Waterville, ME — With the return of seven players from 2016 Men’s College Squash Association National Team Championship starting line-up, this season looks promising for Colby. The team is also expecting the addition of five freshmen, which should add to the Mules’ depth. The squad won the Summers Cup (C Division) consolation last season and plans to improve upon that finish this season. According to head coach Sakhi Khan, the Mules want to capture the Summers Cup. Colby prides itself on sportsmanship. Senior Hugh Doherty “always had the highest standard regarding fair play. He has been a great representative of the Colby Squash Program,” adds Khan. Captaining the Mules will be Patrick McCarthy, who will be tasked with leading a squad with only two seniors. Colby needs to secure a few more wins from the top of its order if it intends to move up the rankings. Given Colby’s depth, don’t be surprised to see the Mules contending for the Summers Cup.
2015-2016 SEASON RECAP
Season Record: 13-8
Final Ranking: 21
Team Championships: 5th in the Summers Cup (C Division)
By the Numbers (From US Squash): 5-4 Matches Won: 2 of 4… Top 3 Win%: .460… Middle 3 Win%: .524… Lower 3 Win%: .651…
2016-2017 SEASON PREVIEW
Program Status: Varsity
Head Coach: Sakhi Khan
Returning Players from Team Championships: 1. William McBrian (2018 – NESCAC Second-Team; NESCAC All-Academic); 3. Elliot Gross (2019); 5. Patrick McCarthy (2017 – NESCAC All-Academic; CSA Scholar Athlete); 6. Ben Kwass (2018); 7. Hugh Doherty (2017); 8. Andrew Swapp (2018 – NESCAC All-Academic); 9. Matt Epstein (2018 – NESCAC All-Academic);
Graduated/Non-Returning Players from Team Championships: 2. CJ Smith (2016 – NESCAC Second-Team; NESCAC All-Academic; CSA Scholar Athlete); 4. Yuga Koda (2016 – NESCAC All-Sportsmanship Team; NESCAC All-Academic; CSA Scholar Athlete); 10. Greg Ho (2016);
Additions to the 2016-2017 Roster:
- Charlie Bearegard
- Will Pepi
- Jason Brodo
- Ian Mansfield
- Sam Hitt
Captain: Patrick McCarthy
Team Goals: Win the Summers Cup
Key Matches: NESCAC Matches
To read other team previews, please visit the 2016-2017 College Squash Season Previews page.
Providence, RI — Brown finished the 2016 season with a 3rd place finish in the Kurtz Cup (B Division) at the Women’s College Squash Association National Team Championships. The Bears intend to be back in the mix for the Kurtz Cup crown this season. The team recognizes that matches with Dartmouth, Cornell, Williams, Virginia, and Middlebury will be key as they work towards that goal. According to head coach Stuart le Gassick, “Brown is a team that is supportive of each other and who enjoy the team experience – all the while balancing a great educational experience with the excitement of competing at a high level on the squash courts.” To illustrate that balance, le Gassick explained that last season’s #10 Katherine Pisani spent the summer working in Russia for NASA and pursued research on the relationship between planetary impacts and chondrules. For Brown to have a successful season in le Gassick’s eyes the team needs “to have fun, work hard, enjoy the team experience and compete at the top of the Kurtz Cup Division – if not higher!” That goal does not seem out of this world.
Washington, DC — After qualifying for the 2014 – 2015 Howe Cup, George Washington was back in the Kurtz Cup (B Division) at the 2016 Women’s College Squash Association National Team Championships. The Colonials intend to return to the top division this season. The team has five first-year players joining the squad, which will help offset the loss of three seniors. According to assistant coach Anderson Good, “We have a great mix of upperclassmen and freshmen on the team this year. We brought in a really strong freshmen class, one of the best in several years, and we have our sights set on qualifying for the Howe Cup.” Captaining the Colonials will be Breanne Flynn, who was a Second Team All-American last season and has also represented Ireland at the junior and senior levels. “Our team is going to be a great mix of inexperienced and experienced players. We have a great team dynamic, and we expect to have a much stronger season than last year and improve our ranking,” adds Good. For George Washington to accomplish its goal of returning to the Howe Cup, the team will need to increase its win percentage in the middle and lower thirds of the line-up.
Ithaca, NY — The 2015 – 2016 season was filled with ups and downs for Cornell. They lost close matches with Drexel and Dartmouth, but they also defeated Princeton and Penn. The Big Red made it to the Hoehn Cup final and finished last season as the 10th-ranked team in the nation. The squad lost two players to graduation, but they return an experienced line-up. The team will also have a new coach. After twelve seasons, former head coach 
Geneva, NY — Hobart had three 5-4 matches last year but only captured a single close match. However, that 5-4 victory came on the final day of the 2016 Men’s College Squash Association National Team Championships and helped the Statesmen finish the season ranked 23rd in the nation. According to head coach Tim Riskie the team has several goals: “Train hard in practice everyday. Achieve above a 3.0 team GPA. Improve on last season’s final ranking. Take pride in the grind!” The team will be volunteering with the Lunch Buddies program. Team members will go to a local elementary school and have lunch with the kids in an effort to serve as positive role models. During the winter break, the team is planning a road trip through Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine to play a number of teams, which will serve as a good test of their training. According to Riskie, “Everyone is excited to work hard and continue to improve themselves and the Hobart program. We have a diverse team of student-athletes, who get along well on and off the court and share a common passion for squash.”
New London, CT — For those paying close attention, Conn College will virtually have a new team this fall. With four players not returning and three players studying abroad during the first semester, the Camels only have two players from the starting line-up from the 2016 Women’s College Squash National Team Championships on the team. Yet Conn College has five first-year players joining the squad and one player returning from study abroad. Head coach Ted Childs is proud of his team for their effort last season. Although the team lost 4 of 5 5-4 matches, the experience gained was beneficial. “We were so, so close to having our highest ranking in over 5 seasons, yet so far as we have to learn to close better. Overall, it was a great learning season for a young team; as I was very proud for how they battled and never gave up.” The Camels will have Anne Holly, Caroline Lippincott, and Adrienne Sieverding serving as tri-captains. According to Childs, Holly is the “epitome of a team player,” with “outstanding dedication, like having an assistant coach in the lineup.” Conn College is planning a winter training trip down south to an undisclosed location. Look for the Camels to be a much stronger team in the second semester.
New York, NY — Columbia lost a third of its starting line-up from the 2016 Women’s College Squash Association National Team Championships. Yet the Lions are prepared to retain their spot in the Howe Cup (A Division). They have a number first-year players joining the roster, and they are all are expected to compete for positions in the starting line-up. According to assistant coach Joanne Schickerling, “Columbia is very excited to welcome seven fresh faces to the team and we look forward to a great season. The team is also really excited to continue our partnership with Harlem’s StreetSquash. Over the years the team has volunteered weekly to tutor the program’s students, with whom we have created great relationships.” The squad will have tri-captains: Colette Sultana, Maya Patel, and Tanvi Khanna. Sultana has been the national squash champion of her native Malta for the past five years. With many teams clamoring for positions in the lower half of the Howe Cup, Columbia needs to improve their win percentages, especially of the lower 3, this season to remain in the hunt for a spot in the A Division.
Poughkeepsie, NY — For the first time in sixteen seasons, Vassar will have a new coach. 