport, athletics is clearly a big part of the overall student experience at Haverford college,” notes Leedale-Brown. “I am excited about working with the men’s and women’s squash teams this coming season, and the challenge of taking the Haverford squash program from strength to strength in an area of the US which has a great pedigree for producing top junior squash players.”
2008-2009 Season Recap
SEASON RECORD: 6-10
FINAL RANKING: 38th
NATIONAL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS: 38th; 6th in Chaffee Cup (E Division)
2009-2010 Season Preview
Returning Players from Team Championships: Zef Konst ’12 (2); Jake Ralston ’10 (5); Robert Thompson ’12 (9); Mike Gelberg ’10 (12)
Graduating Players from Team Championships: Evan Stiegel (1); Jeff Monhait (3); Adil Khan (4); Eric Lundquist (6); Karan Shah (7); David Bamat (8); Jeremy Sanders (10); Harsh Mehta (11)
Additions for the 2009-2010 Roster: Andy McComas (Choate), Chris Tyson (Germantown Friends), Alex Spiliotes (Exeter)
Captains: Zef Konst and Jake Ralston
Team Goals: To work hard to improve skills and conditioning, have fun, and always have great sportsmanship, on and off the court
Key Matches: Vassar and Drexel
