Season Outlook
Men’s Outlook
There will be plenty of new faces on the courts this winter for the Haverford College men’s squash team. First-year head coach Damon Leedale-Brown welcomes 11 new faces this season. However, many of those newcomers will fill out the starting lineup for the Fords.
“My goal is to help them understand the game and teach them the process of learning how to train,” said Leedale-Brown.
With a young team the wins and losses may not matter as much as the development and that is paramount this season.
“If our team can develop and play at a higher level and remain competitive in their matches we will have a successful season,” explained Leedale-Brown.
How they lineup
Leedale-Brown must fill the void left by Evan Stiegel ’09 at the No. 1 position. He expects freshman Andrew McComas to stand up to the challenge.
“Andrew is a very talented individual with good racquet skills,” Leedale-Brown said.
Sophomore Zef Konst and senior Jake Ralston combined for nine wins last season and will be counted on for more than their experience. The duo will serve as co-captains this season.
“These guys bring good experience as returners and are strong leaders,” said Leedale-Brown.
The Nos. 4-6 spots will likely be filled by sophomore Alex Spiliotes and freshmen Matthew Liscovitz and Chris Tyson. Spiliotes and Liscovitz are good athletes who Leedale-Brown believes will be tough middle-of-the-order cogs.
“Alex and Matthew have quick hands and Chris is a solid player who strikes the ball well.”
The rest of the cast
The final three positions are yet to be determined, but weekly challenge matches should play a factor in helping Leedale-Brown set his lineup. Junior Andrew Wee, sophomore David Chang, senior Rutwik Kharkar and freshman Tim Ibbotson-Sindelar will all be in the mix.
“I’m a believer in healthy competition and these challenge matches will go a long way in helping these guys become better players,” Leedale-Brown said.
What to expect
Leedale-Brown is excited to witness his team compete in matches. He believes that training correctly and developing as players will benefit his team greatly.
“Our entire lineup will push each other,” he believes. “These guys have been attentive, work extremely hard and just love to play.”
That dedication will help this year’s squad be in a desirable spot come February.
Women’s Outlook
The 2009-10 season will present challenges for the Haverford College women’s squash team, but a mix of newcomers and upperclassmen have the opportunity to compete for spots in the lineup and prove to first-year head coach Damon Leedale-Brown that the future is bright. Five newcomers join 10 returnees with hopes of becoming a competitive and skillful team.
“With this team, my goals are to help them learn the game as well as train and motivate them,” said Leedale-Brown.
The lineup
Seniors Sarah Gilarsky and Vanessa Sergeon will battle it out for the No. 1 position. Gilarsky held the top spot a season ago, going 0-6, while Sergeon went 1-6 at No. 2.
Fellow seniors Elle de Moll and Lauren Tetri are expected to be solid contributors in the Nos. 3-4 positions. de Moll had a 3-4 record last season and won her final two matches. Tetri posted a 1-2 mark at the Nos. 6-8 spots in 2008-09.
Freshman Liza Baker will be counted on to play at either No. 4 or 5.
“She’s done well so far and has learned the game rapidly,” said Leedale-Brown.
The rest of the order
Leedale-Brown will tap into a young group to fill out the rest of his lineup. Sophomore Kira Jones, junior Jennifer Tong and freshmen Katherine Pryor and Zoe Becker will compete for the final four spots.
“This group is new to the game and will work to hone their technical skills,” Leedale-Brown said. “They have done well in practice and will develop those skills.”
What to watch for
The expectations from Leedale-Brown are for his team to develop as players while focusing on winning.
“They will have goals in each match to work on,” he explained. “We want to be competitive and try to win, but we also need to improve our skills.”
Through positive and constructive guidance the Fords will try to transition from a team developing to a team competing for a Howe Cup championship.