Depth paces men's squash over Penn and F&M

Many teams have depth, but few so epitomize the term as the men's squash team does. While Yale does not boast any top individual players, its 23-man roster is one of the largest in the country, and the squad draws its strength from this vast pool of talent. Last year, Yale finished at 16-3 and earned a No. 3 national ranking, even though it did not have "the marquee players that some other schools have," according to captain Deji Olukotun, CC '00. The Elis hope that depth without great individual prowess will once again prove sufficient to earn national recognition and possibly capture the Ivy League title.

JULIA TIERNAN/YH Chris Olsen, SM '02, and the men's squash team face national champion Trinity on Wed., Jan. 19.

So far, the team's depth has led it to a 2-0 record after defeating Penn on Sat., Dec. 4, and Franklin & Marshall on Sun., Dec. 5. Although the Elis were forced to play without top players in both matches, including Kris Weiner, PC '00, who has now returned from an injury, the younger members of the team competed well. "The freshmen [got] some experience, and it showed them what it's like to play in a big match," Olukotun said. "In the Franklin & Marshall match, we didn't show the poise that we normally do, but again the younger players stepped up."

In their most recent competition, from Fri., Jan. 7, to Sun., Jan. 9, the Bulldogs hosted the 92nd United States Squash Racquets Association (USSRA) Team Championship. The tournament did not affect the Elis' record, but it did provide an opportunity for them to play against some of the top players in the nation. Twenty-eight five-man teams entered the competition: 16 into the A division—including two Yale teams—and 12 into the B division, including one Yale team. Participants ranged from top junior players to professionals representing various cities, states, and regions of the United States.

Because Yale's strength is its depth, the format of the competition—which called for five-man teams instead of the usual nine-man squads—did not favor the team. Still, there were many notable successes, including the third team's second place finish in the B group. Additionally, the first team posted an impressive victory over the Midwestern squad, whose roster included four professional squash players. Harvard, who defeated Princeton in the finals of the A group, ultimately won the tournament.

The USSRA is the first of several events Yale will host this year in its new $6 million Brady Squash Center in Payne Whitney Gymnasium. The center is named after Nicholas Brady, JE '52, the former Secretary of the Treasury. "Everybody, to a man, says it's the best facility in the world," Talbott said. The Elis will host Williams on Fri, Jan. 14, in their first official home match at the new facility. Williams is a talented team, ranked fifth in the nation, and the match should be a true test of Yale's depth. "Williams will be tough," Olukotun said of the squad, which includes three top international players. "We're a very even team with them," head coach Talbott said. "They're a little stronger on top, and we're a little stronger on the bottom. I think it will come down to the four, five, and six spots. It'll be a good test."

The Bulldogs, ranked No. 4 in the nation, hope that their depth will eventually propel them past a Harvard squad that defeated them twice last season and allow them to keep pace with Princeton, which had an impressive recruiting class. If the Elis can defeat the Crimson and the Tigers, they will be in an excellent position to win the Ivy League championship, as Harvard and Princeton are ranked second and third in the nation, respectively.

Yale's toughest challenge will come at home against Trinity on Wed., Jan. 19. The defending national champion Bantams feature several international superstars, and the Bulldogs know it will take an extraordinary effort to gain a victory. "They're probably going to make us look like the Washington Generals," Weiner said. Olsen remained optimistic, however. "It's not too often that we go in as the clear underdog, but we still have to go into the match believing we can win," he said.

Olsen's statement exemplifies the attitude that Coach Talbott believes his players lack. "We have a lack of confidence that we can beat Harvard and Trinity," Talbott observed. "It's not so much a mechanical problem as it is mental. We need to break the cycle." Talbott's message has apparently begun to reach much of the team. "We've been getting lots of inspirational talks," Olukotun said. "Trinity is always a notch above everyone else in the league, but they're not untouchable."

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