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vs.
NEPSAC Class C Championship, Milton Academy
Loss
2-5
Knights Fall to Milton Academy in NEPSAC Class C Championship
Salisbury's chance at a New England Championship came up short on Sunday, with the Knights falling to Milton Academy 2-5 in the finals of the NEPSAC Class C Tournament. Wins over Dexter Southfield and top-seeded Taft propelled Coach Trevor Rees' team to the championship match, but the Knights couldn’t get over the hump, falling by a razor-thin margin.
No. 1 Owen Roberson '29 lost his duel in straight games, with each decided by fewer than three points. Losses of 8-11, 9-11, and 8-11 showed just how hard he battled. No. 2 Walter Savage '26 met a similar fate, falling 9-11, 5-11, and 2-11.
No. 3 Connor Wambach '26 suffered perhaps the most grueling defeat of the day, jumping ahead 2-0 before dropping the final three games. After victories of 11-5 and 11-4, Milton's Hugh Kramer edged out wins of 11-9, 11-6, and 11-9. The marathon match lasted a whopping 41 minutes — the second-longest of the day.
No. 4 Winn Lemken '26 came as close as possible to stealing a game, losing 9-11, 8-11, and 9-11. No. 5 Tyler Ramirez '26, meanwhile, pulled out a clutch 3-2 victory in heroic fashion. The sixth-form Brown lacrosse commit dropped his first two games, 4-11 and 10-12, before flipping the switch. A strong 11-6 win in Game 3 got him back in it, and tiebreaker victories of 16-14 and 14-12 secured the match. The 47-minute contest was the longest of the afternoon.
No. 6 Charlie Merk '26, an alternate for much of the regular season, earned a 3-0 win, taking it 16-14, 11-6, and 12-10. Nothing came easy for him, even in victory. No. 7 Henry Maxwell '29 — the hero of Saturday's upset of Taft — fell 7-11, 3-11, and 2-11.
Spin it any way you'd like: Salisbury was inches away from its first NEPSAC Squash Championship since 2014. As Savage put it after the match, “We left it all out there, truly.” It’s hard to disagree with the postgrad. The effort level was immense.
The silver in Class C is still reason to celebrate as the Knights head into the offseason looking to rebuild. With core pieces like Roberson and Maxwell in the fold, 2026–2027 should be another great season.
-
TBD
NEPSAC Championship
4-3 W over No. 5 Dexter Southfield, 4-3 W over No. 1 Taft
Knights top Dexter Southfield, pull off upset over No. 1 Taft; advance to NEPSAC Class C Championship
One match to go. That’s what stands between Head Coach Trevor Rees’ team and winning Salisbury’s first NEPSAC Class C Squash Championship since 2014. Thanks to razor-thin victories over No. 5 Dexter Southfield and No. 1 Taft, the No. 4 Knights have a date with No. 2 Milton Academy tomorrow, March 1, with a chance to go home champions.
Hosted at Pomfret School this year, Salisbury opened the quarterfinals with a 4-3 triumph over Dexter. No. 1 Owen Roberson ‘29 built off a strong showing at the Division III National Tournament last weekend in Philadelphia, PA, winning in straight games by scores of 11-4, 12-10, and 11-6.
While No. 2 Walter Savage '26 lost his match in straight games 6-11, 3-11, and 2-11, No. 3 Connor Wambach '26 came within a tiebreaker of pulling out a "W." After going ahead 2-0 thanks to consecutive 11-5 victories, the sixth form captain dropped his next two 3-11 and 9-11, creating a winner-take-all game No. 5. There, Dexter’s John Eielson got it done, scraping out a 12-10 W.
The losses applied pressure to the bottom of the ladder – something most teams might fear. That’s not the case for the the 2025-2026 Knights, though. Not in the slightest.
