ITHACA, N.Y. — The men's squash team starts its regular season this weekend with three home matches at Belkin International Squash Courts. The Big Red starts off against Western Ontario at 5 p.m. Friday, then plays a Sunday doubleheader against St. Lawrence at noon and Hobart at 5 p.m.
 
Cornell is coming off a season in which it posted a 6-12 record, but with a strong finish. The Big Red recorded a pair of upsets in the consolation rounds of the College Squash Association Hoehn Cup (the 'B' flight of the national championships) to move up two spots to 12th in the final CSA rankings. Both of those victories, against Western Ontario and Franklin & Marshall, avenged 5-4 losses to the same squads the month prior.
 
The Big Red lost two key competitors to graduation when it turned over its roster with Andy Muran '19 and Perry Hanson '19 competing exclusively in the top three positions. Cornell returns the rest of its lineup after that, starting with sophomore Charles Culhane. He was 9-9 from the No. 2 position in his collegiate debut, finishing tied for second on the team in victories with junior Yohann Surti (9-5) and behind just Nicholas Göth Errington (10-8).
 
Five freshmen join Cornell this season, including a few that appear aligned to make instant contributions. Included in that group is Veer Chotrani, who won the 2019 Asian Junior U19 Championship over the summer, and Humza Khan, who was a US Squash Midwest Region champion in three different age groups.
 
Tabbed 13th in the CSA's preseason rankings, Cornell unofficially started up the season last weekend at the Ivy Scrimmages, hosted by Penn. Now, the Big Red will be thrown directly into the proverbial fire with two matches against neighbors in the CSA rankings. Western Ontario is ranked 15th, having started the CSA portion of its season with an 8-1 victory over 16th-ranked Navy on Nov. 2.
 
The Big Red is 15-28 all-time against Western Ontario, though Cornell has won nine of the last 11 meetings dating back to the 2008-09 season. The Mustangs won a tight 5-4 decision Jan. 19 during the regular season before the Big Red answered back with a 7-2 victory in the Hoehn Cup consolation semifinals on Feb. 16.
 
Sunday's doubleheader starts with a match against 12th-ranked St. Lawrence, which is coached by a familiar face – former Cornell assistant coach Scott Denne. The Saints start their season with matches Friday at Hobart and Saturday against Western Ontario. St. Lawrence is particularly strong at the top of its lineup, headlined by 2019 CSA National Individual Championship runner-up Mohamed El Gawarhy and fellow All-American Enzo Corigliano. Cornell leads the all-time series with St. Lawrence, 8-6, but the Saints have won six straight – including a Hoehn Cup quarterfinal on Feb. 15.
 
The weekend concludes with a visit from regional rival Hobart, which is ranked 27th and is 1-1 in the early going via 9-0 win over Denison and 5-4 loss against Chatham on Nov. 2. Cornell is 48-5 all-time against Hobart, having conceded just four points in the teams' last 10 meetings – though two came in the squads' last meeting on Jan. 14, 2018.