Stanford, CA — Stanford was the top club team in the nation last year. The Cardinal swept Bucknell in the Conroy Cup semifinals at the 2013 Men’s National Team Championships to secure the coveted top club spot, and they followed that victory with a dramatic 5-4 win over Colby to win the D Division title. With four returning senior starters on the squad, this year’s team could be even better. “On paper, it should be the strongest men’s team Stanford has ever fielded,” says head coach Mark Talbott. Only one starter has graduated, and two new players — Parker Odrich and Will Sternlicht — will be joining the team. Stanford will be looking to move up the rankings, and they have scheduled their matches accordingly. “We play the four teams ahead of us as well as Colby which is one spot behind,” explains Talbott. “They are all important matches.” The players on the team, whom Talbott describes as an “incredibly diverse, smart, fun group of guys,” will also continue to be involved with Xtreme Squash, an urban squash program, this season. Stanford won the Sloane Award for team sportsmanship last season, so look for the Cardinal to exhibit sporting play as well.

2012-2013 SEASON RECAP

Season Record: 10-8

Final Ranking: 25

Team Championships: 1st in the Conroy Cup

2013-2014 SEASON PREVIEW

Program Status: Club

Head Coach: Mark Talbott (Sloane Award Winner)

Returning Players from Team Championships: 1. Chris Baldock (2014); 3. Will McFarlane (2016); 4. Tyler Strand (2014 – Academic Recognition); 5. Nick Xu (2015); 6. Miles Bennett (2015); 7. John Han (2014); 8. Vihan Khanna (2016); 9. Matt Duhamel (2015)

Graduated/Non-Returning Players from 2012-2013 Team Championships: 2. Mark Wieland (2013 – Academic Recognition); 10. Kibahm Park (2013)

Additions to the 2013-2014 Roster: Parker Odrich and Will Sternlicht

Captains: Chris Baldock, Tyler Strand, John Han, and Wyatt Hong

Team Goals: Move up in the rankings and make it into the C Division

Key Matches: Teams around us in the rankings

To read other team previews, please visit the 2013-2014 College Squash Season Previews page.