USC Chooses Feather Squash Racket!

The Season of 2007-2008 was the dawn of the new USC Squash Team. What has been marked as the Team’s first real competitive season, the Trojans became an established west-coast force while taking on universities from all over the country with trips of Rochester University, Stanford and Harvard. In addition, USC became the first-ever university to choose Feather Sports ( www.FeatherSports.com) for official Collegiate sponsor.

Key new additions to the team have transformed the club into a competitive program. Charles Braff, a former number 1 UPenn player and first-year graduate student in the Marshall School of Business, began the season playing in the two-position but due to eligibility issues he was unable to continue his participation in the team as a player. Nevertheless, Charles accepted the position to become USC’s first-ever Official Coach starting the 2008-2009 season. This transition came about smoothly as his contribution to the squad was recognized early in his participation with the team as he had a natural ability to draw players together and guided the squad through rough times. Charles chooses the Cyclone 2135 for its “light weight and power”.

Another key addition is the talented Venezuelan native, JP Rothie, Captain and Number 1 player in the USC Squash Team. Prior to his admission into USC as a transfer student during fall 2007, JP started playing again after an eight year break under the coaching of Stefan Casteleyn in Los Angeles during 2005, and it was he who initially introduced Feather Racket ( www.FeatherSports.com) to JP’s attention. “Once trying out the Cyclone 2145, I couldn’t return to any other racquet” claims the USC Captain, “the power, weight and balance is articulately designed for advanced play.” JP has made great strides in USC’s competitive presence in the national circuit by becoming the first ever West-coast player to be invited to the Individual National Collegiate Championship and finishing the regular season with an unbeaten record.

Club President Oliver Embry has been pivotal figure in the development of USC Squash as fundraiser and recruitment officer for the team. His relentless drive to continue building the organization is proven itself elemental given that USC Squash has received no support from the University on these elements; his efforts have guided the Team’s sustenance throughout its three year existence.

The USC Squash team has come along way from its humble beginnings in 2004. Slowly improving every year, USC survived previous seasons with little managerial organization, no coaching, and no University support. That’s right, USC has not only battled oppositions all over the collegiate circuit, but further has struggled to gain any support within its walls as the University’s Recreational Sports Committee has denied the Club any Squash Courts for the players to train in and has been completely financially absent. “The problem is that we are viewed in the same tier level as small clubs like Dance and Racquetball. The Committee has still to recognize Squash as being a Nationally competitive sport for elite Universities.” says Captain JP Rothie, who is now in the process of developing courts on campus. It is difficult to blame USC for its lack of understanding for Squash given that the sport is primarily dominated by the East-Coast, but it is this element which needs to addressed. It takes a unique vision to understand the potential for being the University that opens the gates for competitive Squash in the West Coast that can compete with Ivy League competitors in the East, a vision which the USC Squash Team hopes become a reality the following season of 2008-2009.

Three new freshmen are already expected to jump to the squad next season, along with a returning injured player who was forced to cut his season short before competing due to a wrist injury. This means the Team is already on route for a very successful season. Having finished 30 overall in the national ranking as a self-sustained group, all players are excited to finally cast responsibility to Coach Braff for the structure, encouragement and organization for a successful season. “Next year I look to bring the Team to Top 16 in the country” says Coach Braff, a commanding goal for the future of USC Squash.
USC number 2 Jonathan Joshi loves his Titanium drop 110 quoting it to be perfect for players that need a light weight to maneuver freely around the court. “Despite the superstition that it breaks easily, I’ve found it to hold together very well and charge up a lot of power for just being a 110 weight.

1. JP Rothie – Venezuela (Captain)
2. Jonathan Joshi – India
3. Tyler Kurlas – USA (Co-Captain)
4. Harsh Podar – India
5. Oliver Embry – USA
6. Adam Gibbs – USA (Senior)
7. Farooq Shaheen – Pakistan
8. Andrew Cook – USA (Senior)
9. Devansh Mittal – India
10. Daniel Altmann – USA
11. Gautam Kakani – India (Manager)
12. Charles Braff – Canada (Coach)

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