Philadelphia, PA — After starting last season 0-4, Drexel went on to finish the regular season with a 9-8 record. The young squad will look to build on the 2014 – 2015 experience this season. This includes improving their performance in tight matches. The Dragons went 1 for 4 in 5-4 matches, including a loss to Princeton in the semifinals of the Hoehn Cup (B Division) at Team Championships. Last season, the ladder was the strongest in the top 3 positions, which is a good thing since the Dragons only lost their #8 to graduation. The team is expecting a group of talented newcomers, including players with major tournament experiences. Mark Kauf, the silent leader of the team, will be back for his senior season. According to assistant coach Kelsey Engman, “His teammates know him as someone who always comes off court red in the face, having given his all on court despite injuries and illnesses. He was a captain as a junior on the team, and he continues to lead on and off the court.” The Dragons will be looking to move into the top 10 this season. With eight of nine starters returning and a talented group of additions, that goal is within reach.
2014-2015 SEASON RECAP
Season Record: 10-10
Final Ranking: 12
Team Championships: 4th in the Hoehn Cup (B Division)
By the Numbers (From US Squash): 5-4 Matches Won: 1 of 4… Top 3 Win %: 0.6333… Middle 3 Win %: 0.55… Lower 3 Win %: 0.4655
2015-2016 SEASON PREVIEW
Program Status: Varsity
Head Coach: John White
Returning Players from Team Championships: 1. Luke Willemse (2018); 2. Atticus Kelly (2018); 3. Ibrahim Bakir (2016); 4. Michael Thompson (2017); 5. Cillian Dunne (2018); 6. Mark Kauf (2016); 7. Nat Fry (2017); 9. Joey Gingold (2016);
Graduated/Non-Returning Players from 2014-2015 Team Championships: 8. Sebastian Dangond (2015); 10. Harshil Dakonia (2015); 11. Nick Didonato (2015);
Additions to the 2015-2016 Roster:
- Expected to play in the top 3: Omar ElAtmas (El Rowad Language School)
- Expected to play in the middle 3: Bransten Ming (Shawnigan Lake)
- Expected to play in the bottom 3: Noel Solomon
- Other addition: William Grady (Westminster School) and Ryan Leslie (North View High School)
Captains: Nat Fry, Luke Willemse, and Atticus Kelly
Team Goals: To climb the rankings
Key Matches: All matches
To read other team previews, please visit the 2015-2016 College Squash Season Previews page.
