Williamstown, MA — After ending the past two seasons ranked 10th nationally, Williams hopes to move back into the top 8 and the “A” Division. The Ephs last competed for the Potter Cup in 2008, when they finished 7th.
Key matches for Williams in terms of moving up will be Dartmouth and Penn, who were ranked seventh and ninth, respectively, at the end of last season. The Ephs came within a game of taking down Dartmouth in January, and their regular-season match against Penn was even closer. The Quakers took a second 5-4 win off of Williams during the Hoehn Cup finals, so the Ephs will be looking for a chance to reverse that outcome this season.
While other top-10 teams are definitely within reach, the Ephs will also have to keep their eyes on teams like F&M and Bates. Williams went 3-0 against Bates last season, but two of those matches were 5-4 wins. Williams also had a one-match margin over F&M when the two teams faced off late in the regular season.
The Ephs will return most of their players from last year’s championship lineup. They have lost seniors Bernard Yaros, who played throughout the bottom half of the ladder; number 4 Christian Henze, who earned Second Team All-NESCAC honors last season; and Ethan Buchsbaum, the Ephs’ number 1 and the 2010 NESCAC co-Player of the Year. Buchsbaum was also named to NESCAC’s All-Conference, All-Academic, and All-Sportsmanship teams, one of only four athletes out of all the NESCAC student-athletes playing winter sports to earn all three conference honors.
First-years Taylor Foehl and Andrew Maruca will be joining the team. Foehl was ranked 13th BU19 in 2009-2010, and Maruca was ranked 33rd.
2009-2010 SEASON RECAP
Season Record: 17-8
Final Ranking: 10
Team Championships: 10th Overall; 2nd in Hoehn Cup (B Division)
2010-2011 SEASON PREVIEW
Program Status: Varsity
Head Coach: Zafi Levy
Returning Players from Team Championships: Julian Drobetsky (6); Jack Ervasti (7); Alex Greaves-Tunnell (10); Will Gruner (4); Jeremy Herrmann (8); Nick Marks (5); Will Morris (2; 1st Team All-NESCAC)
Graduates on Last Season’s Team Championships Roster: Ethan Buchsbaum (1; 1st Team All-NESCAC; NESCAC co-Player of the Year); Christian Henze (3; 2nd Team All-NESCAC); Bernard Yaros (9)
Additions to the 2010-2011 Roster: Taylor Foehl and Andrew Maruca
Captains: Will Gruner and Jeremy Herrmann
Team Goals: Reach the top 8
Key Matches: Dartmouth, Penn
To read other team previews, please visit the 2010 – 2011 College Squash Preview Page.
