SquashTalk >CSA > 03-04 Yale Mens Squash

CSA 03-04 Previews

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Squash Program 03-04 Forecast
The Yale Men’s Squash Team enters the 2003-04 year with a truly veteran team. Eight seniors lead this group, and they have only one goal in mind, the Ivy League Championship. Anything less then the League Title will be a disappointment for this group.

Captain Ryan Byrnes leads this group of seniors, who represent the largest graduating class since 1989. Ryan has played his whole Yale career in the top five, after winning the Interscholastic Championship his senior year at Taft School. Two-time All-Ivy selection, and Second Team All-American Anshul Manchanda returns for his final season. Anshul played at number two last season, after playing number one his first two years. Considered one of the top players in the league, Anshul is looking to have a strong last season. Albert McCrery returns as a three-year letter winner with one of the highest winning percentages on the team. He has been an integral key in Yale’s depth. Alex Ende is a senior who lettered the past two years and is looking to rebound after suffering through a stress fracture his junior year. Four more seniors round out this exceptional class. Terence Li is challenging for a spot in the top ten after being right on the fringe of the line-up the past two seasons. He has had a strong pre-season. Steve Fair is also very close to cracking the line-up for the first time. Quincy Fennebresque continues to improve and lend his strong leadership and candor to the group. Brad Hathaway has possibly improved the most of the seniors and has led by his intensity and enthusiasm.

Sophomore and number one player, Julian Illingworth, leads the underclassmen. Julian was first team All-American and first team All-Ivy his freshman year. Julian was number one on the U.S. World Junior Team in 2002 that competed in Chennai, India and was voted by the United States Olympic Committee 2002-03 Squash Player of the Year. Heading a Yale team, which returns their top four players, Julian hopes to win the Intercollegiate Singles Title as well as leading Yale to an Ivy Championship. Julian currently holds a number five ranking amongst the United States Professionals, competing as an amateur.

Joining Julian and Anshal in the top spots are junior Josh Schwartz and sophomore Avner Geva. Both players battled injuries all last season but are healthy and fit for the season. They are two of the top players in the league and a vital key to the success of the team this season.

Gavin Cumberbatch, a junior, is one of the most talented players at Yale and is looking for a break out season. A consistent winner his first two years, Gavin is being counted on to step into the top five and reach his potential.

Both coming through with key wins last year, junior Chris Wyant and sophomore Trevor Rees return as letter winners. Both are experienced players who will move up in the line-up this season.

Sophomores Andrew Vinci, and Alex Tilton are ready to make their impact this season. Vinci is battling for a top ten spot along with Tilton, who has been slowed by injuries. Junior Ranidu Lankage has improved tremendously and will also press for playing time.

Freshman Nick Chirls is arguably the best American freshman in college this season. He will certainly be an important part of the team, but Chirls has been slowed by a stress fracture this fall. Freshman James Rector joins Chirls in this first year class and has shown very solid potential.

After losing the Ivy Title by one point to Princeton last season, Yale is looking to avenge that loss and win an Ivy Title. The only other loss in the regular season was to Trinity, who once again are the favorite for the National Title.

The College Squash Association (CSA) continues to grow. Teams such as Utah, Virginia, Illinois, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Duke, and Georgia have programs that are now competing with the traditional squash schools.

Harvard, Princeton, and Yale will be fighting for the Ivy Title along with a very improved Penn team. Cornell, Dartmouth, and Brown are also ranked in the top ten teams in the country.

Without an Ivy Title since 1990, this is the strongest Yale team since the switch to the International Game in 1994. Hopefully this will be the breakthrough season for the Yale Squash Team.

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