Winning one national championship is a program-defining achievement. Winning a second in a row to conclude an undefeated season is the stuff of legend.
When sophomore Salman Khalil earned a decisive victory in March’s Potter Cup, securing a 5-2 national title victory for the Quakers, he secured Penn men’s squash’s place in the history books. After taking home the Potter Cup in 2024 and tearing through the 2025 season unbeaten, the Red and Blue delivered a dramatic finish to the dominant campaign when Khalil defeated Yale’s Tad Carney in four sets to tie up the title. Khalil also claimed the individual College Squash Association crown, all while fasting for Ramadan.
“First of all, I am so thirsty,” Khalil said following his clinching win. “I am proud of myself, I am proud of my team, and hopefully it is not the last time.”
Next season, Penn will return Khalil as well as two other CSA All-America recipients: junior Omar Hafez and freshman Marwan Abdelsalam. With that in mind, another legendary moment may be only a matter of time.
