Minneapolis, MN — Minnesota wants to improve from its 53rd ranking at the conclusion of last season. According to assistant coach John Stevers, “We expect to move up a division from #53 into mid 40s. Despite losing a dominant #1, we will be stronger in each of the three roster segments with last year’s #3 moving down to #5, pushing everyone else down the ladder and much more experienced #8 and #9.” That is good news, especially for the Gophers’ middle 3, who last year captured less then half of their matches. Minnesota opens the season hosting its own round robin before the Gophers head to Swarthmore and then Stanford for additional round robin events. The team has hired a new head coach, Arturo Manzur, who will lead the team as they face new opponents this season. Minnesota understands that to move up in the rankings, they need to travel and face new opponents.
2014-2015 SEASON RECAP
Season Record: 7-5
Final Ranking: 53
Team Championships: 5th in the Hawthorn Cup (G Division)
By the Numbers (From US Squash): 5-4 Matches Won: 1 of 2… Top 3 Win %: 0.6944… Middle 3 Win %: 0.4722… Lower 3 Win %: 0.6207
2015-2016 SEASON PREVIEW
Program Status: Club
Returning Players from Team Championships: 2. KT Ng (2016); 3. Chris Bowles (2017); 8. Kevin Fox (2017); 9. Tucker Ledo (2017); 10. Ericcson Law (2017); 11. Connor Herman (2017)
Graduated/Non-Returning Players from 2014-2015 Team Championships: 1. Wei Sien Goh (2015); 4. Chee Fai Leong (2015); 5. Oliver Alexander-Adams (2015); 6. Jin Ken Yap (2016); 7. Chandler Ignaszewski (2016)
Additions to the 2015-2016 Roster:
- Expected to play in the top 3: Shobit Gupta (Dubai) and Anas Ghazanfar (Pakistan)
- Expected to play in the middle 3: Artum (Russia) and Rae Sun (South Korea)
- Expected to play in the bottom 3: Joe Gagliano (Milwaukee, WI)
Captains: Kevin Fox and Tucker Ledo
Team Goals: Move up in the rankings
Key Matches: Notre Dame, USC, and Swarthmore
To read other team previews, please visit the 2015-2016 College Squash Season Previews page.
Davidson, NC — Davidson finished the 2014 – 2015 season ranked 48th. This is a remarkable accomplishment since the team was formed at the beginning of last season. The Wildcats played a few tournaments, including an event hosted at the Charlotte Squash Club. Davidson won this tournament, which included a 5-4 victory over Miami in the final. For this season, the Wildcats are looking forward to another match with Miami. According to Michael Ding, “We beat Miami last year but they were missing some key players so the intensity this year should be exciting.” The squad has an ambitious goal this season: qualify for the Conroy Cup (D Division) at Team Championships. That would require improving 16 places in the rankings over the end of last season. Although the Conroy Cup goal may not be attainable, Davidson has a mission to strive for.
St. Louis, MO — After winning the Serues Cup during the 2013 – 2014 season, the University of Washington in St. Louis finished last season in 7th place in the Serues Cup standings. Having lost two players to graduation, this season’s squad will need to refocus to surpass their 2013 – 2014 finish. According to co-captain Mark Temple, the team “is looking to have a strong season after graduating our number one player, Hunter Matthews, last season. We want to improve upon the middle and back end of the ladder all the while having a fun season.” Temple is correct: last season the team’s strength was in the top-3 spots of the ladder. The middle and lower thirds of the line-up captured less than 40% of their matches. Improvements in these areas will be key to a successful season for the Bears.
Nashville, TN — The Vanderbilt men’s and women’s teams will be combined this season. With the combined squad, the Commodores are focused on matches with Washington in St. Louis, Northwestern, and Davidson. Last season, all of Vanderbilt’s regular season matches were played in the final two weekends of January. Including Team Championships, the Commodores earned victories against Notre Dame, Oregon, and UNC. Although Vanderbilt finished third in the H Division at last season’s Team Championships, the squad is optimistic and is striving to compete in the Serues Cup (F Division) or the Chaffee Cup (E Division). Although the Chaffee Cup seems a bit of stretch for Vanderbilt, look for the team to be more competitive and to field nine players for matches with the combined men’s and women’s team.
Boston, MA — Boston University has plans for the 2015 – 2016 season. After finishing as the runner-up in the last season’s Serues Cup (F Division) at Team Championships, the Terriers want to make the jump to the Chaffee Cup (E Division) this season. After graduating three players, Boston University will need to have their five incoming players fill the voids. According to co-captain Joel Lavoie, “It should be a great season with our good returning core of players combined with a few very good incoming freshman who can play at the top of the ladder.” Last season, Boston University had few wins — three — entering Team Championships. To improve this season, they will need to perform well against city rivals, Boston College and Northeastern. The middle third of their ladder had the best win percentage of the squad, 0.375, but to improve, the entire team will need win more individual matches. Look for Boston University to be fighting for a position in the Chaffee Cup this season.
Hamilton , NY — Colgate does not have a senior on the 2015 – 2016 squad. The Raiders are expecting the return of their former #2 and three freshmen with prep school squash experience to join the team this season. In addition, the team’s facility has been updated. According to head coach Ben Oliver, “We are motivated! Last season was a rebuilding year, and with the newly renovated courts, several talented new players, and a strong desire to bring home the Sereus Cup, this is a highly motivated team.” With the renovated courts, Colgate is hosting more home matches. “We are playing many more home matches this season. We hope that less travel will allow us to be better rested and more competitive throughout the entire season,” adds Oliver. If Colgate can stay injury free and build on their learning experiences from last season, look of the Raiders to compete for the Serues Cup this season.
Philadelphia, PA — After earning a position in the Potter Cup (A Division) at Team Championships for the second consecutive year, Penn wants to make it three years in a row. The Quakers, who finished last season ranked 7th, their highest ranking since the end of the 2008-2009 season, return their entire starting nine from last season’s Team Championships. The team is expecting five new players, including three competing for spots throughout the top nine ladder positions. In July, head coach Jack Wyant announced that Gilly Lane, Penn assistant coach and the College Squash Association’s 2007 Skillman Award winner, had been promoted to associate head coach. To move higher in the rankings, Penn will need to win tight matches. Last season, the Quakers went 0-3 in 5-4 matches, losing to F&M, Princeton, and Yale. If they can capitalize on close matches this season, Penn could move higher in the Ivy League and national standings.
Waterville, ME — After only losing two of their starting nine from last season’s Team Championships, Colby appears ready for a solid run in 2015 – 2016. The Mules’ strength last season came from the middle of their ladder, and with the top 6 all returning and the addition of three first-year players, Colby’s experience will be important. Head coach Sakhi Khan, the NESCAC Coach of the Year, plans to help his players reach their “fullest potential as squash competitors and students while having the time of their lives.” The Mules have identified matches with NESCAC rivals Amherst, Bowdoin, Hamilton, and Wesleyan as key to their placement in the conference and in the national rankings. If Colby wants to accomplish their goal of rising in the rankings and capturing the Summers Cup, the team will need to strengthen its performance in close matches. Last season, the Mules were 3 of 7 in 5-4 matches, including a loss to Brown and three losses to Wesleyan. The young squad at Colby is excited about the upcoming season.