Nos. 4 and 5 Winn Lemken ‘26 and Tyler Ramirez ‘26 both made quick work of their foes, winning 3-0. Lemkin won 11-3, 11-1, and 11-7, while Ramirez topped his opponent 13-11, 11-9, and 11-8. And even though Finlay MacDermott ‘26 dropped his contest at No. 6, and wound up missing the semi-final, Charlie Merk ‘26 stepped up at No. 7 – prevailing 3-1. Merk dropped the initial game 9-11 before ripping off wins of 11-6, 11-3, and 11-6.
The victory set up a long-awaited duel with the tournament’s favorite, Taft. A match between the Knights and Rhinos was scheduled for January 26 but never happened due to snow. Now, on the biggest stage, the programs had the chance to prove themselves.
And in the most dramatic fashion, Salisbury pulled off the upset.
After Roberson, Savage, and Wambach all dropped their matches in straight games, the season came down to Nos. 4-7.
Lemken breezed in his match, winning 3-0 by scores of 11-8, 11-6, and 11-6. Ramirez did the same, prevailing 11-9, 11-6, and 11-1. Merk got it done filling in for MacDermott at No. 6, topping his foe 11-7, 13-11, and 11-5.
That set things up for a win or go home face-off at No. 7. The competitor for the Knights? Third former Henry Maxwell, a player who has seen limited action at the varsity level this season but has dominated the JV courts all winter. After today, it’s clear he’s more than capable of playing with the big dogs.
The youngster won his first game 11-5 before dropping the next two 7-11 and 8-11, putting himself in the hole. An efficient 11-2 victory in game No. 4 tied it at two apiece, creating a season-riding fifth game.
Miraculously, under the brightest of lights, Maxwell got it done – edging out a 14-12 victory to send Salisbury to the Championship match. The marathon took a whopping 36 minutes. That hotel sleep is going to feel pretty good tonight.
The Championship showdown with Milton will take place tomorrow at 12 p.m.
TBD
Team Nationals
10th place in Division III
Knights finish 10th in Division III at Nationals, fall to Princeton Day School in Consolation Bracket Final
No. 8 Salisbury's trip down to Philadelphia, PA, for the U.S. High School Team Championships was one of success despite a first-round elimination to No. 9 Germantown Friends School on Friday morning.
Following the loss, Salisbury faced No. 16 Darien High School (CT) in the first match of consolation play. The Knights breezed past the Blue Wave, winning 6-1. No. 1 Owen Roberson '29 enjoyed a 3-0 victory against his opponent, prevailing by scores of 11-3, 11-4, and 11-9. No. 2 Connor Wambach '26 was the lone Salisbury player to drop his match, narrowly falling 1-3 with scores of 11-8, 7-11, 9-11, and 9-11. No. 3 Walter Savage '26 avenged his loss to his old school, Germantown Friends, beating his opponent in straight games by scores of 11-6, 11-9, and 11-7.
Lower down the ladder, No. 4 Winn Lemken '26 made light work of his foe, winning 3-0 with triumphs of 11-4, 11-2, and 11-4. No. 5 Tyler Ramirez '26 faced a little more resistance, edging out his competitor 3-0 with scores of 11-3, 11-5, and 11-9. Finn MacDermott '26 did the same from No. 6, winning 11-5, 11-9, and 11-2. No. 7 Henry "Hank" Brislin '26 closed out the match for Salisbury with a 3-1 "W." After dropping the first game 9-11, the sixth-former stormed back, winning 11-1, 11-1, and 11-5.
The victory set the Knights up for a duel with John Burroughs School from St. Louis, MO. Against the Bombers, Salisbury prevailed by the slimmest of margins, 4-3. Roberson continued his stellar tournament play, winning in straight games by scores of 11-3, 11-4, and 11-0. Wambach dropped his match from No. 2 but once again battled hard in losses of 10-12, 7-11, and 3-11. Savage got it done at No. 3, needing four games to pull it out. After going up 2-0 with wins of 11-8 and 11-3, an 8-11 loss made things interesting. The postgrad wasn't interested in surrendering a comeback, however, and put the nail in the coffin in Game No. 4, winning 11-9.
