No. 9 Men’s Squash Downs No. 8 Columbia, Sets Program Mark with 12th Win of the Year

Saturday, February 13

Kline & Specter Squash Center

11:00 a.m.

Drexel University

No. 8 Columbia (Senior Day)

No. 9 Men’s Squash Downs No. 8 Columbia, Sets Program Mark with 12th Win of the Year

2/13/2016 2:10:00 PM | Men's Squash

PHILADELPHIA – The No. 9 Drexel men's squash team (12-4) came up big on senior day against No. 8 Columbia (6-5) as the Dragons pulled out the 5-4 victory on Saturday afternoon from the Kline & Specter Squash Center in the final home match of the year.

The 12 wins marks a program record for the men in a season, having won 11 in the 2013-14 campaign. It also comes as the men's first victory over Columbia in three chances.

The bottom half of the ladder came through for Drexel in a big way over Columbia. With three matches reaming, the Dragons had a 4-2 edge on the Lions with the No. 3, 5 and 7 matches still in play.

Sophomore Luke Willemse turned in the fifth win for the Dragons on the day for the match-clinching victory from the No. 5 position. Willemse dropped the first game, 11-5, before grabbing the second, 11-6. After an 11-6 loss in the third, the South African native took the fourth and fifth to win by a final of 5-11, 11-6, 6-11, 14-12, 11-7. He moves to 7-3 individually on the year and is in the midst of a four-match winning streak. It was his second five-match victory on the campaign (Oct. 31).

Freshman Omar El Atmas earned his 13th win of the year as he defeated Columbia's Rishi Tandon from the No. 2 position. The Cairo native won 11-9, 11-7, 4-11, 11-3. He is 8-0 on Saturdays this season and has now won five straight. He is 2-0 from the No. 2 spot for the Dragons.

Junior Michael Thompson won his team-leading 14th match on the campaign for his highest win total in a season individually after winning 13 in his freshman year and 12 as a sophomore. Thompson earned his victory over Columbia's Joshua Sekhar from the No. 6 position, 12-10, 11-2, 11-6. The junior is also 8-0 on Saturdays in 2015-16 and has a team-best six-match winning streak. It was his 11th sweep of the season.

Seniors Joey Gingold and Mark Kauf were honored before the start of the match for their dedication to the Drexel squash program as graduating seniors. Both Dragons pulled out wins from the No. 8 and 9 spots, respectively.

Gingold moved to 8-5 on the campaign with an 11-7, 11-8, 11-3 decision over Salmaan Manu Amin. Kauf grabbed his second-straight win as he defeated Richard Soper, 12-10, 11-4, 11-2.

The Dragons will now prep for nationals in New Haven, Conn. from Friday, Feb. 26 through Sunday, Feb. 28.

No. 9 Drexel defeats No. 8 Columbia, 5-4
1| Osama Khalifa (Columbia) def. Atticus Kelly (Drexel); 11-4, 11-7, 11-6
2| Omar El Atmas (Drexel) def. Rishi Tandon (Columbia); 11-9, 11-7, 4-11, 11-3
3| Adham Madi (Columbia) def. Bransten Ming (Drexel); 9-11, 10-12, 16-14, 14-12, 14-12
4| Carter Robitaille (Columbia) def. Ibrahim Bakir (Drexel); 11-4, 11-7, 11-6
5| Luke Willemse (Drexel) def. Arhum Saleen (Columbia); 5-11, 11-6, 6-11, 14-12, 11-7
6| Michael Thompson (Drexel) def. Joshua Sekhar (Columbia); 12-10, 11-2, 11-6
7| Jonathan Gill (Columbia) def. Nat Fry (Drexel); 11-9, 6-11, 2-11, 13-11, 11-7
8| Joey Gingold (Drexel) def. Salmaan Manu Amin (Columbia); 11-7, 11-8, 11-3
9| Mark Kauf (Drexel) def. Richard Soper (Columbia); 12-10, 11-4, 11-2

SENIOR DAY
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