Quakers face off against The Streak

When the Trinity men’s squash team was last defeated, most current college squash players were still in elementary school.

Since February 1998, the No. 1 Bantams have won a stunning 229 consecutive matches and 121 national championships. Penn (4-3, 1-2 Ivy) will try to stop that streak Saturday afternoon at Ringe Courts.

While admitting that he hadn’t begun playing squash yet when Trinity’s men (6-0, 1-0) last lost, Penn junior co-captain Porter Drake insisted that the team’s preparation for the Bantams hasn’t been any different than usual.

“We’ve just worked hard in practice every day,” Drake said. “It’s more about consistently being prepared rather than one match.”

With Trinity placing six players among the College Squash Association’s top 25 national preseason ranking and outscoring opponents 51-3 so far this year, the Quakers know the daunting challenge that faces them.

“We’ll definitely make quite a sports event if [we win],” senior co-captain James Clark said. “You have to come in confident. Our goal is to keep at them at every number.”

The numbers that matter have been on Penn’s side lately. After dropping their first three matches, the men won four straight to maintain their No. 10 ranking, recently relying on contributions from the entire roster.

“The freshmen overall have done well,” Clark said. “John Dudzik has been one of the people who have been really successful so far this season. Daniel Judd won his first match and without that match we wouldn’t have won as a team. It’s a good indication of where the program is headed.”

On the Penn women’s (5-1, 2-1) side, the freshman factor has been even more significant. Rookies Chloe Blackerok, Courtney Jones and Hyland Murphy have all gone 5-1 individually so far and given No. 5 Penn strength in the bottom half of the ladder. They will have to face off against Trinity’s third-ranked women (6-0), who have shut out their past two opponents.

Both sides will certainly have their hands full on Saturday, but will the men’s bright future take Trinity’s legendary past back to (elementary) school and finally end The Streak?

“I wouldn’t bet my house on it,” Clark said.

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