Providence, RI — Brown plans to move into the Hoehn Cup (B Division) at this season’s National Team Championships. That goal may be within reach. After all, the Bears lost the Summers Cup (C Division) final to Middlebury, 4-5. The squad needs to improve its results in close matches. Last season, they were 1 for 6 in 5-4 matches. If they had turned a few of those losses into victories, they may have entered the B Division last season. Brown lost four players to graduation, but is gaining five new players. The team will also have former Penn captain, Joe Raho, as an assistant coach. Captaining the team will be John Blasberg and Nicolas Talbott. Talbott, who started last season as #12 on the ladder, climbed to the #8 position by Team Championships. According to head coach Stuart le Gassick, Talbott is a “wonderful leader and tremendous athlete who stopped rowing at Brown and played squash in his junior year. He is so competitive and yet an outstanding sport.” Blasberg’s and Talbott’s leadership may be key as the Bears look to incorporate so many new players to the team. “This journey will be a lot of fun with a lot of hard work and sweat – but we are looking forward to the season immensely,” adds le Gassick.
2013-2014 SEASON RECAP
Season Record: 6-16
Final Ranking: 18
Team Championships: 2nd in the Summers Cup
By the Numbers (From US Squash): 5-4 Matches Won: 1 of 6 (Tied for Most 4-5 Loses) … Position with the Most Wins: #5s had 12 Wins
2014-2015 SEASON PREVIEW
Program Status: Varsity
Head Coach: Stuart le Gassick
Returning Players from Team Championships: 2. John Blasberg (2016); 3. Oliver Booth (2016); 4. Foster Hoff (2016); 5. Alexander Baldock (2017); 8. Nicolas Talbott (2015); 10. Ross Freiman-Mendel (2016); 11. Neel Swami (2015)
Graduated/Non-Returning Players from Team Championships: 1. Blake Reinson (2014 – All-Ivy League Team); 6. Philip Holberton (2014); 7. Patrick O’Neill (2014 – CSA Scholar Athlete); 9. Charles Lebovitz (2014 – CSA Scholar Athlete)
Additions to the 2014-2015 Roster:
- Expected to play in the top 3: Thomas Blecher (Toronto, Canada)
- Expected to play in the bottom 3: Charles Blasberg (Milton Academy – Boston, MA), Thomas Walker (Haverford – Malvern, PA), Alex Demeulenaere (Phillips Andover – Chicago, IL), and Michael Snower
Captains: Nicolas Talbott and John Blasberg
Team Goals: To make the Hoehn Cup
Key Matches: Wesleyan. Williams, Amherst, GW, Navy, and Bowdoin
To read other team previews, please visit the 2014-2015 College Squash Season Previews page.
