Seattle, WA –With number 1 player Rob Young back in the lineup, the University of Washington Huskies are ready to make it back into the top 35. The Huskies finished 47th at last year’s National Team Championships, but they will be fielding a much stronger team this season.
The team will only lose one player, Mauricio Cerna, and will have several key additions. Besides Young, who is returning from an injury, sophomores Kevin Park and Brandi Conforth have joined the team. Park and Conforth are expected to compete for spots in the top 7 and will add depth to the Huskies’ ladder. The team has also benefited from ongoing coaching from Azam Khan, a top Juniors coach who is the head pro at PRO Sports Club.
Even though Washington competes in the men’s division, three women are members of the team: Parisa Khaligh, Conforth, and Annie Barouh.
The Huskies will travel to the Navy Round Robin, where they hope to reverse last year’s losses to Georgetown and UNC. The team also expects a tough match from West Coast-rival Cal.
2008-2009 Season Recap
FINAL RANKING: 47th
NATIONAL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS: 47th; 6th in Serues Cup (F Division)
2009-2010 Season Preview
Returning Players from Team Championships: Najib Morcos (1); Brett McGinnis (2); Parisa Khalighi (3); Lok-ki Tang (5); Andrew Marsolek (6); Annie Barouh (7); Andrew Rucker (8); Steven Chang (9)
Graduating Players from Team Championships: Mauricio Cerna (4)
Additions for the 2009-2010 Roster:
- Expected to play #1: Rob Young
- Expected to play in the top 5: Ryan Tyler
- Expected to play in the top 7: Brandi Conforth, Eugene Chau, and Kevin Park
Captains: Najib Morcos, Brett McGinnis, and Parisa Khalighi
Team Goals: To return to the top 35 for the first time in three years
Key Matches: Cal, UNC, UVA, Drexel, and Georgetown
To read other team previews, please visit the 2009 – 2010 College Squash Preview Page.
