Williamstown, MA - For the first time in the last ten years, the Williams Men's Squash team is one of the top ten teams in the nation. A change in how rankings are calculated, the new method takes into account total match scores in addition to team wins and loses, has caused the Ephs to move up to 9th in the rankings. Co-captain
Andrew Minnis sayshe is, "especially proud of how the team's hard work has been paying off. Seeing this result is something that we have worked toward for a long time."
Williams' mentality in training and in matches has been one of the key reasons they have been able to accomplish this goal. There have been many five-game matches and other close games against opponents this year, but the Williams men continue to come out on top in most tight games, utilizing the fitness they have built up this year and remaining mentally tough during crucial moments.
Alex Akbari, Asher Leary, and
Nick Agger have continually faced tough opponents, and have been able to secure crucial 5 game wins for the team.
In addition, the Ephs have taken matches off some of the top teams in the nation, which has propelled them to this new high ranking. Co-captain
Will Evans and
Rafay Syed both won their match against UPenn, one of the top three teams in the nation.
Nick Agger won his match against Columbia, and
Leonard Lee also won his match against Cornell. They also have had an impressive record against teams ranked below them, only dropping 7 matches out of 81 played against lower seeded teams. The return of
Cameron Darnell,
Pierce Henderson, and
Jack Lee from their studies abroad has also helped the Ephs in the second half of the season.
Interim head coach
Hesham Aly has also greatly contributed to the team's success. Coming into the program on short notice, he was able to quickly adjust to the new environment and learn how to develop the skills of each member of the team, which the team is grateful for. Additionally, Co-captains
Will Evans and
Andrew Minnis set the tone from the beginning of the season, both leading by example and making sure that every member of the team was working at their highest ability.Â
However, the team's mindset is still forward looking.
Will Evans says "I'm happy for the team. They've worked incredibly hard for this moment and truly deserve this ranking, but we all know that the season is not over. We want to be ranked even higher and leave a lasting imprint on Williams Squash History."
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