Amherst, MA — After cracking the top 10 in 2006 and consistently finishing in the top half of the B Division, the Amherst Lord Jeffs have slipped in the past few seasons, finishing 15th in 2007-2008 and 16th in 2008-2009. This season, they hope to make it back into the top 10 and take down longtime rival Williams along the way.
The Jeffs will have their work cut out for them if they want to close the gap between them and the Ephs, who have owned the Little Three competition for the past nine years. Amherst will be without former number 1 Drew Blacker, a 2009 2nd-Team All-NESCAC selection, who graduated along with number 2 Jerome Giovinazzo, number 4 Ben Bishop, and number 8 Brad Corbin.
The majority of players returning from the Jeffs’ National Team Championships roster are sophomores and juniors. Sophomore Matt Arnold, who was out at the end of last season, will return to the lineup. Arnold is expected to play in the top 6. First-year players Charles Loesch-Quintin and Nick Sorentino will also join the team. Loesch-Quintin should play in the top 3, while Sorentino should find a place in the top 9. The young Amherst squad, which is planning a training trip to Asia, will be led by senior co-captains Nick Kramer and Lee Banta.
With a young team and ambitious goals, the Jeffs should have a lot to look forward to, this season and beyond.
2008-2009 Season Recap
SEASON RECORD: 6-13
FINAL RANKING: 16th
NATIONAL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS: 16th; 8th in Hoehn Cup (B Division)
2009-2010 Season Preview
Returning Players from Team Championships: Steve Severson ’12 (3); Todd Lavine ’12 (5); Kevin Cecala ’11 (6); Tom Rapisarda ’11 (7); Jacob Glass ’11 (9); Zach Porges ’12 (10)
Graduating Players from Team Championships: Drew Blacker (1; 2nd-Team All-NESCAC); Jerome Giovinazzo (2); Ben Bishop (4); Brad Corbin (8)
Additions for the 2009-2010 Roster:
- Expected to play in the top 3: Charles Loesch-Quintin ’13
- Expected to play in the top 6: Matt Arnold ’12 (returning from illness)
- Expected to play in the top 9: Nick Sorentino ’13
Captains: Nick Kramer and Lee Banta
Team Goals: To be in top 10 and to beat Williams
Key Matches: Williams, Bates, St. Lawrence, Brown and Dartmouth
To read other team previews, please visit the 2009 – 2010 College Squash Preview Page.
