Tigers aim for Ivy, national titles

The men's squash team enters the 2006-07 season with a new name atop its lineup for the first time in four years, yet its goals remain the same: to repeat as Ivy League champions and capture the national team title for the first time since 1993.

The talented Tigers return six starters from last year's Ivy League championship team, including four All-Americans. In addition, two freshmen, Santiago Imberton from El Salvador and David Canner from Virginia — both of whom represented their country at the World Junior Championships this past summer — are expected to earn starting positions.

"Yasser [El Halaby '06] left some big shoes to fill, and the loss of such perennial players like [junior] Dent [Wilkens] and Nate [Beck '06] has definitely hurt, but I think our freshmen are up to the task," senior Preston Comey said.

The heart of Princeton's lineup is made up of the sensational sophomore trio of Mauricio Sanchez, Kimlee Wong and Hesham El Halaby, all three of whom were an indispensable part of the team's run to the NCAA final a year ago. Sanchez, the 2006 Ivy League Rookie of the Year and a contender for this year's national individual championship, will head the Princeton lineup. Wong boasted the team's best winning percentage in his freshman season, posting a record of 11-1, including a record of 3-0 at No. 2. El Halaby finished his first season ranked No. 13 in the nation and went undefeated for the Tigers in the national team tournament. These three constitute what is arguably the most talented class in Princeton squash history.

Head coach Bob Callahan, entering his 26th season at the helm, will look to his trio of captains — seniors Michael Gilman and Parker Sutton, and junior Tom McKay — for veteran leadership. Gilman and Sutton are both talented athletes who have gained valuable experience through their first three years of varsity action. Last year, the pair earned four and five league wins, respectively, that were critical to the Tigers' championship run.

Seniors Preston Comey and Vincent Yu and junior Brendan Bascom, all of whom have been in and out of the Princeton lineup over the past three years, will be counted on for production and leadership from the middle of the lineup in the critical matches.

The team got its first glimpse of the competition two weekends ago at the Ivy League Scrimmages in New Haven, Conn. After marching past Penn, 8-1, in the second round, the Tigers were stopped by Harvard, 7-2, with their only wins coming off Imberton and Comey. Though hurt by Yu being off the lineup due to an injury, the team is aware of the challenges it will face over the coming months.

"Everyone is working hard," El Halaby said, "and I am confident that we could win when we play [Harvard] in February."

The Tigers open the regular season this Saturday against Cornell at Jadwin Gym.

Women dreaming big

The women's squash team, boasting the most experienced group in recent memory, has its eyes set on the national championship. All nine of Princeton's starters, including three All-America selections, return from last year's team and are looking to bring head coach Gail Ramsay her first national title since 1999.

The team is headlined by an accomplished senior class, five of whom are projected to hold starting positions. Senior All-Americans Ali Pearson and Claire Rein-Weston, a tri-captain, along with senior Gen Lessard, have been fixtures at the top of the Tiger lineup over the past three seasons. Seniors Marilla Hiltz and Anina Nolan, the other two captains, will add tremendous experience to the middle of the order and will be counted on for key victories in the season's biggest matches.

Also returning to the team is a quartet of juniors who have compiled an impressive list of accomplishments in their own right. Casey Riley earned All-American honors last year, while Carly Grabowski has posted an undefeated record in dual match play through her first two collegiate seasons. Add to this mix two freshmen, Canadian junior champion Neha Kumar and U.S. junior champion Amanda Siebert, and Ramsay has assembled one of the best teams in recent memory.

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"I am stunned at the depth of our team this year," Grabowski said. "We have several girls who played in the top nine last year who will be competing against each other just to get in the lineup."

The Tigers had their first chance to assess the competition this past weekend at the Ivy League Scrimmages in New Haven. After advancing to the finals, topping Harvard, 6-3, the women suffered a tough 5-4 loss to Penn, a team that has improved considerably with the addition of four outstanding freshmen. While Pearson, slated to play No. 4, was missing from the lineup due to injury, the win was a reminder that the Quakers pose a formidable threat to Princeton's championship hopes.

"We are looking forward to challenging them with our complete lineup," Nolan said.

The two square off once during the regular season on Jan. 31 on Princeton's home courts. The Tigers open their regular season this Saturday against Cornell in Jadwin Gym.