Amherst College Mammoths

2021-2022 SEASON PREVIEW

• First season with competition under head coach Busani Xaba
• Extensive turnover on both men’s and women’s rosters creates open opportunities for new roster additions
• Women’s team aiming to reach Kurtz Cup (B Division) play after winning Summers Cup (C Division) in 2020
• Men’s team will battle with several other NESCAC foes for conference accolades and Top-20 national positioning

Head Coach:  Busani Xaba
Assistant Coach:  Thijs van der Pluijm

Women’s Team Captains:  Keeley Osborn, Lily Soroko
Men’s Team Captains:  Andrew Leung, Charlie Sutherby

Women’s Team Roster Updates
Returning Players:  Daksha Pathak, Lauren Weil, Lilly Soroko, Margaret Werner, Keeley Osborn, Emma Spencer, Kathryn Parker,
Graduated/Non-Returning Starting Players:  Caroline Conway, Riddhi Sampat, Pierson Klein, Katherine Correia, Jenna Finkelstein
Additions to 2021-2022 Roster:  Tana Delalio, Callie Delalio, Margaret Pearson, Blair Englert, Isabelle Tilney-Sandberg, Supriya Chang, Tanmai Pathak, Fances Burton

Men’s Team Roster Updates
Returning Players:  Robinson Armour, Charlie Sutherby, Adam Lichtmacher, Terrence Wang, Nathaniel Mosse, Andrew Leung, Pavan Nagaraj, Rohil Bathija, John Grissom, Shayan Hussain, Alexander Schwartz
Graduated/Non-Returning Starting Players:  Robert Parker, Reggie Brewster, Christopher Zimmerman, Mitchell Ford
Additions to 2021-2022 Roster:  Ben Goldstein, Matthew Granovsky, Abhimanyu Gupta, Walter Huffman, Neal Malani, Kedar Nagaraj, Yeshwin Sankuratri, Kaetu Wleh

Team Goal:  Team leadership to learn how to communicate about DEI. Doing the best we can for each other.

Women’s Key Matches: Franklin & Marshall, Bates, Middlebury, Tufts
Men’s Key Matches: Navy, Bowdoin, Colby, Bates

To read season previews for other CSA teams, please visit the 2021-2022 College Squash Season Previews page.

The 2021 summer was very active for coaching changes in the College Squash Association (CSA), with four new head coaches assuming their roles and three vacancies still remaining. Yale University, Chatham University, University of Rochester, and Georgetown University all found new leaders, while recent departures leave open positions at Columbia University, Dartmouth College, and Dickinson College.

Yale University

Right at the beginning of the summer, Yale’s Associate Head Coach Lynn Leong earned a promotion to Brooks G. Ragen Director of Squash where she will serve as the head coach of both the women’s and men’s teams. Leong takes over for Yale legend and College Squash Hall of Famer Dave Talbott, who retired from coaching earlier this year.

Leong, originally from Malaysia, served as the senior assistant and then the associate head coach at Yale for a total of four seasons before moving into the head coaching role. As a player, she won two national collegiate team championships with Trinity College and was a three-time First Team All-America selection.

Joining Leong’s staff as an assistant coach is Campbell Grayson. The 17-year veteran of the Professional Squash Association World Tour from New Zealand will coach both programs.

Chatham University 

In the young history of Chatham Squash, the Cougars have found their second leader in Chris Fernandez, formerly the head coach at Dickinson College. Fernandez will be tasked with fostering a fast-improving men’s team while guiding the women’s team through their first full season of varsity play.

Fernandez’s experience as a CitySquash graduate, an accomplished interscholastic and collegiate player at Canterbury School and St. Lawrence University, and a Squash & Education Alliance board member will serve him well as he expands on the foundation laid by inaugural Chatham head coach Larissa Stephenson.

University of Rochester 

The heralded University of Rochester men’s program shuffled the deck this summer by naming alumnus and former assistant coach Mario Yanez Tapia as their new head coach. Yanez takes over that position from Martin Heath, who transitions to the newly formed role of Director of Men’s Squash Elite Performance.

