Ephs Prove Worthy of the Potter Division at Nationals

Trinity (1) Def. Williams (8) 9-0

1.    Basset Chaudry (T) Def. Jon Barry 9-5 10-8 9-0
2.    Gustav Detter (T) Def. Ethan Buchsbaum 9-3 9-2 9-2
3.    Manek Mathur (T) Def. Tony Maruca 9-6 9-7 9-2
4.    Andres Vargas (T) Def. George Miller 9-4 9-7 9-1
5.    Parth Sharma (T) Def. Morgan Phillips 9-2 9-2 9-1
6.    Randy Lim (T) Def. Cameron Henry 9-3 9-3 9-7
7.    Simba Muhwati (T) Def. Bernard Yaros 9-4 9-0 9-7
8.    Rushabh Vora (T) Def. Christian Henze 9-6 9-5 9-2
9.    Neil Robertson (T) Def. Constantine Mavroudis 9-0 9-0 9-0 

After a hard fought win over Rochester Friday morning, Williams really had its hands full playing number one seeded Trinity in the afternoon. Williams played hard and proved they deserve to be in the A draw. Number one Jon Barry played sensationally against number one collegiate squash player Basset Chaundry, earning a game-ball in the second game. “Jon was just finding the nicks, and even a player like Basset has no defense against that” said Captain Tony Maruca. Despite his nicks, Jon still lost in three. Everyone else lost in three games.

University of Western Ontario (6) Def. Williams (8) 5-4

1.    Jon Barry (W) Def. G. Hutner 9-3 9-5 9-3
2.    C. Hanebury (UWO) Def. Ethan Buchsbaum 9-5 9-5 9-4
3.    I. Crozier (UWO) Def. Tony Maruca (8-10) 9-1 10-9 9-7
4.    George Miller (W) Def. R. Osbourne (7-9) 9-3 9-2 (5-9) 9-2
5.    Will Gruner (W) Def. S. Jarvis (0-9) 9-7 9-5 9-7
6.    Morgan Phillips (W) Def. J. Rothwell 9-3 (3-9) 9-2 9-3
7.    R. Forester (UWO) Def. C Henry 9-6 9-7 9-0
8.    K. Chetty (UWO) Def. Bernard Yaros (5-9) 9-4 (3-9) 9-5 9-3
9.    R. Bhaloo (UWO) Def. Christian Henze 9-4 9-5 9-0
10.    M. Connolly (UWO) Def. Jeremy Herrmann 9-3 (6-9) (5-9) 9-3 9-8

Williams had a disappointing bout with UWO on Saturday, barely losing 5-4. Jon Barry won easily at number one against Hutner. The middle court had a successful day, winning at four five and six. Morgan Phillips set the tone, winning in four but allowing three or less points in the three games he won, making for a fairly secure win. Will Gruner came out of the gates really slowly, promptly losing the first game 9-0 before grinding out the next three games to the surprise of opponent Jarvis. George Miller then got on court and played a great match eventually winning in five. The bottom court on the other hand had a tough day winning only two games in three matches. Bernard Yaros looked as though he could be the hero of the day, but opponent Chetty had other plans, coming back from 2-1 deficit to overcome a determined Yaros. Maruca also had the chance to be the hero on Saturday, losing the 3rd after a game ball, and eventually going down in four. Overall the Ephs were happy with their play but obviously disappointed to fall short of last season’s epic performance against UWO, and a chance to maintain the number six national ranking despite losing five out of last seasons top nine.

Williams (8) Def. Dartmouth (7) 5-4

1.    A. Baumford (D) Def. Jon Barry (W) 9-7 (5-9) 9-6 10-9
2.    T. Newhouse (D) Def. Ethan Buchsbaum 9-5 9-3 9-7
3.    Tony Maruca (W) Def. A. King (6-9) (6-9) 9-3 10-9 9-6
4.    George Miller (W) Def. Mike Lewis 9-1 9-0 9-2
5.    M. Shrubb (D) Def. Will Gruner 9-7 9-1 9-5
6.    Morgan Phillips (W) Def. D. Wagman 9-4 9-3 9-7
7.    Cameron Henry (W) Def. S. Preefer 9-5 9-6 9-3
8.    T. Young (D) Def. Bernard Yaros (3-9) (2-9) 9-5 9-4 9-2
9.    Christian Henze (W) Def. T. Schroder 9-1 (5-9) 9-7 (7-9) 9-6

The men’s team finished the season on an up-note, placing 7th at the CSA national tournament and avenging their loss to Dartmouth earlier in the season. “This was a season of second chances,” said captain Tony Maruca, “and we capitalized when it counted.” Four of the five Williams wins came from players that had lost to Dartmouth earlier in the season. Tony Maruca, one of the four, had an appropriate end to his Williams career by upsetting Dartmouth number three Adam King in a gutsy comeback from a 2-0 deficit. Morgan Phillips also ended his Williams squash career (and his particularly strong run at nationals) appropriately with a dominating 3-0 victory over Wagman. Number nine Christian Henze also avenged his prior loss to Ted Schroder in a tight five game match. Williams quickly went up 4-1 but then Dartmouth finished off three tight matches at one two and eight to equalize. Cameron Henry stepped onto the court knowing full well the match stood in the balance, and proceeded to dominate Steven Preefer in a hard fought, but at times a seemingly forgone 3-0 victory, walking off the court into the arms of his teammates. George Miller also had a phenomenal performance, allowing freshman Mike Lewis only three points in a lightning quick match. Captain and number one Jon Barry played well against Baumford, winning a well-deserved game and earning a game-ball in the fourth, but in the end it was Baumford walking off the court victorious. Spectators agree that if Barry had won the fourth, that match would likely have fallen the other way. Overall it was a satisfying end to a hard fought and tumultuous season.