M. Squash sends two to ISAs

The past few weeks have not been kind to the Penn men's squash team. In addition to losing four players and a coach, the team slipped from a No. 9 national ranking earlier this season to No. 16 after coming in last in the second division of the ISA Team Championships last weekend. While the team's season may be over, the most important part of the season is about to begin for two of the Quakers. Sophomores Jamie White and Peter Withstandley, the Quakers' Nos. 1 and 2, were two of the 64 players invited to participate in ISA Individuals this weekend, to be held at Penn's own Ringe Courts. Penn captain Andrew Hopkins, the Quakers' No. 3, was also invited to play, but he declined the invitation because of previous spring break plans. White and Withstandley, as the lone representatives of Quakers squash, will have much to overcome in their quest to beat the best collegiate squash players in the country. White, for one, has been away from squash for three weeks as he awaited medical clearance after collapsing on the court during practice on February 11. This weekend's tournament will be his first competitive appearance since playing against Harvard two days after his collapse. "Jamie has had a layoff for three weeks now so it's hard to say what kind of form he's in," outgoing Penn coach Jim Masland said. "He's a tough kid, though, and he has a lot of talent. I expect him to go back to how he was playing before, which was a high level of squash." Withstandley, on the other hand, is coming off two individual wins this past weekend, recording the only Quakers win against Navy and beating his Wesleyan opponent -- all while playing No. 1 in the absence of White. "I didn't make it last year so this is a really big deal and I'm looking forward to it," Withstandley said. "I should be playing one of the players in the top 25 and I hope I play well." However, Withstandley, who started off the season at No. 4 before two players quit, might have some problems against the nation's more elite players. "Peter has steadily improved over the year and he's gaining maturity as a player," Masland said. "Every match will be a challenge for him and he'll definitely put in his best effort." In addition to the actual competition this weekend, on Saturday Penn will dedicate the Intercollegiate Squash Hall of Fame, housed at Ringe Courts. The ceremony will include speeches by University President Judith Rodin and Athletic Director Steve Bilsky. Additionally, current women's squash coach Demer Holleran and former men's coach Ned Edwards will grace center court. "The facility looks wonderful and the dedication will be exciting," Masland said. "It's great that it's taking place at the same time as when we have all the best collegiate players here. It's a wonderful coincidence."