Princeton University Athletics
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Men's Squash Sweeps Harvard To Clinch Outright Ivy Championship
February 08, 2009 | Men's Squash
The 2008-09 Princeton men's squash team made history Sunday by clinching the outright Ivy League championship and winning the program's 20th straight league match. The win, which included a brilliant performance by No. 1 player Mauricio Sanchez, also gives Princeton its fourth straight Ivy League title; during the proud history of Tiger squash, no team has ever won four straight Ivy titles.
Despite still not having his full lineup, head coach Bob Callahan was thrilled with his team's performance. Without Kelly Shannon or Santiago Imberton in the lineup, Princeton still managed to win all 27 games. The highlight match was at No. 1, where Sanchez, Princeton's two-time Ivy League Player of the Year, took on Harvard junior Colin West, who was coming off a 3-1 upset of Trinity's Gustav Detter earlier in the week. Sanchez made his biggest statement of the season, limiting West to only four points in a 9-1, 9-2, 9-1 victory.
Kimlee Wong and Hesham El Halaby both returned to the lineup after missing Saturday's Dartmouth match, and both cruised to victories. Sanchez, Wong and El Halaby, nicknamed "The Amigos" on the squad, have been consistent members of the varsity lineup throughout their four-year careers and will be remembered as the motor on this four-championship run.
"This is a historic occasion," Callahan said. "In the 78 years of Princeton men's squash, we have never won four consecutive titles. We have had many great teams but this “run” has been wonderful. We have been led by “the three amigos," Mauricio, Kimlee, and Hesham, who have provided such great leadership both on and off the courts these past four years. I am thrilled they can finish their careers on such a high note.”
Those three would love one more title before their careers end. The CSA team national championships will be held in two weeks at Princeton. If form holds, Princeton and Trinity would meet in the final for a fourth straight year, although teams like Yale, Cornell, Harvard and Rochester could provide tough semifinal competition for either team. A potential finals preview will be held at the Jadwin Squash Courts next Saturday, when Princeton plays host to the 10-time national champion Trinity Bantams.
PRINCETON 9, HARVARD 0
1) Mauricio Sanchez d. Colin West 1, 2, 1
2) Kimlee Wong d. Verdi DiSesa 0, 5, 2
3) Christopher Callis d. Nicholas Hrdy 7, 2, 7
4) David Letourneau d. Eliot Buchanan 5, 5, 6
5) David Canner d. J. Reed Endresen 5, 0, 6
6) Hesham El Halaby d. Richard Hill 6, 2, 1
7) Peter Sopher d. Franklin Cohen 1, 2, 5
8) Jesus Pena d. Edward Reeves 5, 0, 5
9) Clay Blackiston d. William Ahmed 5, 1, 1