Poughkeepsie, NY — There are some significant changes for Vassar this season. “This season we are running a co-ed team instead of two separate teams,” explains head coach Jane Parker. “This is because we graduated six women and did not have enough players to make up a team. We have so much interest in the co-ed team that we are going to run an inter-dorm team league for players who don’t make the varsity squad. There’s lots of excitement all round.” There will be a number of key matches on the Brewers’ schedule, starting with the Liberty League Championships. “It’s always a good eye opener to test our stamina and skills against some of the country’s best players, particularly from Rochester and St. Lawrence,” says Parker. Haverford, Fordham, and Ithaca will also be key matches. According to Parker, “They are all close rivals who we have enjoyed both wins and losses against in the past.” In addition to competition, Vassar is hoping to start a junior squash program under the auspices of the Vassar College Urban Education Initiative (VCUIE). There’s a lot going on with Vassar, as Parker observes: “It’s all very exciting and different. We will be living our motto ‘All for SQUASH and SQUASH for All.’ There is something for everyone from beginner PE classes to the varsity team. We have great facilities that will be packed out with action all year round.”
2012-2013 SEASON RECAP
Season Record: 4-13
Final Ranking: 54
Team Championships: 6th in the Hawthorn Cup
2013-2014 SEASON PREVIEW
Program Status: Varsity
Head Coach: Jane Parker
Returning Players from Team Championships: 4. David Garfinkel (2015); 5. Kiet Phun (2014); 6. Daniel Doctor (2016); 7. Tim Veit (2016); 8. Ryan Kurtzman (2015 – Liberty League All-Academic); 9. Juan Fernandez (2016); 10. Michael Iselin (2016)
Graduated/Non-Returning Players from 2012-2013 Team Championships: 1. Jake Harris (2013 – Libery League Honorable Mention; Liberty League All-Academic); 2. Robert Ruggiero (2013 – Liberty League All-Academic); 3. Aiden Sperry (2013 – Liberty League All-Academic)
Additions to the 2013-2014 Roster:
- Expected to play in the top 3: Vincent Mencotti (Brother Rice School, MI); Ricardo Espinosa (2014 – returning from study abroad); Christian Lyon (2015)
- Expected to play in the middle 3: Riley McCabe (2014 – returning from study abroad); Sam Hammer (Kingswood-Oxford School, CT); Alexandra Bowditch (2015 – from the women’s team)
- Expected to play in the bottom 3: Carly Scher (Harriton Lower Merion School, PA)
Captains: Ricardo Espinosa; Kiet Phun; and Alex Bowditch
Team Goals: Improve performances and outcomes against our close rivals
Key Matches: Haverford, Fordham, and Ithaca
To read other team previews, please visit the 2013-2014 College Squash Season Previews page.
