Men's Squash: Title hopes remain without ‘Amigos’

Not many Princeton teams can say that they made it to the finals of the national championships for the past four years. The men’s squash team, a perennial favorite to win the Ivy League title and always a national title contender, will challenge once again for both.

Last year, the Tigers lost, 5-4, to No. 1 Trinity in the final. It was a particularly devastating loss, since then-senior tri-captain Mauricio Sanchez was leading in the final game of the final match only to lose to his nemesis, Baset Chaudry.

“It was as close and heartbreaking a match as has ever happened in college squash,” junior Peter Sopher said.

This year, though, will be different from any of the past four. With the graduation of standouts Sanchez, Kimlee Wong and Hesham El Halaby, the team is facing a rebuilding season.

“Mauricio, Kim and Hesham are probably the best [or] the second-best class in the history of Princeton squash,” head coach Bob Callahan ’77 said.

All three earned numerous individual honors and led the team to four straight Ivy League titles as well as four consecutive trips to the national championships. Callahan said he is optimistic that his returning players and two new freshmen can maintain the team’s high standards. Yet the team already faces injuries to three of its top players.

The Tigers are currently without two of the four returning All-Americans, sophomores Chris Callis and Kelly Shannon, and junior Philip Sopher has also struggled with a shoulder injury. But Callahan thinks all three should return to the lineup soon.

“They’ve been very conscientious about working through their physical therapy,” Callahan said.

Injuries near the top of the ladder force other players to step up, Callahan said. “Even without them, we’ve got a lot of talent going down the ladder,” he added.

In the first competition of the year at Ivy League scrimmages, a few of the players who had not been in the top nine had the opportunity to contribute. Even without the injuries, losing three of the top nine from last year means everyone is moving up.

“We’re all playing at tougher positions,” Sopher said. “Even though it’s going to be hard, we still have the opportunity to really step up.”

Despite a weaker lineup than last year’s, Princeton’s goals remain the same.

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“Our number-one goal is always to win the Ivy League championship,” Callahan said. The Tigers’ second goal is to win the national championship, he added.

The key to accomplishing these goals is for the players to get and stay healthy during the season, which began last weekend and runs through early March.

“Everybody has to peak at the right time,” junior Dave Letourneau said. “It’s a long season.”

The addition of two strong recruits should help the team’s cause. Freshman Todd Harrity was the top-ranked under-19 player in the United States for the past three years.

“Todd had one of the most successful high school squash careers in U.S. junior squash history,” Callahan said. “We’re very excited he’s here at Princeton. He’s already making a big impact on the team.“

Letourneau echoed Callahan’s sentiment about Harrity.

“He’s confident, and he’s focused,” Letourneau said. “He’s exactly the kind of guy you want at the top part of your team.”

Steve Harrington, the other recruit joining the team this year, has the opportunity to make his mark at the other end of the ladder.

Callahan also pointed to sophomore David Pena and junior Peter Sopher as two players ready to make an impact.

“They’ve really jumped up in terms of their level of play,” Callahan said.

The men’s season begins this weekend with two matches at Cornell. As always, Trinity will be the toughest match for the Tigers, but the Ivy League as a whole has become more competitive since last year.

“You can’t take anybody lightly anymore,” Letourneau said.

The toughest Ivy League matches this year will be Cornell and Yale. The Tigers will also be on the lookout for a surging No. 3 Rochester team.

Though Princeton has lost some of its top players, players said the team has grown closer through the offseason.

“I’m really optimistic about our team dynamic,” Letourneau said.

Philip Sopher also noted an improvement in the team’s attitude. “We talk about squash more,” he said.

Callahan said he is optimistic about the team’s potential for success.

“We’ve had tremendous leadership from our upperclassmen,” he said. “If we can stay healthy and continue to improve, I think we have a very good chance to accomplish our goals.”

Losing the “Three Amigos” — Sanchez, Wong and El Halaby — was a major blow, but the Tigers should remain a force in college squash.