February 6, 2014
Western squash aims to keep OUA banners at home
HAMILTON, Ont. - It is fitting that Western University will play host to the OUA squash championships running February 8-9. The Mustangs men’s and women’s teams have a stranglehold on the team titles in recent years. The women’s banner has resided at Western for the past three seasons, while the men’s title has become a fixture of the Jack Fairs Squash courts thanks to a winning streak three decades long. A handful of teams will make the trek to London with hopes of dethroning the perennial champions.
Western has posted a 7 -1 record against Canadian schools this year with their lone loss being a 4-3 decision against Queen’s at the Jester’s Crossover event in December. Additionally the Mustangs have posted an 8-5 record competing in the College Squash Association south of the border, where they rank ninth nationally.
After knocking of Western at the Jester's Crossover, the Queen’s Gaels will be looking to overthrow the Mustangs when they visit London. The Gaels, featuring 2011 OUA all-star Alex Ford, Alex Cormier and 2013 OUA rookie of the year Mo Hamour, were dominant in winning the Jester's East Sectionals in November and finished at the top of the results at the second East Sectional event last weekend.
A talented squad from McMaster will be looking to improve upon their second place finish at the OUA championship a year ago. The Marauders will have an experienced team, returning 2013 OUA all-star and 2011 rookie of the year Patrick Morkus. Morkus will be joined by veterans Pranav Sharma and Spencer Robitaille. The Marauders claimed top spot at the Jester's Crossover in December and hope to carry that success to the OUA championship.
Waterloo Warrior Cameron Seth will be looking to improve on his team's third place from a year ago.
It was a narrow win in 2013 for the Western women’s team as they finished just one point ahead of the Waterloo Warriors. The Mustangs will be hard pressed to continue their championship run after the loss of some key squad members. They return veterans Brooke Burrowes and Sarah Todd. Both Burrowes and Todd were OUA all-stars in 2012. In preparation for the OUA championships, the Mustangs compiled a record of 3-3 at events in October and November.
Waterloo enters this year’s championship without three-time individual champion Micaala Seth, but will look to her sisters Natasha and Marissa to continue the legacy. Natasha is in her fourth year with Waterloo and has spent this season playing out of the first position. Just a rookie, Marissa hopes to score points for the team from the middle of the lineup. The results of Keely Levitt will also go a long way in determining Waterloo’s success. The Warriors posted a third place finish at the second Jester's sectional over the weekend and at a Jester's sectional event in November they claimed the top spot.
The Toronto Varsity Blues are a team on the rise and looking to challenge for gold. After finishing in fourth place last year, the Blues have been dominant in Jester's league play this year. Led by first position player Natalia Londono, Toronto has handily defeated every university squad in their path compiling an 8-0 mark, earning 53 of a possible 56 points. Londono is in her first year on the OUA circuit but she comes with an international pedigree that has seen her claim gold at the U-17 Pan American championships and bronze medals at both the U-19 Pan American and South American championships. She also represented her native Columbia at the 2013 World Junior championships.
The 2014 OUA squash championships will take place at the Jack Fairs squash courts at Western University. The tournament opens with pool play on Saturday at 10 a.m. Sunday’s action features elimination rounds and the crowning of the team and individual champions. Play on Sunday begins at 10 a.m. with awards being distributed at approximately 7:15 p.m.
As has been the case for the last 30 years, the Western Mustangs will be the favourites to reclaim the men’s crown, but they will have to do so without last year’s individual champion Brian Hong, who was lost to graduation. The 2014 Mustangs will look to fourth-year vet Adrian Ostbye. Ostbye has been playing out of the first position for Western in domestic events and is likely to do the same at the OUA championships. The squad will also rely on strong results from Cory Shannon and Alex Seto in order to continue their run.
Western has posted a 7 -1 record against Canadian schools this year with their lone loss being a 4-3 decision against Queen’s at the Jester’s Crossover event in December. Additionally the Mustangs have posted an 8-5 record competing in the College Squash Association south of the border, where they rank ninth nationally.
After knocking of Western at the Jester's Crossover, the Queen’s Gaels will be looking to overthrow the Mustangs when they visit London. The Gaels, featuring 2011 OUA all-star Alex Ford, Alex Cormier and 2013 OUA rookie of the year Mo Hamour, were dominant in winning the Jester's East Sectionals in November and finished at the top of the results at the second East Sectional event last weekend.
A talented squad from McMaster will be looking to improve upon their second place finish at the OUA championship a year ago. The Marauders will have an experienced team, returning 2013 OUA all-star and 2011 rookie of the year Patrick Morkus. Morkus will be joined by veterans Pranav Sharma and Spencer Robitaille. The Marauders claimed top spot at the Jester's Crossover in December and hope to carry that success to the OUA championship.
Waterloo Warrior Cameron Seth will be looking to improve on his team's third place from a year ago.
It was a narrow win in 2013 for the Western women’s team as they finished just one point ahead of the Waterloo Warriors. The Mustangs will be hard pressed to continue their championship run after the loss of some key squad members. They return veterans Brooke Burrowes and Sarah Todd. Both Burrowes and Todd were OUA all-stars in 2012. In preparation for the OUA championships, the Mustangs compiled a record of 3-3 at events in October and November.
Waterloo enters this year’s championship without three-time individual champion Micaala Seth, but will look to her sisters Natasha and Marissa to continue the legacy. Natasha is in her fourth year with Waterloo and has spent this season playing out of the first position. Just a rookie, Marissa hopes to score points for the team from the middle of the lineup. The results of Keely Levitt will also go a long way in determining Waterloo’s success. The Warriors posted a third place finish at the second Jester's sectional over the weekend and at a Jester's sectional event in November they claimed the top spot.
The Toronto Varsity Blues are a team on the rise and looking to challenge for gold. After finishing in fourth place last year, the Blues have been dominant in Jester's league play this year. Led by first position player Natalia Londono, Toronto has handily defeated every university squad in their path compiling an 8-0 mark, earning 53 of a possible 56 points. Londono is in her first year on the OUA circuit but she comes with an international pedigree that has seen her claim gold at the U-17 Pan American championships and bronze medals at both the U-19 Pan American and South American championships. She also represented her native Columbia at the 2013 World Junior championships.
The 2014 OUA squash championships will take place at the Jack Fairs squash courts at Western University. The tournament opens with pool play on Saturday at 10 a.m. Sunday’s action features elimination rounds and the crowning of the team and individual champions. Play on Sunday begins at 10 a.m. with awards being distributed at approximately 7:15 p.m.
