Our Crimson Knights

Salisbury Squash Poised for Breakthrough Year Under Coach Rees

Since Trevor Rees arrived on the Hilltop in the fall of 2016 and assumed the role of head coach of the varsity squash team, the program has seen consistent improvement—and now, they’re ready to break through. The team has climbed the ranks over the years, rising from a low-end Division 6 team when Rees took over to a high-end Division 4 squad with D3 potential.

How did they get here? By preaching punctuality, sportsmanship, and a list of “golden rules” put forth by Rees’s former coach and U.S. Squash Hall of Famer Peter Briggs.

1.      Respect your opponent and give them the honor of trying as hard as you can every point.

2.      Never take a point that your opponent doesn’t feel you deserve.

3.      Conduct yourself during the tournament and during a match with your opponent as though you were having an interview for a job after the match.

4.      Look the part and dress and have the body language of a champion.

5.      Remember you are playing for your school first and then for yourself. Long after the silver trophy tarnishes your reputation is all that is left!

With a roster of players who embody these rules every time they hit the court; the team is primed to build on last year’s Division 4 semi-final elimination in the national tournament at the hands of Kingswood-Oxford School—an opponent the Knights have circled on their match schedule. A solid core of four returning seniors, along with a tight-knit group with similar skill levels, will make the Knights a tough challenge for any opponent.

Led by captain Luke Black ‘25 and assistant captain Connor Wambach ‘26, Salisbury is well-conditioned and has put a strong emphasis on explosive movements and recovery in practice. These players live for the jump lunge—an exercise that improves their ability to reach the ball.

Winn Lemken ‘25 boasts “the silkiest mitts on the team,” according to Coach Rees, and has added the physical fitness aspect that once held him back. He’s poised to build on an excellent campaign from last season.

Taran Taylor ‘25 brings four years of varsity experience and often shocks spectators with his quickness during matches. He possesses great twitchiness—an essential trait in squash.

Akul Mittal ‘25, meanwhile, is the most efficient mover on the team. He takes perfect lines to the ball, minimizing his fatigue as the match progresses. He also has excellent anticipation of where his opponent will place the ball.

Finlay MacDermott ‘26 has grown nearly a foot over the last year and has been adjusting well to a new playstyle. The added height has led him to rely more on the reach of his arms, rather than using his legs, to track the ball down.

Ollie Bradley ‘26, who is getting stronger each day and improving his balance, and Jayden Kittelberger ‘25, an athletic specimen who made the jump from the recreational level, are both expected to be meaningful contributors this season.

Rounding out the squad are Tyler Ramirez ‘26, Henry Brislin ‘26, and Charlie Merk ‘26. All three have fully embraced the philosophy Coach Rees is teaching and are helping make the team better from top to bottom.

Along with the players and coaches, Salisbury Squash is grateful for the Vorbach Squash Endowment—a fund that has allowed the entire program to improve at all levels.

It has been over two years since a member of the Salisbury Varsity Squash team was late to practice. They are a team of diligent, hard workers with high aspirations. This year, they’re ready to take the leap.