Lewisburg, PA – The Bucknell University men’s and women’s club squash teams have been among the nation’s fastest-developing programs over the last few years. Since the beginning of 2010, the men’s club squad has risen from 56th in the national rankings to 34th in the final 2011-12 rankings. At the College Squash Association National Team Championships, Bucknell captured the Serues Cup in 2011 and was runner-up in the Chaffee Cup competition this past season. Interest in squash has never been higher, with the number of men on the Bucknell club roster increasing from five in 2008 to fifteen this year.

The Bucknell women’s squash club was launched in 2010 and has also started to make its mark. The program’s very first match came against George Washington and was followed by close competitions against established teams in Johns Hopkins and Virginia. The highlight of the inaugural season was a sweep of Vanderbilt, which won the 2010 Emerging Teams Division at the National Team Championships.

The sport’s swell in popularity has not just been limited to the club teams, but to the Bucknell community as well. Recreational squash play has drastically increased at Gerhard Fieldhouse, and numerous supporters of the sport from across the country have recognized the importance of developing the Bucknell club programs. This resulted in the inaugural Students Versus Alumni/Supporters Tournament event at the University Club in New York City on April 26th, 2o12. The event was a huge success, with the students escaping with a 5-4 victory over the alumni side. With approximately 60 people in attendance, including Peter Lasusa, Jr., Board Chair of US Squash, it was announced that Bucknell will be re-purposing some existing court space in Gerhard Fieldhouse in order to construct four new international squash courts. The squash facility is expected to be completed late this summer, in time for the 2012-13 season.

The Bucknell men’s and women’s squash clubs are both striving to break into the top 30 in the national rankings, and future fundraising goals include building endowments for both programs. If those aspirations come to fruition, Bucknell can become a mainstay on the college squash scene.

Original Link: A Bright Future for Bucknell Squash - © College Squash Association

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Down 3-4 with two matches to play, the team match and national championship came down to the matches at the #1 and #4 positions.  At the #1 position,  Todd Harrity (Princeton) faced Vikram Malhotra (Trinity). These two players were each semifinalists in the 2011 and 2012 Pool Trophy (A draw of the Individual Championships), and Harrity won the Pool Trophy in 2011. During the regular season, Malhotra defeated Harrity in a five-game match (9-11, 11-7, 4-11, 11-4, and 11-9).

The rematch at team championships lived up to expectations — a great match from two of the best players in college squash. Harrity prevailed in 3 games (11-6, 11-8, and 11-6).

Below is video of the match.

Princeton went on to win the remaining match and capture the 2012 Potter Cup and national championship.

CollegeSquashAssociation.com will be bringing you many videos this offseason. We have hours upon hours of videos from the NESCAC Championships, Men’s National Team Championships, Women’s National Team Championships (Howe Cup), and the Individual Championships. We have just started processing these videos. Stay tuned for many more videos.

Original Link: Men’s College Squash 2012 National Team Championships: Princeton and Trinity #1s (Video) - © College Squash Association

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At the match at the #3 position, Tufts’ Jeremy Ho faced Hobart’s Kevin Kent. The two played a tight four-game match, which Kent won  8-11, 11-9, 15-13, and 11-9. Hobart emerged with a 5-4 team victory and the Conroy Cup.

Click on the thumbnails to view a larger version of each photo.

For additional photos from the 2012 Howe Cup, 2012 Men’s National Team Championships, and the 2012 Individual Championships, please visit mtbello.com. We did our best to identify players in each photo, but there are many unidentified players (especially in the candids galleries).  If you could help, please contact us.

Original Link: Photos from the 2012 Men’s College Squash Team Championships: Tufts and Hobart #3s - © College Squash Association

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Presented annually since 1983, the Skillman Award is given to a senior men’s squash player who has demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship during his entire college career. Candidates are evaluated for their on-court poise and demeanor; skill level and ability in the game of squash; team play; contributions to intercollegiate squash; leadership; and cooperation with players, coaches, and tournament officials.

The award is named for former Yale head coach John Skillman, who led the Bulldogs for over forty years. Skillman was inducted into the Men’s College Squash Hall of Fame in 1990. This year’s award was presented in Princeton, NJ, at the awards ceremony during the 2012 Men’s National Team Championships.

During his four years at Rochester, Fischer compiled an impressive squash resume. A four-time All-American, he amassed a 42-24 career record, never playing below #3 for the Yellowjackets, who finished fifth in the nation this season. Fischer was named the 2010 Liberty League Player of the Year and earned All-Liberty League honors in 2009, 2010, and 2011. This year he earned Academic All-Liberty League honors.

He reached the semifinals of the 2011 Individual Championships, and capped his college career by winning the A Division Second Consolation bracket at this year’s individual tournament.

An outstanding team leader, Fischer led the Yellowjackets as captain for two seasons. His three-game win over Kenneth Chan on the final day of the 2012 Men’s National Team Championships helped Rochester defeat Yale 5-4 and finish the season ranked fifth in the nation.

