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Video Feature: Tyler Osborne Recaps 4-Year Journey, Looks To Individuals
February 26, 2015 | Men's Squash
As a freshman, Tyler Osborne posted one of the most important individual victories in the history of Princeton squash. As a senior, both he and classmate Samuel Kang are trying to add their names to Princeton's list of national champions. As Osborne prepares for the championships, he shared some of his recollections over the last four years with GoPrincetonTigers.TV.
Both Osborne and Kang have been varsity starters since the beginning of their careers, and each had important wins during Princeton's run to the 2012 national team championship. Kang had a key semifinal victory in the win over Cornell, which opened the door for Osborne's showdown with Trinity freshman Miled Zarazua.
It was a first-shift match for Osborne, who had lost eight of his previous nine matches to Zarazua. Buoyed by a huge home crowd, which he discusses in the video above, Osborne posted an 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 victory that went a long way to helping the Tigers defeat Trinity 5-4 for the national title.
Frankly, he hasn't lost many times since then. Osborne has already earned All-America honors, but he has yet to reach the semifinal round of the individual championships. Both he and Kang would love to change that fact over the next three days, as Jadwin will serve as host of the individual championships over the next three days. Courts 1-5 will be streamed live on the Ivy League Digital Network.
Osborne will be the eighth seed and will open play against James Van Staveren of Western Ontario. A victory would set him up against Edgar Zayas of St. Lawrence; Osborne defeated Zayas in four tough games when the two met during the regular season at St. Lawrence.
The winner of that match will likely face top-seeded Ahmed Abdel Khalek of Bates College in a match played on the main court Saturday at 12:45; should Osborne reach the quarterfinal round, he would have to be defeated on that court, where he hasn't lost since 2012.
Kang is the seventh seed and will open play against Mason Ripka of George Washington; if Kang advances, he could face Trinity's Vishrab Kotian, who he defeated in five games three weeks ago.
Should Kang, another former All-America, advance to Saturday, his likely quarterfinal opponent would be second-seeded Osama Khalifa of Columbia.