The program’s all-time leader in wins, Yanez helped lead the Yellowjackets to three Top-6 finishes during his three seasons as assistant coach. Along with the accolades within the team, Yanez also earned four straight First Team All-America nods and was the National Collegiate Individual Finalist during his senior season in 2017.

Heath will have a unique opportunity to develop a team-specific high performance program while continuing to support the Rochester players and Yanez’s transition to head coach.

Georgetown University 

Earlier this week, Georgetown named Tim Lasusa as the inaugural head coach for the new varsity women’s team. Lasusa arrives in Washington after spending the previous four seasons as an assistant coach at Yale University alongside Talbott and Leong.

Lasusa will need to get up to speed fast as the academic year, the recruiting timeline, and the season all ramp up quickly this fall. He will rely on his experience at Yale as well as his playing experience at powerhouse St. Lawrence University to set a path for the new program.

New Assistant Coaches 

Amherst College – Thijs van der Pluijm
Bowdoin College – Brendan McClintick
St. Lawrence University – Jamie Oakley
Yale University – Campbell Grayson

Jack Fairs, the legendary player and coach of many Western (Ontario) University teams and a college squash Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, passed away yesterday at the age of 98.

Fairs was affiliated with Western for over 50 years and contributed in a vast array of ways, particularly in the areas of physical education and squash coaching. Fairs coached many successful Western squash teams, as well as two National Collegiate Individual Champions – Phil Mohtadi (1976) and Scott Dulmage (1989).

In 1997, the National Intercollegiate Squash Racquets Association (NISRA, predecessor to CSA) established a Lifetime Achievement Award. Deservedly, Fairs was the first recipient.

“Jack is the reason Western has become the hub for varsity squash and we will do our best to honour him this season and beyond,” said Chris Hanebury, current head coach for Western’s team. “Rest In Peace, Jack. You lived a truly inspirational life and influenced countless people. Thank you for everything.”

CSA sends sincere condolences to the Fairs family and everyone whose life was touched by Fairs’s coaching, teaching, and mentorship.

The full release announcing Fairs’s passing can be viewed here.

GRANVILLE, Ohio — Denison University Athletics announced on Thursday that its men’s and women’s squash programs would be competing in their first season as varsity teams during the upcoming 2021-2022 academic year. The original plan for an inaugural season was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The addition of Denison’s programs brings the number of CSA varsity teams to 34 on the men’s side and 32 on the women’s side for the new season. The squash teams are the 25th and 26th varsity teams for the Denison athletics department.

The Denison men and women will continue to be led by head coach Pamela Anckermann, who enters her fifth year in that position. Coach Anckermann has helped guide the teams through the transition from club programs to varsity and throughout the pandemic. She will be aiming to build off the teams’ success during the last full season in 2019-2020.

“We eagerly welcome Denison’s teams to our group of varsity programs,” said CSA Executive Director & League Commissioner David Poolman. “Denison Squash is a storied program with a great history, which also helps expand the geographic footprint of intercollegiate varsity squash in the United States. Today’s announcement is a welcome development after a tough year.”

Please view the full press release about the new varsity teams here.

The 2020-2021 Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Championships Presented by the Walter Family kick off today in Chicago, Illinois at the University Club. The College Squash Association (CSA) will be well-represented in the draws, with 24 total CSA alumni and current players participating in the event.

The World Championships brings together 128 of the world’s best players who compete for arguably the biggest prizes in squash. This is the second version of the event staged in Chicago.

14 women and 10 men connected with 10 different CSA member institutions will compete for their respective World Championship titles. Six of the eight Ivy League schools have representation along with players from Drexel University, University of Rochester, Trinity College, and University of Virginia. Harvard University leads the way with seven affiliated players.

The CSA-affiliated players populate all portions of the draws, and they even make up a few first-round match-ups. Headlining the group is men’s world Number 1 Ali Farag, a Harvard graduate, who happens to be facing University of Rochester grad and American hope Faraz Khan in the first round. U.S. women’s Number 1 Amanda Sobhy, also a Harvard alum, has the No. 5 seed in the tournament. Both match-ups will bring large appeal to the featured glass court this evening.

Taking advantage of extra training time during the pandemic, several current student-athletes enter the event in top form. Drexel’s Karina Tyma, Harvard’s Victor Crouin, and Virginia’s Aly Hussein all have won PSA titles in recent weeks, with Khan and Harvard’s Marina Stefanoni winning qualification play-in tournaments.

