In a battle of closely-ranked teams, the #14-ranked Western Ontario Mustangs delivered a commanding 6-3 victory over the #15-ranked Rochester Yellowjackets on Friday evening at the Yellowjackets’ home facility. The match, filled with drama and grit, proved why these two programs remain perennial threats in college squash.
From the outset, the tone was set by the grueling first wave of matches. Western’s Antonio Mendes struck first, delivering a crucial opening win to put the Mustangs on the board. Moments later, teammates Daniel Deverill and Rio Schafer followed suit with victories of their own, propelling Western to an imposing 3-0 lead. Each of these matches extended beyond 45 minutes, exemplifying the physical and mental demands of the contest.
Western extended their lead further with a win from Griffin Manley at #9, securing the Mustangs’ fourth point and placing Rochester on the brink. Facing elimination, Rochester dug deep to keep their hopes alive. Arnav Mandhana stepped up at #6, battling through a tight four-game match to earn Rochester’s first point of the evening. His tenacity was on full display as he edged out back-to-back 14-12 victories in the final two games, electrifying the home crowd.
Rochester’s Yash Fadte then delivered the match of the night in an epic five-setter against Western’s Dylan Deverill. Fadte prevailed 11-7 in the decisive game, showcasing incredible focus and determination in a pressure-packed situation. His performance brought Rochester within striking distance at 4-2 and embodied the resilience that defines this rivalry.
However, Western’s depth proved too much to overcome. Tyson Schille sealed the win for the Mustangs with a decisive victory at #8, pushing the overall score to 5-2. Though the match had been decided, the excitement continued as Josh Kay narrowly edged Jacob Koeppen in a five-game thriller at #5, and Omar Zakaria capped off the night with a commanding straight-sets win at #2. The final score of 6-3 reflected Western’s balanced strength and consistency throughout the lineup.
Post-match, Western head coach Chris Hanebury praised his team’s effort, stating, “It was a great match last night. It’s always tight with Rochester, and it’s the first time we’ve beaten them on their home courts since I’ve been coaching at Western. Our first three players set the tone, and the entire team stepped up in critical moments.”
Further, Hanebury reflected on the match, stating, “I know the team and our alumni appreciated being selected as the match of the week and even more so because of our performance. Rochester is always a fair and competitive team, and I’m sure we will have plenty more battles in the years to come.”
While Western Ontario celebrated a hard-earned victory, Rochester demonstrated their trademark toughness and sportsmanship, ensuring this rivalry will remain a highlight of the college squash calendar for years to come. Both teams now set their sights on the second half of the season, with plenty still at stake in their respective division campaigns.
