Chapel Hill, NC — Though UNC did not field a team at the 2011-2012 Men’s National Team Championships, they competed in one of the Navy round robins, the Jester’s tournament in Atlanta, and several other matches. “The UNC team had a strong rebuilding year last year after a difficult 2010-2011 campaign,” says captain Henry Ross, who adds that the team hopes “to continue their upward trajectory and travel to nationals for the first time in several years.” Along the way, the Tar Heels will be looking to avenge close losses to Notre Dame and traditional rival Duke. The 2012-2013 UNC squad returns the middle of the order, and four new players will bookend the ladder, with David Russell and Sam Steffan expected to play in the top 3 and Hudson Vincent and Miles Cozart expected to play in the bottom three. Expect the team to be even stronger during the second half of the season, when Ned Hardison, last year’s number 1, returns from study abroad. Coach Ed Durand, who has been out with an injury, also hopes to rejoin the team in the winter, and two other coaches will work with the team in the interim. Ross praises the coaching the team has received. “The quality of our coaching is fantastic for a club sport,” he says.
2011-2012 SEASON RECAP
Season Record: 1-6
Final Ranking: NR
Team Championships: Did not play
2012-2013 SEASON PREVIEW
Program Status: Club
Returning Players from Team Championships: 2. Henry Ross; 3. Andrew Baird; 4. Alston Ramsay; 6. Billy Rooney; 7. Tucker Brenizer
Graduated/Non-Returning Players from 2011-2012 Team Championships: 1. Ned Hardison (away fall semester); 5. Rounak Rawal; 8. Josh Ford; 9. Matt Miller
Additions to the 2012-2013 Roster:
- Expected to play in the top 3: David Russell and Sam Steffan
- Expected to play in the bottom 3: Hudson Vincent and Miles Cozart
Captain: Henry Ross
Team Goals: To continue to improve and to return to compete in the Men’s National Team Championships
Key Matches: Duke and Notre Dame
To read other team previews, please visit the 2012-2013 College Squash Season Previews page.