Lemken and Ramirez secured the "W" against the Midwestern school, with Lemken winning a nail-biter 3-1. The sixth-former fell 10-12 in the first game before ripping off triumphs by scores of 11-4, 13-11, and 11-5. Ramirez, meanwhile, enjoyed a straight-game victory, 11-8, 11-6, and 11-7.
Burroughs controlled the bottom of the match, with MacDermott and Ollie Bradley '26 both losing. MacDermott fell 0-3 by scores of 5-11, 9-11, and 7-11. Bradley was able to get the first game, 11-8, but then lost 8-11, 5-11, and 10-12.
The second team win of the tournament propelled Salisbury to the consolation finals against Princeton Day School (NJ). There, against the Panthers, the rebound run came to an end.
Roberson lost his first match of the weekend, falling 6-11, 6-11, and 7-11. Wambach met a similar fate, losing 7-11, 4-11, and 10-12. Things went slightly better for Savage, as he picked up a victory in his second game. Even so, he fell 1-3 with scores of 6-11, 11-9, 6-11, and 6-11.
Salisbury got back to its winning ways from Nos. 4-6, with Lemken, Ramirez, and MacDermott all winning in straight games. Lemken went 11-7, 11-5, and 11-5. Ramirez got it done 11-8, 11-6, and 11-6, and MacDermott won 11-9, 11-7, and 12-10.
Despite a heroic effort from Charlie Merk '26 at No. 7, the sixth-former ultimately fell 1-3. All three losses required tiebreaker points, with scores of 13-15, 11-13, 11-3, and 10-12.
The runner-up finish in consolation play gave the Knights a 10th-place Division III ranking and 42nd nationally. Plenty to be proud of.
Salisbury will close out the season next weekend, February 28 and March 1, at the NEPSAC Championships. Details to follow.
vs.
Division III Team Nationals @ Philadelphia, Germantown Academy
Loss
2-5
No. 8 Knights fall to No. 9 Germantown Friends in first round of Nationals
Salisbury's trip down to Philadelphia, PA, for the Division III National Tournament came to an abrupt finish this morning, with the No. 8 Knights falling to No. 9 Germantown Friends 2-5 in the first round of the tournament. They'll continue to play consolation games for the remainder of the weekend.
No. 1 Owen Roberson '29 showed no signs of stress under the bright lights, playing to a stellar 3-0 victory by scores of 11-9, 11-3, and 11-6. No. 2 Connor Wambach '26, meanwhile, narrowly fell to his opponent in straight games, losing 7-11, 9-11, and 4-11.
At No. 3, Walter Savage '26 — a postgraduate who attended Germantown Friends for his first four years of high school — lost to his alma mater 1-3. He prevailed in the first game 11-7, then lost a heartbreaker 11-13 before dropping the final two, 8-11 and 3-11. The thinnest of margins for the Connecticut College commit.
No. 4 Winn Lemken '26 also barely missed out on pulling out the "W," losing 2-3. After going down 0-2 in the match, Lemken won Game No. 3, 11-3, and Game No. 4, 11-7. This set up a winner-take-all fifth game, but his opponent got it done, ending the comeback bid.
The lone victor other than Roberson was No. 5 Tyler Ramirez '26, who, after dropping the first game 12-14, won three straight — all by identical scores of 11-6. No. 6 Ian Crerend '26 lost his match, as did No. 7 Ollie Bradley '26. Bradley's defeat came by a score of 1-3, with individual games of 2-11, 11-5, 9-11, and 5-11.
Had the ball bounced even the slightest bit differently, Salisbury certainly could have advanced to the next round. Lemken, Savage, and Bradley, in particular, were all within legitimate striking distance.
Germantown Friends will face No. 1 Milton Academy tomorrow, February 21, with a spot in the semifinals on the line. Salisbury will face No. 16 Darien High School today at 4 p.m. in its first consolation match.
vs.