The full draws, playing schedule, and results can be accessed here. Live coverage of the entire tournament will be shown on SQUASHTV or, if you do not have a subscription, can be viewed on the PSA World Tour Facebook page.

CSA players to cheer for:
Farida Mohamed, Columbia University
Ramit Tandon, Columbia University
Aditya Jagtap, Cornell University
Danielle Letourneau, Cornell University
Sivasangari Subramaniam, Cornell University
Karina Tyma, Drexel University
Victor Crouin, Harvard University
Ali Farag, Harvard University
Haley Mendez, Harvard University
Hana Moataz, Harvard University
Amanda Sobhy, Harvard University
Sabrina Sobhy, Harvard University
Marina Stefanoni, Harvard University
Melissa Alves, University of Pennsylvania
Marie Stephan, University of Pennsylvania
Nicole Bunyan, Princeton University
Olivia Fiechter, Princeton University
Todd Harrity, Princeton University
Youssef Ibrahim, Princeton University
Faraz Khan, University of Rochester
Ryosei Kobayashi, University of Rochester
Vikram Malhotra, Trinity College
Aly Hussein, University of Virginia
Lucy Beecroft, Yale University

Stanford University announced on Tuesday that it would continue the 11 varsity sports, including women’s squash, that it had planned to cut at the end of the current academic year.

“The Stanford women’s varsity squash program has been a beacon for top squash players of all backgrounds for more than a decade, and college squash is fortunate that it will remain so,” said John Nimick, College Squash Association (CSA) Board Chair. “We are also excited for the Stanford players to now continue their careers at the varsity collegiate level – they deserve credit for banding together during this challenging year.”

A multi-faceted advocacy approach, including a public relations campaign, inspired grassroots fundraising, private negotiations, and newly filed lawsuits focused on breach of contract and Title IX concerns led to the Stanford administration reversing their decision from last summer.

“I am really happy for our players and their families, the Stanford Squash program, and squash in general,” said Stanford Head Squash Coach Mark Talbott. “We take great pride in being a flagship program for the CSA on the west coast. I am grateful to US Squash and Soo Venkatesan for the important role the organization played in supporting our goal of continuing at the varsity level.”

36 Sports Strong, an advocacy group supporting full reinstatement of the 11 teams comprised of Stanford athletics alumni, played an immense role in raising awareness for the cause and convincing the Stanford administration to reconsider the program cuts. 11United, the group that recently filed the lawsuits against Stanford, put extra pressure on Stanford with a thoughtful, coordinated effort.

“It was inspiring to witness unity across the teams. Many unsung heroes worked courageously to shape this outcome, including our resilient Stanford varsity female athletes,” remarked Soo Venkatesan, US Squash Board Chair. “US Squash is honored to support the reinstatement effort and to partner with CSA to strengthen collegiate playing opportunities across the country as a shared priority.”

Stanford’s reinstatement brings the total of CSA varsity women’s teams projected for the 2021-2022 season to 32, pairing up with 34 varsity men’s teams. Georgetown University will continue the transition of its women’s team from club to varsity status, while the Denison University men’s and women’s teams and the Chatham women’s team will play their first full seasons as varsity programs next year.

Foo Yuk Han, Lentz Earn Top Senior Honors; Lawrence honored for lifetime achievement; Assaiante, Slosburg join Hall of Fame

The College Squash Association (CSA) announced the winners of the top senior honors, the Betty Richey and Skillman Awards, and paid tribute to a new Hall of Fame class as well as the Arthur Blasberg, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award honoree during the livestreamed College Squash Awards on Thursday evening.

Zoe Foo Yuk Han of George Washington University and Jack Lentz from the United States Naval Academy earned the Betty Richey and Skillman Awards, respectively. Both awards are decided by a vote from the coaches of the varsity teams, and they recognize the players’ commitment to sportsmanship while maintaining a high level of play and devotion to the game.

Foo Yuk Han, the first three-time CSA All-American in George Washington’s program’s history, is widely recognized as a fair player and quiet leader of her team. She has also contributed greatly to the GW campus community as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and an organizer of a recreational squash tournament on campus.

