In a stunning display of squash dominance, the No. 11 Tufts University men's team crushed No. 18 Western Ontario with a resounding 7-2 victory on Saturday! This electrifying match, held at Cornell University on November 22, 2025, marked the second of three weekend clashes for the Jumbos, showcasing their prowess on the court.
Tufts, now holding a .500 season record (2-2), owed their triumph largely to the exceptional performance of players in the middle and lower rankings, specifically from the No. 4 through No. 9 spots.
Leading the charge at the No. 4 position, Rohan Valia delivered a flawless performance, securing a clean 3-0 victory against William Znidarec with scores of 11-2, 11-2, and 11-7. Meanwhile, senior Jared Chin demonstrated incredible resilience, battling back against Liam McKay to clinch a hard-fought win with scores of 11-9, 13-11, 11-13, and 13-11.
Mustafa Ayaz, stepping into the lineup at the No. 6 spot, effortlessly secured an 11-5, 11-7, and 11-5 victory over Arin Khot. Aarav Gill followed suit at the No. 7 position, posting an impressive 11-4, 11-6, and 11-6 win against Rio Schafer. First-year player Ilya Kipkalov, despite dropping the first game, rallied to win with scores of 7-11, 12-10, 11-5, and 11-3 at the No. 8 spot. Shivin Kumar also contributed with a four-game victory, defeating Eesa Huq with scores of 14-16, 11-9, 14-12, and 11-9 at the No. 9 position.
At the top of the ladder, sophomore Santiago Medina Carrillo swept Daniel Deverill with scores of 11-4, 12-10, and 11-5. However, Western managed to secure wins at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions.
But here's where it gets interesting: The Jumbos are set to face the No. 10 Big Red at Cornell on Sunday, a match that promises to be a thrilling showdown between teams ranked back-to-back.
What do you think? Were you surprised by Tufts' dominant performance? Do you think their strategy of focusing on the middle and lower rankings paid off? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Players Mentioned:
* Rohan Valia
* Jared Chin
* Mustafa Ayaz
* Aarav Gill
* Ilya Kipkalov
* Shivin Kumar
* Santiago Medina Carrillo
