Middletown, CT — In 2010 the Wesleyan Cardinals finished with a winning record for the first time since the 1998-1999 season. They repeated that feat again last year, capping the year with a 5-4 win over Bowdoin to finish 3rd in Walker Cup play.
This season the Cardinals have their sights on the B Division and the top 16, goals that should be within reach. “This group has extensive potential having only graduated one player last season and welcoming significant incoming first-year players,” says head coach Shona Kerr. Three of the six incoming players are expected to compete in the top five, and all have high school squash experience.
Wesleyan has installed a new analysis center that enables the team to film all courts during practice and matches, which should be an invaluable coaching aid. The team also has plans to return to Arizona for another training trip in January.
“Fun loving, young and talented” is how Kerr characterizes the team. “This is an exciting time to be a Cardinal,” she adds.
2010-2011 SEASON RECAP
Season Record: 14-12
Final Ranking: 19
Team Championships: 3rd in Walker Cup (C Division)
2011-2012 SEASON PREVIEW
Program Status: Varsity
Head Coach: Shona Kerr
Returning Players from Team Championships: (1) Mary Foster (Second Team All-NESCAC, NESCAC All-Sportsmanship Team); (2) Diana Edwards; (3) Grace Zimmerman; (4) Tanesha Jackson; (5) Danielle Craig; (6) Ellen Schwed; (8) Kar-Anne Tan; (9) Meherazade Sumariwalla; (10) Kerry Klemmer (NESCAC All-Academic Team); (11) Rosa Hayes
Graduated/Non-returning players from 2010-2011 Team: (7) Jenny Chu
Additions to the 2011-2012 roster:
- Expected to play in the top 5: Annie Maxwell, Claire Miller, and Lauren Nelson
- Expected top play in bottom 3/bottom of ladder: Noelle Hiam, Hannah Jenkins, and Christina Ortiz
Captains: Meherazade Sumariwalla and Grace Zimmerman
Team Goals: To maximize team’s potential, perform as a cohesive and supportive unit, and to break into the top 16 national rankings
Key Matches: Little 3 (Amherst and Williams), NESCAC championships
To read other team previews, please visit the 2011-2012 College Squash Season Previews page.
Lewiston, ME — Last year’s 15th-place finish should provide motivation for the Bobcats this season. After all, it was the weakest finish the team has had in a number of years, as they have been finishing within or just outside the top 10. With Bates moving ahead with plans to construct a new 12-15 court facility, the program’s long-term prospects look good. In the short-term, the team will be undergoing some changes, as six of the top ten players from last season have graduated. Four new players — Jason Shrubb (Hamilton, Bermuda), Andy Cannon (Greenwich, CT), Nabil Saleem (Alpharetta, GA), and Julian Hackney (Bronx, NY) — and a deep bench will look to fill their spots.
Hartford, CT — Trinity is always in the mix for the national title, and all indications are that this year should be no different.
St. Louis, MO — Debut seasons don’t get much better than this. Washington University in St. Louis went 8-1 and took home the Hawthorn Cup in their first trip to the Men’s National Team Championships.
Boston, MA — After finishing within the top 30 last season, the Northeastern Huskies are now aiming for the top 25. In their favor is the fact that all but one player from last year’s championship roster will be returning. That player — former captain and number 1 Pedro Souza — might not be in the line-up, but he will still be a presence on the team, as he is taking over as coach after Chris Reigeluth has moved on after two seasons. The team will be getting three players who should make an impact on the team: Adesh Bhansali of Mumbai, who should play in the top 3; Winston Churchill High graduate Greg Berson, who is ranked just outside the top 100 BU19 and should play in the middle 3; and TJ Dyer, a transfer from Hobart who should also play in the middle of the line-up.
Philadelphia, PA — Two years ago, Penn made it to the finals of the Women’s National Team Championships (Howe Cup), where the Quakers lost 6-3 to Harvard. When the team came back last fall, they were missing almost half the players from that squad, as four seniors from the 2009-2010 top nine had graduated.
Amherst, MA — Amherst is aiming high this season despite losing their top three players from last year. The Jeffs are looking to return to the B Division, which they last played in during the 2008-2009 season. But the Jeffs aren’t just content to move up a division: they are shooting to be back among the top teams in Hoehn Cup play.