Returning from winter break a week early for practice and training, the Penn men's squash team has been focusing on fitness.
Last night, the Quakers, fit as ever, defeated Navy at Ringe Courts with a perfect 9-0 victory.
"Navy always comes with a strong physical game; they hit hard and attack," Penn coach Craig Thorpe-Clark said. "They have an ability to run fast, hit hard, and compete."
The Red and Blue (4-1, 2-1 Ivy) are currently ranked fourth in the nation, according to the College Squash Association, while the Midshipmen (9-2) are ranked 11th.
Penn only lost two games out of 29 total, and some of those performances were exceptional.
At the No. 3 spot, freshman Lee Rosen overpowered Navy's Jeff Sawin, 9-1, 9-4 and 9-0.
"Lee played well and dominated with speed and good shot accuracy," Thorpe-Clark said.
The top two on the Quakers' ladder also clinched definitive victories. Sophomore Gilly Lane, currently ranked 14th in the nation, defeated Navy's Tucker George, 9-2, 9-4 and 9-0, at the No. 1 spot. At the second position, 15th-ranked senior Richard Repetto beat Gavin Morrison 9-2, 9-3 and 9-8.
"Our top three players are one of the strengths of the team," Thorpe-Clark said.
According to Thorpe-Clark, the depth of the team, including the players competing in the fourth through ninth positions, is another strength.
At the seventh spot, senior captain Drew Crockett defeated the Middies' Pat Kruse, 9-7, 9-2 and 9-2. Penn Sophomore Ryan Rayfield also completed a sweep, defeating Luke Koran 9-0, 9-6 and 9-3 at the ninth position.
"We've had a longstanding rivalry with Navy," Thorpe-Clark said. "We look forward to our Navy match every year."
Although the Quakers and the Midshipmen have traditionally been rivals, the teams showed good sportsmanship both on and off the Ringe Courts.
After the match concluded, the Quakers hosted the Midshipmen for dinner at Weightman Hall in the athletic complex.
"We're trying to foster collegiality," Thorpe-Clark said. "The college experience that Navy has is very different than Penn's. It is good for our guys to get to know different lifestyles, experiences and expectations.
"A meal after squash is common in the rest of the world, but not in America."
On Saturday, the Quakers will face 14th-ranked Amherst and 23rd-ranked George Washington at Ringe Courts.
"We're slightly favored," Thorpe-Clark said. "The difference is the depth of our squad -- I can make changes in the lineup and our players willadjust."
According to Thorpe-Clark, the Quakers will continue to focus on fitness, shot selection and confidence as they continue on in their very successfulseason.