Rochester head coach Martin Heath has said that Fischer “has been a model of consistency, fairness, and commitment in his work ethic, behavior on court, and demeanor off court.  He has accepted his wins and his losses with equal grace and has assumed his leadership responsibilities within the team with quiet assuredness and good humor.”

Other coaches and players recognized the same outstanding qualities in Fischer, honoring him with the 2012 Skillman Award. He is the first Rochester player to ever earn the distinction.

Original Link: Rochester’s Fischer Wins 2012 Men’s College Squash Skillman Award - © College Squash Association

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There were many similarities between the competitors at the #3 position. Nirasha Guruge (Harvard) and Rhetta Nadas (Yale) were both senior captains, and they each had helped their respective teams capture a national championship and an Ivy League Championship in the past.

In the final match of the regular season, Guruge and Nadas played a four-game thriller in New Haven. Guruge won in four games (7-11,11-2,11-3,13-11) to help the Crimson escape with a 5-4 victory.

In the rematch at Howe Cup, Guruge prevailed in three games (11-5, 11-2, and 11-9), and Harvard marched to the title, 8-1, on its home courts.

Below is video of the match.

CollegeSquashAssociation.com will be bringing you many videos this offseason. We have hours upon hours of videos from the NESCAC Championships, Men’s National Team Championships, Women’s National Team Championships (Howe Cup), and the Individual Championships. We have just started processing these videos. Stay tuned for many more videos.

Original Link: Women’s College Squash 2012 National Team Championships: Howe Cup – Yale and Harvard #3s (Video) - © College Squash Association

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George Washington was on a mission. The 3rd seed in the Walker Cup defeated Conn 9-0 in the opening round. Then the Colonials upset top-seeded Amherst 5-4 in the semifinals.  Against Wesleyan in the finals, George Washington prevailed to win its second Walker Cup in three seasons.

Conn had an up and down season. The Camels went 8-21 overall. They had a challenging Walker Cup losing to George Washington, Tufts, and Wellesley. During the regular season, Conn College had defeated both Tufts and Wellesley.

Click on the thumbnails to view a larger version of each photo.

For additional photos from the 2012 Howe Cup, 2012 Men’s National Team Championships, and the 2012 Individual Championships, please visit mtbello.com. We did our best to identify players in each photo, but there are many unidentified players (especially in the candids galleries).  If you could help, please contact us.

Original Link: Photos from the 2012 Women’s College Squash Team Championships: Conn and George Washington - © College Squash Association

Sponsors:

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The Richey Award is given annually to the women’s college squash player who best exemplifies the ideals of squash in her love of and devotion to the game, her strong sense of fairness, and her excellence of play and leadership. Nominees for the award are evaluated based on their on-court poise and demeanor; skill level and ability; team play; contributions to intercollegiate squash; leadership; and cooperation with players, coaches, and tournament officials.

The award is named for former Vassar head coach Betty Richey, who was one of the founders of the women’s individual national tournament in 1965. A standout field hockey and lacrosse player,  she launched varsity programs in women’s squash, men’s squash, field hockey, men’s tennis, and women’s tennis at Vassar.  A proponent of women’s sports in general, Richey was inducted into the Women’s College Squash Hall of Fame in 1995.

Giovinazzo was singled out by her peers in winning the Richey Award. To be nominated for the award, a coach from another school must put forward a player’s name; teams may not nominate players from their own college or university. The award is decided at the Women’s National Team Championships (Howe Cup), and each team has two votes: one from the coach and one from the captain and players.

Giovinazzo was presented with the Richey Award at the 2012 Women’s National Team Championships (Howe Cup), which were hosted by Harvard University.

Giovinazzo was a national champion by the end of her first year of collegiate play. She played a key role in Princeton’s thrilling 5-4 win over Harvard in the 2009 national championship finals. Playing at Harvard, the Tigers narrowly edged Trinity in the semifinals, and Giovinazzo’s five-game win at #9 helped Princeton secure a berth in the finals. Here is how GoPrincetonTigers.com described Giovinazzo’s performance in the championship final against Harvard:

Freshman Katie Giovinazzo, who has shown composure beyond her years all season, had to reach down deep. Coming off her only five-game match of the season in the semifinal, she won the first two games before dropping the third game 9-7.

“This match was more difficult and had more pressure then the one last week,” Giovinazzo said. “After the third game, I knew I had to go back to basics and use my length to keep her behind me, then go short when I had the opportunity.”

That strategy earned her a match ball at 8-7, but Ali Zindman fought it off and evened the game at 8-8. Proving her resiliency, the Tiger freshman maintained her undefeated record by regaining serve and winning the next points to clinch the match.

The qualities that stood out in Giovinazzo’s play as a first-year — composure, resiliency, a commitment to team — remained constants throughout her career at Princeton. Starting her career at #9, she worked her way up the ladder, playing as high as #2 during her senior season. A captain, Giovinazzo helped lead Princeton to a fourth-place finish at the 2012 Women’s National Team Championships (Howe Cup), and the Tigers never finished the season out of the top five during her time with the team.

