Women's Squash Season Outlook
11/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Squash
Friday, 5:30 p.m.: Georgetown at GW - Matthew J. Grossman Squash Courts
Sunday, 11:30 a.m.: Johns Hopkins at GW - Matthew J. Grossman Squash Courts
Season Outlook
If you ask head coach Wendy Lawrence about her thoughts on the women's squash team entering the 2016-17 season, one may be surprised about her assessment.
After all, the Colonials did graduate Anna Gabriela Porras, the four-time College Squash Association (CSA) All-American and the program's all-time career-wins leader (55). GW also lost three of Porras' classmates - Emely Levyn, Alexa Tzarnas and Eunice Tan - a trio that combined for 84 individual wins.
While Lawrence will miss the consistency of her senior class from last season, she has no choice but to look to the future. With a revamped roster that features five newcomers, all of which are expected to make an immediate impact, things are looking up for the Colonials.
"It is a big rebuilding year for us," said Lawrence. "We lost four starters and now have five freshmen. The nice thing is, many of them will be playing in the top nine for us this season. That is a pretty unique situation in college squash. All five of them come to GW with solid junior rankings and lots of experience. As a whole, our strength coach, Cayley McClean, has been very impressed with the level of work that this team has put in so far. They have greatly improved their conditioning and it will make a difference this season."
Two seasons ago the women's team broke into the Howe Cup (A-Division) for the first time in program history. The team had high hopes for making a return appearance last season but a rash of injuries throughout the roster derailed those plans. Now fully healthy, and with plenty of new faces, Lawrence is looking to get the team back to where they belong.
"This team is looking to make up for the loss of opportunity from last season," said Lawrence. "We had a lot of injuries throughout last year and that contributed to us slipping from No. 7 down to No. 13. We want to be at the top of the B-Division throughout the season and knocking on the door of the A-Division by the time Nationals roll around. I think top to bottom, we are significantly stronger than we were last year."
Lawrence looks to a familiar face at the top of the lineup to provide veteran leadership to a relatively young roster.
"I think it all starts with Breanne Flynn who is coming off an All-American season," said Lawrence. "She had a fabulous run at individual nationals, winning the B-Division D Draw championship. She had a great overall junior season and is ready to lead us this year as our captain."
The junior duo of Mary Jo Mahfood and Abby Shonrock also return and will both provide stability in the lineup.
"Mary Jo trained very hard over the summer and has come back stronger and fitter than I've ever seen her before," said Lawrence. "I fully expect her to move up into the top three this year."
Shonrock has totaled 18 wins in her first two seasons at GW and made a surprising run through the B-Division C Draw at the CSA Individual National Championships last spring.
"Abby had a great individual nationals last season and that was a big boost to her confidence," said Lawrence. "She improved her individual ranking by over 20 spots and I expect she will be in the top five or six this season."
Mehak Chawla has been a consistent presence in the top nine over her first three seasons and is poised for her best season yet in her senior year.
"Mehak is hitting the ball very well right now," said Lawrence. "After a long summer of really working on her game she is also in the best playing shape of her career"
The trio of sophomore Brooke Feldman and juniors Erica Chemtob and Ginger Sands round out GW's returning players. All will provide depth throughout the ladder.
Freshman Engy El Mandouh is poised to complement Flynn at the top of the ladder to open the season while her four classmates are capable of making an immediate impact starting with GW's opening weekend.
"Engy is a top Egyptian player and we expect her to slot right into the No. 2 position on the ladder," said Lawrence. "I'm looking for the rest of our freshmen group to slide in and fill the spots of our graduated seniors."
Newcomers Samira Baird, Emma Tryon, Elle Carroll and Isobel Brinkworth round out GW's roster.
GW will host seven matches at the Matthew J. Grossman Squash Courts, by far the most matches in a single season in program history.
"We are psyched to have more home matches than ever before," said Lawrence. "We have one of the best fan bases out of any school that we play throughout the year. The team feeds off of the atmosphere and it is going to propel us this season."
Players Mentioned