Loomis Chaffee
Loss
1-6
Knights fall to Loomis Chaffee fresh off National Seeding Announcement
A day after learning they secured a No. 5-8 seed in the Division III class at the upcoming High School Squash Championships—the highest ranking in School history—Salisbury traveled to Loomis Chaffee to face a Pelicans squad that will compete in Division II next weekend. The match served as a great baseline ahead of Nationals—a tournament Coach Trevor Rees believes his team can win.
As expected, Loomis prevailed on the day, but there were several standout individual performances. Third-form phenom Owen Roberson '29—a vital piece of this year's puzzle—notched a straight-game victory from the No. 1 spot over his opponent. His scores were 11-4, 11-3, and 11-7. Not bad for the underdog.
At No. 2, Connor Wambach '26 fought hard but ultimately fell by a score of 1-3. He managed to grab a 1-0 advantage thanks to a narrow 11-9 triumph in his first game, but then dropped the next three by scores of 7-11, 9-11, and 5-11. By no means a one-sided duel.
No. 3 Walter Savage '26 dropped his match 0-3 by scores of 2-11, 2-11, and 6-11. Winn Lemken '26 met a similar fate at No. 4, falling 5-11, 3-11, and 5-11. No. 5 Tyler Ramirez '26, meanwhile, came close to stealing a game twice, but he too fell 0-3. His scores were 9-11, 5-11, and 9-11.
At the bottom of the ladder, No. 6 Finn MacDermott '26 lost by scores of 3-11, 7-11, and 3-11. Ollie Bradley '26 rounded things out at No. 7, falling 6-11, 8-11, and 6-11.
The particularly close matches—Wambach and Ramirez—along with the Roberson victory show how good this Salisbury team is. The Knights will regroup before heading to Philadelphia for Nationals on Saturday, February 20. Buckle up.
vs.
Choate Rosemary Hall, Trinity-Pawling
Choate: 0-7 L, T-P: 4-3 W
Knights narrowly top Pride, fall to Choate
Salisbury visited Wallingford, CT, this afternoon for a match with host Choate Rosemary Hall and fellow away team Trinity-Pawling. The day marked the second time the Knights faced Choate this season and the first meeting against the Pride. The contest was also the second consecutive affair where Coach Trevor Rees' squad played shorthanded due to illness.
Against the Wild Boars, Salisbury met a similar fate to its first matchup back in January: a 0-7 loss. No. 1 Owen Roberson '29 fell 0-3 with scores of 6-11, 6-11, and 4-11. No. 2 Walter Savage '26 had a similar experience, also losing in straight games by decisions of 2-11, 0-11, and 4-11. The sweeps continued throughout the ladder, as No. 3 Tyler Ramirez '26 fell 3-11, 6-11, and 5-11. No. 4 Finn MacDermott '26 dropped his match 7-11, 4-11, and 5-11.
In the bottom of the lineup, No. 5 Henry Brislin '26 lost 5-11, 6-11, and 3-11. No. 6 Ian Crerend '26 dropped his match 5-11, 5-11, and 7-11. Charlie Merk '26 wrapped things up at No. 7 with losses of 5-11, 5-11, and 3-11.
Against Trinity-Pawling, however, things were a different story.
Coach Rees mentioned before the match that the Pride were "strong at the top," but lacked depth. That showed this afternoon, as Nos. 4–7 for the Knights all emerged victorious. Without them, an 0-2 overall day would've been the final.
MacDermott won in straight games with scores of 11-3, 11-3, and 11-9, and No. 5 Brislin edged out a 3-1 triumph with decisions of 9-11, 11-4, 11-6, and 11-6. Crerend and Merk each picked up 3-0 "Ws" as well, with Crerend's scores being 11-2, 11-8, and 11-5. Merk's were 11-7, 11-2, and 11-6.
Roberson dropped his match 6-11, 11-6, 9-11, and 9-11, while Savage lost 4-11, 4-11, and 5-11. Ramirez fell 7-11, 8-11, and 7-11.
The narrow win over T-P should keep spirits high in the locker room as the team enjoys Mid-Winter Break this weekend. They'll return to play on Wednesday, February 11, when they travel to Loomis Chaffee for a 3 p.m. contest with the Pelicans.
vs.
