Rochester, NY — Get ready for Rochester. The five new players joining the Yellowjackets are all expected to compete in the top ten, with two players — Ryosei Kobayashi and Mario Yanez — expected to play in the top 3. Among the returners who competed in last season’s Men’s National Team Championships, there is only one rising senior; the other players are all members of the class of 2016. “Our team is mainly comprised of freshmen and sophomores, so we are looking pretty good for the next few years,” says head coach Martin Heath, the 2012 Liberty League Coach of the Year. Early in the season Rochester will duke it out with St. Lawrence for the Liberty League title, and the Yellowjackets will be in the running with established powerhouses Trinity, Harvard, Yale, and Princeton for the national title. Rochester is aiming for the top four, but reaching the national final is also on the table. The squad is planning an international trip to either China or Peru to combine training, tourism, and volunteer work. Oscar Lopez, a former captain, will replace Hameed Ahmed as assistant coach.
2012-2013 SEASON RECAP
Season Record: 10-6
Final Ranking: 5
Team Championships: 5th in the Potter Cup
2013-2014 SEASON PREVIEW
Program Status: Varsity
Head Coach: Martin Heath (Liberty League Coach of the Year)
Returning Players from Team Championships: 2. Neil Cordell (2016 – Second Team All-American; All-Liberty League Team); 3. Faraz Khan (2016 – First Team All-American; All-Liberty League Team); 6. Karm Kumar (2014 – Libery League Honorable Mention); 7. Meng Xiaomin (2016); 8. Will Mohr (2016);
Graduated/Non-Returning Players from 2012-2013 Team Championships: 1. Andres Duany (2013 – First Team All-American; Liberty League All-Academic; All-Liberty League Team); 4. Adam Perkiomaki (2013 – Second Team All-American; All-Liberty League Team); 5. Oscar Lopez (2013 – All-Liberty League Team); 9. Juan Herrera (2013);
Additions to the 2013-2014 Roster:
- Expected to play in the top 3: Ryosei Kobayashi and Mario Yanez
- Expected to play in the middle 3: Aria Fazelimanesh
- Expected to play in the bottom 3: Christian Riedelsheimer
- Other addition: Jesse Cramer
Captains: Neil Cordell & Karm Kumar
Team Goals: Top 4, though we’re hopeful to make our first final
Key Matches: St. Lawrence, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Trinity
To read other team previews, please visit the 2013-2014 College Squash Season Previews page.