“I’m so proud of Zoe for winning the 2021 Betty Richey Award,” said George Washington head coach Anderson Good. “Her selfless attitude and relentless leadership, work ethic, sportsmanship, and commitment to her teammates for the past four years makes her so incredibly deserving of this recognition. She has worked so hard to put herself in this position today and I am just so incredibly proud of her for earning this award.”

The 2021 Betty Richey Award is presented by the Aziz Family, who are avid supporters of college squash and Yale Squash. Daughter Alia Aziz, the 2010 Betty Richey Award winner and Yale graduate, joined the live stream to share about her experience and to help present this year’s honor.

Lentz, a player at the top of the lineup for the Midshipmen these last four years, is widely respected around the CSA for his fairness, determination, and leadership. As a senior caption this past year during the pandemic, Lentz has found new ways to engage his teammates, both on and off the court, skills that will translate well as he enters the Marine Corps after graduation.

“I’m so proud of Jack and humbled to have had the opportunity to work with him for the past three years,” said Navy head coach Tyler Osborne. “Jack has really left this program in a better place. I think the relationships you can build with teammates are some of the best parts of being a varsity athlete, and Jack has made an impact with every single player that’s come through Navy in his four-year span.”

“His work ethic is contagious, but I’m more impressed by how he carries himself as a person. He leads by example, and he makes his teammates’ needs a priority. I have no doubt that Jack’s personality and leadership will help him be successful, and I can’t wait to see what he accomplishes down the road. Congratulations Skip!”

The Skillman Award is presented by the Schiller Family Foundation for the second straight year. The Foundation presents the award in honor of Dr. Sheldon Schiller, an ardent squash player who holds the values of sportsmanship and integrity in high regard.

The College Squash Awards show kicked off with an inspiring welcome message from ESPN and ABC personality Joe Tessitore. He highlighted the potential that exists in college squash story-telling and messaging and shared his enthusiasm for helping the college squash community spread the word.

CSA Board of Directors Chair John Nimick then joined the show to help welcome the Class of 2021 to the College Squash Hall of Fame. The audience and honorees enjoyed videos paying tribute to Paul Assaiante and David Slosburg’s accomplishments and contributions to college squash. Nimick then reminded everyone that we will enjoy the opportunity to celebrate them in person when feasible at a later date.

Nimick remained on screen to congratulate and interview the 2021 Arthur Blasberg, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, Wendy Lawrence. Nimick and Lawrence were also joined by Jack Blasberg, a Brown squash player from the Class of 2016 and grandson of the award’s namesake, who represented the Blasberg family.

Due to the unprecedented nature of this season, the CSA celebrated these honors and award winners in a virtual, livestreamed format for the first time. For more information about this year’s honorees, please view the press release previewing the event.

CSA Executive Director & League Commissioner David Poolman served as master of ceremonies for the evening.

For college squash fans and supporters who would like to stay engaged with college squash, please consider joining the CSA mailing list and the CSA Alumni & Friends Network LinkedIn group.

CSA must continue to raise revenue in order to maintain operations, effectively tell its story, and expand its resources and programming in areas like mental health awareness, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and awards recognition. If supporters feel so inclined, they can donate directly to CSA via this giving link or contact CSA at [email protected] to inquire about other options of support.

The College Squash Association (CSA) proudly presents the College Squash Awards, a livestreamed event scheduled for Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. (Eastern).

Interested viewers can watch the event on CSA’s YouTube and Facebook Live pages, which can be accessed using these links:

• YouTube
• Facebook Live

The College Squash Awards will feature interviews, guest presenters, and celebrations of 2021 honorees, including:

• An keynote welcome from ESPN commentator and squash parent, Joe Tessitore
• Tributes to the College Squash Hall of Fame Class of 2021, Paul Assaiante and David Slosburg
• An interview with Arthur Blasberg, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, Wendy Lawrence
• Tributes for the finalists and announcements of the winners of the Betty Richey Award, presented by the Aziz Family, and the Skillman Award, presented by the Schiller Family Foundation
• And more!

Tune in to the first event of its kind for the college squash community! The CSA looks forward to your support this Thursday.