HARTFORD, Conn. — No. 9 Columbia defeated No. 10 Dartmouth, 6-3, to win the Hoehn Cup at the 2023 College Squash Association (CSA) Men's Team National Championships. The tournaments wrapped up Sunday from Trinity's Kellner Squash Center.
 
This is Columbia's second time winning the Hoehn Cup and its first since 2020. As victors of the B Division, the Lions earn a ninth-place final ranking and national finish.
 
The top-seeded team in the Hoehn Cup Draw, Columbia earned victories over eighth-seeded Franklin & Marshall, 9-0, and fourth-seeded Western Ontario, 5-4, to earn its spot in Sunday's Championship Match. Second-seeded Dartmouth's path included a quarterfinal victory against seventh-seeded Tufts, 6-3, followed by a close semifinal win against sixth-seeded Williams College, 5-4.
 
"We don't often have three matches back-to-back so this was the most physical weekend of the year," Director of Squash Chris Sachvie said. "The coaches are proud of how the team pushed all weekend and backed up a tough win on Saturday with a strong team effort on Sunday against Dartmouth to take the division, win the Hoehn Cup and end the season ranked ninth."
 
The Lions got off to a good start on Sunday, winning two matches in the first wave with Zach Nam (4) and Sameer Saxena (8) claiming those points. Nam did it in comeback fashion, 6-11, 11-2, 9-11, 11-7, 11-4, winning his fifth straight match and improving to 9-5 in collegiate competition. Saxena picked up his sixth dual-match win with a four-game triumph over Aryan Khandelwal.
 
The second wave was all Columbia to clinch the match and the Hoehn Cup. Adam Goad (3), Rutvik Rau (6) and Ryan Chen (9) claimed the points. Goad and Chen earned four-game decisions, while Rau toughed out a five-game result, 11-9, 6-11, 12-10, 6-11, 13-11, to seal the deal.
 
Already with the match in hand, Columbia picked up one more point in the final wave from Harold Castiaux (1). The junior took down Jack Bell, 6-11, 11-1, 11-8, 13-11, to bring the match to its final tally.
 
Columbia now prepares for the CSA Individual National Championships, which takes place next week, March 3-5, on the campus of Penn in Philadelphia. Draws will be announced leading up to the tournament. Harold Castiaux and Jacob Bulbulia plan to represent the Lions at the championships, while senior captain Chaitanya Shah is teaming up with first-year Alex Yuzpe to attempt to win Columbia's first doubles national title.
 
For the latest on the Columbia squash programs, be sure to follow the teams on Twitter and Instagram (@CULionsSquash), on Facebook (Facebook.com/ColumbiaSquash), or by visiting GoColumbiaLions.com.