Canton, N.Y. – The Denison men’s squash team made history by securing third place in the Liberty League Championship after a tight 5-4 victory over Haverford. This win marks their first-ever third-place finish in the program’s history.
The match was pivotal, with Denison’s top players leading the charge. Juan Felipe Hernandez, Nathan Cukierman, Charlie Fenwick, and Alex DeLuca all delivered strong performances, earning crucial wins. Hernandez and Cukierman each swept their opponents, while Rayyan Arif clinched the match after a grueling five-set battle, coming back from a 2-1 deficit to triumph.
Here’s how the matches unfolded:
- Juan Felipe Hernandez (DEN) def. Aaryaman Jaising (HAV) 3-0 (11-3, 11-4, 11-6)
- Nate Cukierman (DEN) def. Henry Jiang (HAV) 3-0 (11-9, 11-2, 11-4)
- Charlie Fenwick (DEN) def. Ben Levy (HAV) 3-1 (11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6)
- Alex DeLuca (DEN) def. Kai Thomas Schinaman (HAV) 3-1 (11-5, 14-12, 9-11, 11-9)
- Jet Li (HAV) def. Ross Falcon (DEN) 3-1 (17-15, 9-11, 14-12, 11-9)
- Qianzhi Zhao (HAV) def. Jackson Bragman (DEN) 3-1 (11-7, 10-12, 11-3, 11-5)
- Advait Chandramouli (HAV) def. Aimaan Zakaria (DEN) 3-2 (8-11, 12-10, 7-11, 13-11, 11-2)
- Dean Ibrahim (HAV) def. Wylly Molten IV (DEN) 3-0 (11-8, 11-3, 13-11)
- Rayyan Arif (DEN) def. Nevin Mital (HAV) 3-2 (7-11, 11-8, 16-14, 5-11, 11-9)
Next up, the Big Red will travel to Philadelphia for the College Squash Association National Divisional Championships from February 27 to March 1. Their performance this season has generated excitement not just in Canton, but also among squash fans nationwide. The rapid growth of squash and its popularity in colleges is reflected in a recent Sports Business Journal report, indicating a 15% increase in college squash participation over the last few years.
As Denison prepares for their upcoming challenges, they embody the determination and skill that are shaping the future of squash in college sports.
