Lancaster, PA — Despite having their first losing season since 2007 – 2008, Franklin & Marshall’s plethora of young talent was an incredible benefit last season. With eight returning players from last season’s starting nine at Team Championships returning and the addition of five players to the roster, look for the Diplomats to return to their winning ways. According to Gavin Jones, currently third on Franklin & Marshall’s all-time men’s squash coaching list, “Our goal this year is to keep a high standard of academic excellence through the school year and to continue to grow closer as a team while competing to get back in the Potter Cup.” Considering their youth last season, the squad did very well in tight matches, winning 3 of 4 5-4 matches. The Diplomats’ strength was the top third of the ladder. They will need more wins out of the middle and lower thirds of the ladder if they want to move higher in the rankings this season. The team is looking to train in California during the semester break. Don’t be surprised to see the Diplomats in the fight for a position in the Potter Cup.
2015-2016 SEASON RECAP
Season Record: 9-10
Final Ranking: 13
Team Championships: 5th in the Hoehn Cup (B Division)
By the Numbers (From US Squash): 5-4 Matches Won: 3 of 4… Top 3 Win%: .544… Middle 3 Win%: .368… Lower 3 Win%: .351…
2016-2017 SEASON PREVIEW
Program Status: Varsity
Head Coach: Gavin Jones
Returning Players from Team Championships: 1. Cole Osborne (2017); 2. Sean Kenny (2019); 4. Silvio Soom (2019); 5. Samm Fulton (2019); 6. Karim Nabil (2017); 7. Jackson McCord (2018); 9. Ricky Machado (2019); 10. Ishan Advani (2017); 11. Frank Murray (2019);
Away First Semester: 8. Michael Sorochev (2018);
Graduated/Non-Returning Players from Team Championships: 3. Pedro Veiga (2016);
Additions to the 2016-2017 Roster:
- Expected to play in the top 6: Gavan Hitchenor (2017); Shamseldeen Abbas (2020); Yannis Senkel (2020);
- Expected to play in the top 9: Kingman Bassett (2020); and Boden Polikoff (2020, spring admit)
Captains: Cole Osborne and Ishan Advani
Team Goals: Excel academically and return to the Potter Cup
Key Matches: All matches
To read other team previews, please visit the 2016-2017 College Squash Season Previews page.
