After last year’s fruitless squash season, players and coach share their thoughts on what to expect from this year’s new and improved team.

Throughout any team’s existence, there is always a point in time when rebuilding is necessary. This stage can be caused by injuries, incompetence, or lack in commitment. But Malvern’s team had none of these issues. Their weakness, instead, was a lack of experience.

“For the first time since I have been coaching here [at Malvern], we have a very competitive roster,” Head Coach Imran Khan said. “All the players are really interested in working hard and making a difference every time they step on the court.”

Part of this year’s competitive roster is seven upperclassmen, three seniors and four juniors. Compared to last year’s team, which only had four upperclassmen, this year’s team has more experienced players.

Senior Louis Margay agrees that this year’s team has improved and believes in the team’s harmony. “We have a lot of juniors who are really good. Hopefully, we [the upperclassmen] will be able to come together as a team,” Margay said.

The squash team’s talent extends to their younger players as well. With four sophomores and one freshman, Malvern squash will only continue to get better.

“It comes down to how much time you put into it,” Margay said. “Sophomores Jimmy McCullough and Patrick Carbone played a lot in the offseason. Squash is not a sport of athleticism, it is a sport of technique.”

Squash is also different, like golf, in the sense that it requires a player to think when a certain shot should be hit. “Most of the players have the fitness to do well,” Margay said, “but the strategy of the game is what Coach Imran mainly focuses on with us.”

Khan, who was once ranked top ten in the World Doubles ranking, has coached Malvern squash for the past five years.

“When I came to Malvern Prep in 2012, the squash program was up and coming,” Khan said, “and I wanted to make a difference.”

Among having fun and working as a team, Coach Khan’s goal this year is to, “improve brotherly love amongst the teammates and learn how to be leaders.”

Junior Sammy Schutz has taken this message to heart and looks to improve on his attitude while on the court.

“Squash is not just a sport, it teaches you valuable life lessons,” Schutz said. “A personal goal for me is to be more positive on the court as I am easily irritated when I am playing an amazing player.”

Times can be tough for Friar squash, especially when they play Inter-Ac teams, whose players are nationally ranked in the country.

“Inter-Ac teams are some of the best in the country,” Margay said. “They just have higher caliber players than us. We can compete with teams like St. Joseph’s Prep, Radnor, and Conestoga.”

Sammy’s idea of competing with better and stronger teams revolves around good self control.

“We definitely want to make sure we are making the smartest shots we can and not simply overpowering shots because that usually leads to mishits,” Schutz said.

Ideally, Friar squash is looking to improve their Inter-Ac standings and overall game, but it is always reassuring to know that, “No matter the outcome we always enjoy being together,” Schutz said.