Men's Squash Announces 2017-18 Incoming Class
7/18/2017 3:10:00 PM | Men's Squash
NEW YORK— Columbia Men's squash is set to welcome four newcomers to the roster for the 2017-18 season.
"Our men's incoming class will make a significant contribution from the start," Kenneth W. Torrey Head Coach of Squash Jacques Swanepoel said. "We have four guys who all have the potential to get onto the starting lineup in their first year. It will go a long way in replacing graduated players at the top of our lineup but also rounding out the bottom of the lineup. I am really excited to see what this team can do this year."
Athar was born in Hamburg, Germany but calls Avon, Connecticut home. He competed in the No. 1 position for the Wvyerns Squash club team during his high school years and was the Connecticut Regional Junior Squash Champion in the U17 division. Athar is ranked 118 in the US Squash U19 rankings.
McClain, who goes by his nickname Mac, also hails from Connecticut and is a 2017 graduate of Avon Old Farms School in Avon, Conn. He played on his high school's squash team all four years, and the team placed third at the 2017 US High School Squash Nationals. In 2016, Awalt was the Connecticut Regional Champion in the U19 division. He ranks 111th in the US Squash Adult Men's 5.5 rankings.
Awalt is no stranger to Columbia. His stepfather is Columbia assistant coach and squash professional Alister Walker.
Kapur comes to Columbia with lots of squash experience in India. He was a semifinalist at the 2016 Indian Junior Open, he finished third at 2016 Indian Junior Nationals, and placed in the top-16 at senior nationals this year. He currently ranks 7th on India's U-19 squash rankings.
He is a graduate of the Calcutta International School in Kolkata, India where he also played soccer. Kapur is familiar with the Columbia squash culture, as he grew up playing with Columbia Alums Ramit Tandon '15CC and Rishi Tandon '17CC.
Senthilkumar arrives at Columbia from Salem, India where he became the third-ever Indian player to win the British Junior Open in 2017, and says it his favorite sports moment thus far. Senthilkumar is ranked 10th on India's Sior Squash rankings.
He comes from a family of athletes, as his mother played college badminton, his father played for the Indian National basketball team and his brother currently plays squash for University of Manchester.