Kingswood-Oxford School, Millbrook School
Millbrook: 7-0 W, Kingswood Oxford: 2-5 L
Knights sweep Millbrook, fall to KO with shorthanded roster
Salisbury visited Millbrook this afternoon for a match with the Mustangs and rival Kingswood Oxford. Coach Rees’ squad was dealt a tough hand before the bus even left the Hilltop for the tilt, however, as several players had been dealing with illness. But despite the less-than-ideal situation, the Knights fought hard and nearly pulled out both victories.
Against Millbrook, No. 1 Owen Roberson breezed to a 3-0 victory with scores of 11-0, 11-2, and 11-5. No. 2 Connor Wambach ’26 had a little more pushback but also prevailed in straight games by scores of 11-4, 11-6, and 11-7. No. 3 Walter Savage ’26 enjoyed a 3-0 win himself with triumphs of 11-4, 11-2, and 11-2. Ollie Bradley ’26, usually slotted more in the No. 6 or 7 spot on the ladder, played No. 4 today and did well, earning a 3-0 win by scores of 11-8, 11-6, and 11-9.
Henry Brislin ’26 also slid up in the lineup due to the illnesses, and he too got things done, winning 11-6, 11-2, and 11-7 from the No. 5 spot. Charlie Merk ’26, meanwhile, won from No. 6 after dropping his first game. The 3-1 victory came with decisions of 11-13, 11-7, 11-7, and 11-3. At No. 7, Henry Maxwell ’29 made the most of a varsity opportunity, winning 3-1 by scores of 11-5, 11-2, 7-11, and 11-5.
Things weren’t as easy against KO, though Salisbury was exceptionally close to pulling it out. Roberson won in four games at No. 1 once more, with scores of 11-9, 11-3, 8-11, and 11-5. Wambach dropped his match in straight games, Savage fell 1-3, and Bradley dropped his match 0-3. This applied pressure to the bottom of the lineup, and despite Brislin and Merk both falling narrowly, 2-3, KO got the wins it needed to wrap things up. A victory for Maxwell at No. 7 provided another positive on a rather bright day overall.
The Knights will regroup before heading to Choate on Wednesday, February 4, to take on the Wild Boars and Trinity-Pawling. The start time is 3 p.m.
vs.
Brunswick School
Loss
0-7
Knights fall to Bruins
Salisbury traveled to Greenwich, CT, this afternoon for a match with one of the best teams on the high school circuit—Brunswick. The Bruins showcased their skills against the visiting Knights, dropping just two games across seven matches en route to a 7–0 triumph.
No. 1 Owen Roberson ’29 was among the two Salisbury players who pulled out a single-game victory. His 42-minute-long match ended in a 1–3 loss, but he battled hard throughout. His scores were 9–11, 7–11, 11–4, and 8–11. At No. 2, Connor Wambach ’26 returned to the courts after an injury caused him to miss Wednesday’s win over Suffield. He battled hard after the brief absence but ultimately fell 0–3 by scores of 6–11, 2–11, and 4–11.
No. 3 Walter Savage ’26 met a similar fate, losing in straight games by scores of 1–11, 4–11, and 4–11. No. 4 Winn Lemken ’26, meanwhile, perhaps came closest to winning his match. After dropping the first two games by scores of 1–11 and 9–11, the sixth former pulled out an 11–8 win before losing 4–11 in game No. 4. Tyler Ramirez ’26, Salisbury’s No. 5 seed, showcased great consistency in his duel—losing in straight games, all by the score of 6–11.
No. 6 Finn MacDermott ’26 and No. 7 Ollie Bradley ’26 rounded things out for the Knights, with MacDermott losing 6–11, 1–11, and 7–11. Bradley fell 2–11, 6–11, and 2–11.
Coach Rees’ squad will regroup this weekend before taking on Taft on Monday, January 26. Start time is 4:30 p.m.
vs.
