Relatively new women’s varsity program Dickinson College has made solid improvement up the rankings since joining the CSA in 2014. Last year was their biggest jump yet – 5 spots from 23 to 18 – earning the Red Devils the 2018 CSA Women’s Most Improved Team Award. Number 18 also marked the highest end-of-season ranking ever for the young program. Changes are afoot in central Pennsylvania, however, which will make it all the more challenging to keep the momentum going. Dickinson announced the hire of new Head Coach Chris Fernandez in early October, and he will have a short time to get up to speed before the season gets underway next weekend. Fernandez will greet eight returning starters as he gets acquainted on campus, but he will be missing two key student-athletes who have played a major role in the establishment and success of the young program. Top player Hedvika Suchankova is not expected to return to the ladder and Stuart Lemay, one of the players who was there on Day 1 of the program, has graduated. Three first-years arrive to help keep the train moving forward, and they’ll have much to prove in an early season matchup with Bates. The Red Devils also have tough matches on either side of winter break, traveling to Wesleyan in December and meeting Tufts in mid-January.
2017-2018 SEASON RECAP
Season Record: 10-9
Final Ranking: 18
Team Championships Result: 2nd in the Walker Cup (C Division)
2018-2019 SEASON PREVIEW
Head Coach: Chris Fernandez
Returning Players from Team Championships:
- Domenica Romo; 3. Eloise Nimoityn; 4. Nicole DeLuca; 5. Aya Sobhy; 7. Jaime-Leigh Edghill; 8. Carley Barton; 9. Abbie Wingerd
Graduated/Non-Returning Players from Team Championships:
- Hedvika Suchankova; 6. Stuart Lemay
Additions to 2018-2019 Roster:
- Lindsay Kuracina
- Rachel O’Brien
- Courtney Trail
Team Goal: To finish ranked in the Top 15 in the CSA rankings
Key Matches: Bates, Wesleyan, Tufts, Amherst, Middlebury
To read season previews for other CSA teams, please visit the 2018-2019 College Squash Season Previews page.
