.png&width=24&type=webp)
Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Talented Newcomers Pump New Life Into Princeton Men's Squash
November 20, 2015 | Men's Squash
Let's get this out of the way first. No freshman is coming in and providing everything that Samuel Kang and Tyler Osborne did at the top two positions last year. That duo earned its place in Princeton history through four years of incredible achievements — and a 2012 national team title.
That being said, the Class of 2019 has brought a spark to the Princeton men's squash team at a time it needed one the most.
After the graduation of its top four players, which includes David Hoffman and Taylor Tutrone, head coach Sean Wilkinson his team would need something special to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving Collegiate Squash Association. The days of college squash being dominated by Trinity and 3-4 Ivy League powerhouses are long gone, which has made the men's season both thrilling and fascinating — but also much more challenging.
In all likelihood, Wilkinson will start that challenge with freshmen playing in the top three spots. He could have two more making a move up the ladder during the season, and a former Ivy League Rookie of the Year who will be shaking off the rust after missing last season.
In other words, the level of improvement this team could see over just a couple of months could be dramatic. Princeton will begin that run this weekend, as it heads to Franklin & Marshall Saturday, and then will make its home debut Sunday against Navy on the Ivy League Digital Network.
Freshman Cody Cortes, the younger brother of former women's squash Ivy champion and co-captain Casey Cortes, will open the season as the No. 1 player. He has the sophistication in his game that has allowed him to ascend into the top five among his age group, but Wilkinson likes another aspect of his game far more.
“He's just a fantastic competitor,” he said. “He is going out there to fight for every ball. He could become the real deal with the right work.”
Clark Doyle will start at No. 2, and he was ranked third among his age group. His mother is Mittie Doyle '86, a former coxswain for the Tiger rowing team. That is probably the only time you'll see his mother mentioned first in a squash story, considering his father, Bill, was the revered Harvard coach who won seven Ivy titles and multiple national championships.
“Clark comes with all the right characteristics,” Wilkinson said. “He is extremely coachable. He is a great athlete, and he hits the ball as clean as anyone. He is going to mature quickly at this level, and I believe he'll be special.”
The third freshman to play in the top three early on will be Spencer Anton, who reached the No. 1 national ranking at the U-17 level. Wilkinson compared him to a former captain of his, Dylan Ward '14.
“He is Dylan 2.0,” Wilkinson said. “Spencer is one of the quickest guys I've ever worked with. He is lightning quick around the court, and he had decent hands. His fundamental game is excellent, and he hits his targets well.”
If that trio handles the top third of the lineup early on, the middle third is likely to include three other players who are still fairly new on the collegiate scene. Sophomore Jarryd Osborne, the younger brother of All-American-turned-assistant-coach Tyler Osborne, dealt with both injuries and the challenges of playing high on the ladder during his freshman season. With a year of experience under his belt, he should be more prepared to put together the kind of season Wilkinson knows he can accomplish.
Osborne's classmate, Abhimanyu Shah, was one of the big surprises of the 2014-15 season. He tied for second on the team with 10 victories, mostly at the No. 7 and No. 8 positions, including five against Ivy rivals and a sixth against eventual CSA finalist St. Lawrence. Those experiences will only bolster a strong foundation that should make Shah a very difficult opponent almost anywhere on the ladder.
Junior Vivek Dinodia was the 2013 Ivy League Rookie of the Year, and he helped push the Tigers to the Ivy championship with an undefeated record in league play. Injuries threw a major wrench in his journey, but he is back and working to regain his previous form.
“The kid can play squash, that's for certain,” Wilkinson said. “Will he get fit enough and buy in to a plan to win matches? He is so gifted with the racket, that once he gets back into match shape, he could really move up the ladder. It's great to have him back with the guys.”
Realistically, the three players in the middle could move either up or down in a lineup that could be quite fluid as the season progresses. Part of the challenge will be holding off some of the guys currently behind them, which range from a senior captain to a pair of freshmen who are starting to put things together.
The senior captain is Michael LeBlanc, and he has more than 30 wins at Princeton over his career. A smooth and steady player, he is somebody Wilkinson knows can bring that added level of experience to the court, especially in a challenging moment.
Sophomore Komron Shayehan walked on to the team last year and provided dual wins against two teams that would make the 'A' flight at the CSA Championships. Apparently, he wasn't satisfied with that nice story, as he has developed his game plenty in the offseason and is now looking to be a consistent presence in the lineup.
Freshmen William Oon and and Adham El Sherbiny could also factor into the bottom third of the lineup early on, although both have the ability to rise up the ladder as they become fitter and adjust to the collegiate game. Both bring terrific ability and racket skills, and Wilkinson believes that either or both could have a steep improvement as the season progresses.
Senior Sam Ezratty and junior Ben Leizman both bring a ton of experience into the season, and both of them could play crucial matches around the bottom of the lineup. They also will provide terrific leadership for such a young roster that is looking to turn heads early and make their way back into the A flight.
Another person to watch is Manik Datta, who also missed all of last season, but proved to be a very challenging opponent during his freshman season.
Wilkinson isn't blind to the challenges that lay ahead for this Princeton team. As the CSA has gotten stronger and the depth of talent has spread out beyond the Ivy League and Trinity, he knows that teams will do whatever it takes to keep Princeton from rising back to the elite tier.
But he also sees the daily work that is being put in by his guys, and the talent that was infused into the program this year. It's a journey for certain, but he has been excited by the early steps.
“We're young, and we're going to have to learn how to compete with these top teams,” Wilkinson said. “It has to be about one practice at a time, one match at a time, and constant growth along the way. But the attitude among the guys has been terrific. They're motivated and hungry, and I can't wait to see what they can accomplish moving forward.”