2012 Women's National Team Championships (Howe Cup): Richey Award winner Katie Giovinazzo and Gail Ramsay

While Giovinazzo’s greatest contributions have been to her team, she is an accomplished individual player. In 2011, she won the Holleran Cup, the women’s B Draw at the Individual Championships.

“Katie is so deserving of this award,” head coach Gail Ramsay told GoPrincetonTigers.com. “She has exhibited great sportsmanship and has been an outstanding leader for her teammates. She represented Princeton with pride and dignity. I was so excited to see her receive this prestigious award from her squash peers and the College Squash Association coaches.”

Giovinazzo is the fourth Princeton player to win the Richey Award, and the first to earn the distinction since Julia Beaver won in 2001.

Original Link: Princeton’s Giovinazzo Wins 2012 Richey Award - © College Squash Association

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At the PVI, Hamilton and Wesleyan were tied 4-4 with only the  #9 match left to play. In the end, Hamilton emerged with the 5-4 victory. Wesleyan rebounded two weeks later by beating the Continentals 6-3 at the NESCAC Championships. The two teams met again in the opening round of the Summers Cup (C Division) of the Men’s National Team Championships. Hamilton repeated its PVI performance and moved to the semifinals with a 5-4 win.

At the Pioneer Valley Invitational, the match at the #2 position was between Martin Bawden (Hamilton) and Daniel Sneed (Wesleyan). Bawden won the match in four games (11-9, 8-11, 11-2, and 12-10).

Below is video of the match.

CollegeSquashAssociation.com will be bringing you many videos this offseason. We have hours upon hours of videos from the Pioneer Valley Invitational, NESCAC Championships, Men’s National Team Championships, Women’s National Team Championships (Howe Cup), and the Individual Championships. Stay tuned for many more videos.

Original Link: Men’s College Squash – 2012 Pioneer Valley Invitational: Hamilton and Wesleyan #2s (Video) - © College Squash Association

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Waterton played number 1 throughout the season for Bryant. He went 8-2 during the regular season and helped Bryant finish 48th in the national rankings.

Mullaney played #9 for Harvard during the Team Championships. He went 2-1 to help the Crimson finish 3rd in the country. At the Individual Championships, Mullaney won the 2nd Consolation draw of the Molloy Cup.

Mullaney won the match in three games (11-5, 11-6, and 11-7).

Click on the thumbnails to view a larger version of each photo.

For additional photos from the 2012 Howe Cup, 2012 Men’s National Team Championships, and the 2012 Individual Championships, please visit mtbello.com. We did our best to identify players in each photo, but there are many unidentified players (especially in the candids galleries).  If you could help, please contact us.

Original Link: Photos from the 2012 Men’s College Squash Team Championships: Bryant and Harvard - © College Squash Association

Sponsors:

• Harrow Sports (Official Equipment Supplier)
• Dunlop Sports (Official Ball)

Complete selection criteria can be found in the All-Americans section of the men’s by-laws; however, it is important to note that to be eligible for All-American status, a player must compete in the Individual Championships. Players who do not compete in Individuals can still receive a national ranking and honorable mention.

Princeton, the 2012 Potter Cup winners (National Champions), had the most, four,  first and second team All-Americans. Trinity and Cornell tied for second with three All-Americans each.

Three All-Americans completed their careers being named to four All-American teams: Benjamin Fischer (University of Rochester), Vikram Malhotra (Trinity College), and Kelly Shannon (Princeton University). Of the three players, Malhotra is the sole player to be named to the first team four times. Fischer was the 2012 Skillman Award winner, and Shannon clinched the 2012 Potter Cup for Princeton.

Congratulations to the 2011-2012 All-Americans!

First Team (listed alphabetically):

• Guilherme De Melo (Franklin and Marshall College)
• Antonio Diaz Gonzalez Salas (Trinity College)
• Andres Duany (Rochester, University of)
• Ali Farag (Harvard University)
• Benjamin Fischer (Rochester, University of)
• Christopher Hanson (Dartmouth College)
• Todd Harrity (Princeton University)
• Ramit Tandon (Columbia University)
• Vikram Malhotra (Trinity College)
• Miled Zarazua (Trinity College)

Second Team (listed alphabetically):

• Christopher Callis (Princeton University)
• Kenneth Chan (Yale University)
• Alex Domenick (Cornell University)
• Nicholas Sachvie (Cornell University)
• Kelly Shannon (Princeton University)
• Thomas Mattsson (Pennsylvania, University of)
• Brandon McLaughlin (Harvard University)
• Tyler Osborne (Princeton University)
• Nicholas Sisodia (Dartmouth College)
• Thomas Spettigue (Cornell University)

Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically):

• Johan Detter (Trinity College)
• Richard Dodd (Yale University)
• Samuel Kang (Princeton University)

Original Link: 2011-2012 Men’s College Squash All-Americans - © College Squash Association

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