The Ephs had a strong showing in the Hoehn division at CSA
Nationals at Princeton this weekend. Friday morning the Williams
squad faced off against an improved St. Lawrence team coached by
none other than former Ephman Morgan Phillips ’08. The first
round 0f Ephs got off to a shaky start with both #6 Cameron Henry
and #3 Will Gruner quickly dropping their first games before
answering decisively in the second. Both Henry and Gruner went on
to win in five.
Bucky Marshall after going down 5-0 in the first game came back to
win 9-5 and carried the momentum to finish the second and third
uncontested. Jeremy Herrmann and Ethan Buchsbaum both won in four,
and the rest of the team won in three. The match was a good warm-up
for Franklin and Marshall the next day.
Williams def. St. Lawrence 9-0
1 Ethan Buchsbaum def. Alex Dodge -- 3-9
9-2 9-5 9-4
2 Will Morris def. Jermaine Xaba -- 9-0
9-7 9-3
3 Will Gruner def. Nick Pearson -- 4-9 9-1 9-1
3-9 9-5
4 George Miler def. Scott Phillips -- 9-5
9-1 9-2
5 Christian Henze def. Scott Redpath --
9-4 9-3 9-4
6 Cameron Henry def. Tyler Stout -- 3-9 9-3
8-10 9-3 9-4
7 Bernard Yaros def. Michael Badali
-- 9-2 9-0 9-2
8 Jeremy Hermann def. Thomas Kraft -- 10-9 9-4
9-10 9-5
9 Bucky Marshall def. Adam Pistel -- 9-5 9-1
9-1
After seeing some upsets and near upsets on Friday, the Ephs
approached the Franklin and Marshall match very seriously. On first
were Marshall, Henry and Gruner. Marshall at number nine took care
of business yielding five points in three games to opponent Patrick
Pasqueriello. Henry left nothing to chance, grinding away at Ry
Hawley. Madraswala started off very strong taking the first game
but he wasn’t prepared to go the distance when Gruner
answered with simple error-free squash.
Freshman number two Will Morris played tough squash but a
combination of opponent Melo’s pace and holds from the front
wore Will down. Ethan Buchsbaum also had a close match with Nadav
Tannen. Buchsbaum and Tannen’s clashing styles made for many
let calls. Ethan played his toughest squash in the third, battling
from a 5-7 deficit to take the game. All the other matches Williams
won in three with consistent and determined squash, paving the way
to the finals against UWO on Sunday
Williams 6, Franklin & Marshall 3
1 Nadav Tannen (F&M) def. Ethan
Buchsbaum 9-6 9-4 7-9 9-4
2 Gabriel Melo F&M def. Will Morris 9-5 9-0
9-3
3 Will Gruner (W) def. Sadiq Madraswala 5-9 9-3
9-3 9-0
4 George Miler (W) def. Chris Gagnier 9-7
9-3 9-3
5 Christian Henze (W) def. Shane Slater 9-6 9-3
9-3
6 Cameron Henry (W) def. Ry Hawley 9-3 9-6
9-7
7 Bernard Yaros (W) def. Zarir Aibara 9-3 9-1
9-5
8 Jeremy Hermann (W) def. Ben Lurio 9-7 9-4
9-2
9 Bucky Marshall (W) def. Patrick
Pasqueriello 9-4 9-0 9-1
The Match against the University of Western Ontario was the
culmination of the Eph’s season. On first again were
Marshall, Henry, and Gruner. Marshall came out of the gates
swinging, fighting for every point. He managed to take the first
game against a very strong Mark Porter. Bucky maintained the high
level of squash from the first game but Mark Porter overcame every
effort Bucky put forth, winning the next three. Bucky’s
contributions on and off the court this season were immeasurable,
Williams squash is lucky to have had such a stalwart of
sportsmanship and competition.
