Burlington, VT — After a season off from the Men’s National Team Championships, Vermont is looking to return to the tournament this season. According to captain Sam Kazman, “Our goals are to improve the full functioning of the squash team and to increase the number of players on the team.” The Catamounts hope to make the 36 mile drive down US-7 to Middlebury to train and learn from the Panthers. The key matches for Vermont will be Boston University and Northeastern. Kazman recognizes that the Terriers and the Huskies will be challenges for the Catamounts, but the team is looking forward to the matches. Last season, the team was tested in losses to MIT, BU, Northeastern, Tufts, and Bryant. Kazman is optimistic, stating that “We are a work in progress, but we will strive for a great season.”
2012-2013 SEASON RECAP
Season Record: 0-5
Final Ranking: Not Ranked
Team Championships: Did Not Play
2013-2014 SEASON PREVIEW
Program Status: Emerging Club
Additions to the 2013-2014 Roster:
- Expected to play in the top 3: Emily Dowling (2017)
- Expected to play in the bottom 3: Jane Yeager (2014)
Captains: Sam Kazman and Nik Moring
Team Goals: To play Nationals
Key Matches: Boston University and Northeastern
To read other team previews, please visit the 2013-2014 College Squash Season Previews page.
Rochester, NY — Get ready for Rochester. The five new players joining the Yellowjackets are all expected to compete in the top ten, with two players — Ryosei Kobayashi and Mario Yanez — expected to play in the top 3. Among the returners who competed in last season’s Men’s National Team Championships, there is only one rising senior; the other players are all members of the class of 2016. “Our team is mainly comprised of freshmen and sophomores, so we are looking pretty good for the next few years,” says head coach Martin Heath, the 2012 Liberty League Coach of the Year. Early in the season Rochester will duke it out with St. Lawrence for the Liberty League title, and the Yellowjackets will be in the running with established powerhouses Trinity, Harvard, Yale, and Princeton for the national title. Rochester is aiming for the top four, but reaching the national final is also on the table. The squad is planning an international trip to either China or Peru to combine training, tourism, and volunteer work. Oscar Lopez, a former captain, will replace Hameed Ahmed as assistant coach.
Lewisburg, PA — Although Bucknell has had a women’s squash team for a number of years, the Bison have never made it to the Women’s National Team Championships. They have been scheduled to play several times, but for a variety of reasons they have had to pull out of the tournament. One of the team’s goals for this season is to make it to nationals, and if they do, they could be serious contenders for the Epps Cup. They have a deep roster with a good balance of experienced players and newcomers, Bucknell recently built several new courts, and they play a full schedule. “The women’s squash team is hosting matches for the first time in Bucknell’s history,” explains captain Ana Kelly. “The women’s squash program at Bucknell is growing stronger every year and we are quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with.”
Hartford, CT — Seeded fourth coming into the 2013 Women’s National Team Championships, Trinity was a surprise finalist after upsetting top-seeded Princeton in the semis. The Bantams came within a match of taking the national title from defending national champions Harvard. With all but one starter from last season returning, Trinity is poised to make another run at the national title. Newcomer Alexia Echeverria is expected to play in the middle of the order, filling the gap left by senior captain Robyn Hodgson; Brice Rothenberg will also be joining the team. “We are a dynamic team!” says head coach Wendy Bartlett. “We are also a diverse team, with players from all over the world, who bond together to ‘Unite and Fight’!” Vikram Malhotra, a former All-American for the Trinity men, will be joining the Bantams as an assistant coach. There is another exciting development in Hartford. “In January, Trinity will be the site for a new NUSEA program,” Bartlett explains. “The players will be very involved in teaching and mentoring the kids.” If the Bantams have their way, the NUSEA students will be mentored by national champions.
Baltimore, MD — Johns Hopkins has made considerable progress in a short time. “The team has been steadily improving over the past four seasons,” says captain Peter Wu. “Our goals for our fifth season are to continue to train hard and work our way back into a top 30 finish this season.” The Blue Jays finished 31st last season, so finishing within the top 30 is an attainable goal, especially since only two players have graduated and three new players are expected to compete in the top nine. Haverford, Hobart, and Virginia will be key matches on the Blue Jays’ schedule as they work toward cracking the top 30. “Everyone on the team is excited about training hard and the prospect of much success in the upcoming season,” says Wu. The Blue Jays are also looking forward to giving back. “The team is very proud to continue our relationship with SquashWise, a youth development program in Baltimore that provides coaching and tutoring to talented and motivated students,” Wu explains. “The players on the JHU squash team always look forward to contributing to SquashWise’s efforts, on and off the court.”
South Bend, IN — There’s some good news from South Bend: Notre Dame now has more courts to play on. “Over the summer we gained five more courts to practice on,” explains coach Geoff McCuen. The situation still isn’t ideal, but McCuen sees the positive. “They are 18-foot hardball courts that were relined to look like softball courts. But it’s better than sending players to run on a treadmill when the courts were full.” That Notre Dame also has full courts is also a good sign. Three starters from last season have graduated, and Michael O’Neill and Reilly Bench will be studying abroad in the spring, though they will be with the team in the fall. The Fighting Irish would like to qualify for the Serues Division, but if they compete in the G Division again, they hope to win the Hawthorn Cup. Last season they finished fifth in the G Division and 53rd overall, amassing an 8 and 11 record.
Williamstown, MA — Williams reached the finals of the B Division at the 2013 Men’s National Team Championships, where they fell to Western Ontario. The Ephs hope to improve upon that finish this season by bringing the Hoehn Cup back to the Berkshires and moving deeper into the top 10. The team has identified all the teams ranked between 7 and 18 as key opponents, and that’s wise: with the tight competition from the bottom of the A Division to the top of the C Division, almost any team in that range could be in the mix for the B title. Williams consistently plays a competitive schedule, and by the time championships come around, they should be battle-tested. The Ephs lost four players from last season to graduation, but the team has a net gain in numbers thanks to the five new team members. The newcomers are Jamie Ruggiero, John Shuck, Andrew Chou, Jack McLean, and Ben Rosen.
Haverford, PA — Haverford 
Hamilton, NY — After sitting out the 2013 Women’s College Squash Association National Team Championships, Colgate plans to return to the tournament this season. The Raiders have had successful tournaments in the past. In 2012, they won the E Division. Hanna Atwood, Colgate’s captain, states that “We had an adjustment season last year.” Last season, the Raiders faired well against other club teams, defeating Northeastern and Rochester, but lost to varsity teams Hamilton and William Smith. This season, two new players will be joining the Colgate line up, which should assist the Raiders in their quest to return to the post season. Atwood adds that the team plans to “Take each match one by one. We are definitely committed to playing in the national tournament.”