George Washington University Athletics
GW Men's Squash Season Outlook
11/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Squash
The George Washington men's squash team is coming off its most successful season in program history following its first-ever appearance in the Hoehn Cup (B-Division) and first-ever win over Navy at last season's College Squash Association (CSA) National Championships.
The Colonials were No. 14 in the final CSA National Poll, the best end-of-season ranking in GW history, and have their eyes set on loftier goals as the squad gets set to open the 2015-16 season on Wednesday night against Georgetown at the Matthew J. Grossman Squash Courts at Lerner Health & Wellness Center.
"We are looking forward to building on last year's momentum," said head coach Wendy Lawrence. "We have a chance to achieve things that have never been done by this program. We finished strong last year at No. 14 and from what I have seen so far this fall, we have the potential to move up and crack the top 10 during the season."
"Another goal is to compete in the Potter Cup (A-Division) for the first time ever. We have a very challenging schedule this season, which will give us opportunities to knock off higher-ranked opponents and move up in the rankings. If we can stay healthy, we can have a very big year. We are really looking to increase our fitness level throughout the season so that we are strong down the stretch. We have placed a real emphasis on core work and injury prevention."
GW is in the unique position of having not lost any players to graduation while adding two talented international recruits in Moudy Abdel-Maksoud (Cairo, Egypt) and Juan Pablo Mejia (El Libertard, El Salvador).
"We have a very deep team this season after not losing anybody last spring," said Coach Lawrence. "We have also added two very talented international players in Moudy Abdel-Maksoud and Juan Pablo Mejia. Moudy will very likely be in the number one position on the ladder while Juan Pablo will play around six. This adds to our depth and strengthens the bottom third of the ladder immensely. The bottom of our ladder has always been a little weak, but it is now the strongest it has ever been. With the increase of power at the top it has pushed everybody down a few spots and we are now very strong one through nine."
The Colonials still look back upon last season's memorable CSA National Championship appearance, where the squad defeated regional-rival Navy for the first time ever, as inspiration in the new season.
"Playing in the B-Division last season and beating Navy was a huge psychological achievement for our program," said Coach Lawrence. "Navy is a local nemesis and has always been very strong in matches against us. Now that we have gotten over that hump it is now an expectation to defeat them again this year. That is another goal for us, picking up wins against teams we have never beat before."
GW will host five matches at the Matthew J. Grossman Squash Courts, including a date with defending national champion Trinity (Jan. 7). In total, the Colonials will face six teams that concluded 2015-16 in the top-10 of last year's final CSA National Poll.
Projected Ladder
1. Moudy Abdel-Maksoud - Cairo, Egypt
Abdel-Maksoud comes to GW after leading St. George's School (Rhode Island) to consecutive undefeated seasons, including a perfect record as an individual in his junior season. The Cario, Egypt, native was also a member of the Egyptian Junior National Team that won seven consecutive world championships from 2006-13.
Coach Lawrence on Abdel-Maksoud: "Moudy is a very sound technical player. He is very gifted with his hands, has tremendous ball control and a really great short game. He will open the season at the top of the ladder and will play a big role in our success this season."
2. Mason Ripka - New York, New York
Ripka became the men's squash program's first-ever CSA All-American after earning Second Team honors in his debut season. He tallied 10 wins at No. 1 as a freshman and made a deep run into the Pool Division (A-Division) of the CSA Individual National Championships.
Coach Lawrence on Ripka: "Mason has been a little injured throughout this fall semester but is on the mend and will be healthy for the start of the season. He and Moudy will be battling for that No. 1 position throughout the season."
3. Oisin Logan - Dublin, Ireland
Logan earned Most Valuable Player honors after leading the team with 14 victories as a freshman. He recorded six wins against opponents from top-10 programs and lost just six times in 20 matches.
Coach Lawrence on Logan: Oisin had a very strong freshman season and is looking to build on that experience he gained as a top-three player last year. He will be in a tight competition with Andres de Frutos for the No. 3 position.
4. Andres de Frutos - Bogota, Colombia
de Frutos has 22 wins across his first two seasons as a Colonial after picking up 13 victories as a sophomore. He concluded the season on a five-match win streak, including going a perfect 3-0 at the CSA National Championships.
Coach Lawrence on de Frutos: "Andres has been in heated competition with Oisin throughout the fall for the No. 3. Position. He is a quick and deceptive player that will be a boost to our lineup wherever he is plugged in."
5. Nicolas Valderrama - Bogota, Colombia
Valderrama battled injuries throughout his sophomore season but still managed to post seven victories in the top half of the ladder.
Coach Lawrence on Valderrama: "Nico was held back by an ankle injury for most of last season but he has bounced back nicely from that injury. As long as he remains healthy he will be an anchor in the middle of the ladder."
6. Juan Pablo Mejia - La Libertard, El Salvador
Juan Pablo is a talented player with international experience after playing No. 2 for the El Salvador Junior National Team. He also reached the finals of the Junior Pan American Games as an individual.
Coach Lawrence on Figueroa: "Juan Pablo is a very quick player with a really nice short game. He needs to work on his conditioning and that will come with experience as we move through the season."
7. James Reiss - Fairfield, Connecticut
Reiss enters his senior season with 36 career victories, which ranks fourth all-time in GW men's squash history. He tied for second on the team as a junior with 13 wins, including six matches in straight sets. He also played to a 2-1 record at the CSA National Championships last season.
Coach Lawrence on Reiss: "James and Reid have been battling for over three years now and will continue to do so into their senior seasons. Having players of this caliber occupying the bottom third of our ladder is going to be an enormous boost for us this year."
8, Reid Breck - Greenwich, Connecticut
Breck ranks third all-time at GW with 37 career victories after winning six matches in a shortened season as a junior. He studied abroad in the fall semester.
Coach Lawrence on Breck: "Reid has been a leader on this team for three years now and is once again a captain. He leads by example and is one of the toughest competitors I have ever coached here. He gets off to slow starts in matches but never gives up."
9. Josh Marks - Merion, Pennsylvania
Marks posted 10 victories across four positions on the ladder as a sophomore. Seven of his 10 wins came in straight sets and he now has 19 victories across two seasons as a Colonial.
Coach Lawrence on Marks: "Josh played between No. 5 and No. 8 for us last season. Now that he is at No. 9, it just speaks to the depth that we have this year. His experience gained over his first two seasons will be a huge asset in the bottom third of the ladder."
10. Omar Mussehl - Seattle, Washington
Mussehl went 8-6 in his debut season while playing through a knee injury.
Coach Lawrence on Mussehl: "Omar is working back from knee surgery in the offseason and will add depth throughout the lineup."
11. Billy Berner - Greenwich, Connecticut
Berner finished with six wins in his debut season.
Coach Lawrence on Berner: "Billy played in various spots on the ladder last year and will add key depth to the roster this season."
12. John Bassett - Buffalo, New York
Bassett tallied eight wins as a freshman, including a crucial win in GW's upset of No. 14 Navy at the CSA National Championships.
Coach Lawrence on Bassett: "John got valuable playing time as a freshman last season and provided a key victory in our win over Navy. That experience will help him as he enters his sophomore season and provides depth once again throughout the ladder.
Players Mentioned