On court two Henry changed the momentum. Playing the best squash he’s played all season, Henry’s formidable pace and silky redrops were too much for UWO’s Kristen Jeffery. Whether against Dartmouth’s Preefer for the win last year or against UWO this year, Cam has a knack for peaking right on time. Gruner at number three was stronghold of composure and with the help of very relevant coaching from fellow sophomore Jeremy Herrmann, Will took out Strachan Jarvis in three. Next on were Herrmann, Henze and Morris. Rafik Bahloo, who won the deciding match against Williams at nationals last year, in the first game looked like a bona fide purple cow slayer. Herrmann then stepped his game to a level he has only achieved glimpses of all season and took the next three with relative ease.
The Ephs knew that Kimesh Chetty at number five was UWO’s strongest position on paper. Henze played incredible squash, pushing Chetty to the breaking point in the first game, but Chetty locked down the game with superb shot making. Henze fought hard in the second and third, but Chetty proved to be too strong. Morris had his work cut out for him against fellow freshman Ryan Herden. Herden took the first game 9-3, he stepped forward and volleyed balls that seemed to be un-volleyable, which put a great deal of pressure on Morris. Not willing to hand over the match uncontested, Morris slowed his typical fast pace of play to take the bite out of Herden’s volleys. The second game was one of the hardest fought single games of the weekend. At the slower pace the two were very well matched, though Herden made some bold plays at 8-8 all that paid off. Morris fought hard in the third but his legs weren’t totally there, and without his balance, Morris fell to Herden’s consistency and hold from the front.
After two rounds with the match tied 3-3 Yaros, Miller, and Buchsbaum take to the courts. Yaros won the first 9-3 playing his steady game and finishing points with penetrating depth. Rothwell answered by taking the second game convincingly 9-2, but at a high cost. Rothwell was exhausted and Bernard, with his steady, risk-free pressure never let him back up for air in the third and fourth, allowing only three points.
Ian Crozier had a truly outstanding performance against Williams captain George Miller. Crozier was on fire in the first game; George couldn’t play a tight or deep enough ball. George battled to even the momentum in the second. Crozier managed to get game ball at 8-7 and was awarded an incredibly dubious stroke call for the game. The next game George went out with a determination of a true competitor. George fought and muscled his way to a 9-7 win. The fourth was incredibly close. At 6-6 George hit a tin to give Crozier the serve and Crozier never looked back, the next to points ended with Crozier, under serious pressure, hitting two dead nicks. George got back the serve but Crozier’s shot making was truly exceptional and overcame George’s determined hustle. Crozier had an Olympic performance to out perform Miller, who was hands down Williams’ strongest competitor.
Tied at 4-4 and Buchsbaum down 2-0 against UWO’s very strong number one Chris Hanesbury. Ethan sensed the urgency and made a surge to equalize at 5-5, but Hanesbury was too strong and took the third game and the fifth match for UWO.
Although a disappointing way to end the season, the Ephs without exception played tough and raised their game to the highest possible level. The class of ’09 has been the most successful class in the programs recent history and helped to usher in a new era for Williams squash. George Cam and Bucky will have a lasting legacy of sportsmanship and competition for the underclassmen and will be sorely missed as captains, as teammates, and as friends.
Western Ontario 5, Williams 4
1 Chris Hanebury (UWO) def. Ethan Buchsbaum --
9-0 9-1 9-5
2 Ryan Herden (UWO) def. Will Morris -- 9-3
10-8 9-1
3 Will Gruner (W) def. Strachan Jarvis (UWO) --
9-5 9-5 9-4
4 Ian Crozier (UWO) def. George Miler -- 9-1
9-7 7-9 9-6
5 Kimesh Chetty (UWO) def. Christian
Henze -- 9-7 9-3 9-4
6 Cameron Henry (W) def. Kristen Jeffery -- 9-7
10-8 9-10 9-5
7 Bernard Yaros (W) def. Joel Rothwell -- 9-3
2-9 9-4 9-0
8 Jeremy Hermann (W) def. Rafik Bahloo -- 5-9
9-3 9-4 9-2
9 Mark Porter (UWO) def. Bucky Marshall -- 8-10
9-6 9-2 9-6