Suffield Academy
Win
7-0
Knights roll past Suffield
Salisbury hosted Suffield Academy on Wednesday afternoon, looking to get back on track after a string of tough matches against elite teams. And despite some resistance from the visiting Tigers, the Knights did just that, prevailing in a 7-0 victory.
No. 1 seed Owen Roberson ’29 faced pushback in his first game, scraping out a 12-10 triumph, but then settled in and won the next two, 11-3 and 11-5. At No. 2, Walter Savage ’26 also battled mightily throughout, narrowly winning his first game 14-12. The stiff competition continued for the remainder of his match, but the postgrad from Philadelphia got it done 3-1 overall, with additional scores of 11-6, 8-11, and 11-9.
No. 3 Winn Lemken ’26 needed a tiebreaker point in his game, too, after winning the first two games 11-2 and 11-3. A 13-11 “W” in game No. 3 sealed the deal for him, though. No. 4 Tyler Ramirez ’26, meanwhile, enjoyed a rather relaxed 3-0 win with scores of 11-1, 11-3, and 11-8. No. 5 Ollie Bradley ’26 also won 3-0, but he, too, required a tiebreaker in his third game to get it done. His scores were 11-8, 11-7, and 16-14.
Closer to the bottom, Henry “Hank” Brislin ’26 fought hard en route to a 3-1 victory with scores of 11-9, 8-11, 11-7, and 11-9. No. 7 Charlie Merk ’26 did the same, winning in straight games by scores of 12-10, 11-7, and 11-8.
A couple of different bounces and things could’ve gone very differently at the Harris Squash Center on Wednesday. Credit to Coach Rees and his team for staying the course.
Salisbury will play again on Saturday, January 24, when it travels to Brunswick School for a 4 p.m. match.
Choate Invitational
Choate: 0-7 L, Deerfield: 0-7 L
Knights fall to Choate and Deerfield
Salisbury visited Choate Rosemary Hall for a matchup with the Wild Boars and Deerfield this afternoon. Fresh off a tight loss to Berkshire on Wednesday, Head Coach Trevor Rees' squad looked to get back on track.
Unfortunately, Choate and Deerfield are not the teams you want to try to do that against.
Against the host team, No. 1 Connor Wambach '26 fell in straight games by scores of 3–11, 2–11, and 5–11. No. 2 Walter Savage '26 met the same fate, losing 5–11, 1–11, and 2–11. At No. 3, Winn Lemken '26 lost 3–11, 1–11, and 3–11. No. 4 Tyler Ramirez '26 also lost three straight, with his scores being 3–11, 4–11, and 4–11.
The lower three seeds, however, made a bit more noise. No. 5 Finn MacDermott lost 6–11, 4–11, and 8–11. No. 6 Ollie Bradley '26 also came close, losing his games 0–11, 6–11, and 8–11. No. 7 Henry “Hank” Brislin '26 fell 6–11, 4–11, and 5–11.
Against Deerfield, meanwhile, Salisbury inched closer to winning a match. Wambach lost 3–11, 4–11, and 3–11. Savage, on the other hand, fell 7–11, 4–11, and 4–11. Lemken dropped his game 4–11, 1–11, and 2–11, and Ramirez lost 4–11, 4–11, and 1–11.
MacDermott also lost in straight games, with his scores being 3–11, 6–11, and 6–11. Tucked away at No. 6, however, Bradley won a game in a tiebreaker, securing the non-shutout. His scores were 7–11, 2–11, 12–10, and 2–11. Brislin also came quite close to pulling out a game, falling 5–11, 9–11, and 4–11.
Next up for Salisbury is a match against Suffield Academy, scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21, at the Harris Squash Center on the Hilltop.
vs.
Berkshire School
Loss
2-5
Knights fall to Berkshire in tight match
Salisbury hosted Berkshire this afternoon in front of a packed house at the Harris Squash Center. The reason for the large crowd? The No. 1 matchup: Salisbury’s Owen Roberson versus Berkshire’s Ahmed Nader Abd El Rahim—two of the best squash players on the high school circuit for their respective age groups. Roberson, Class of 2029, is still only 15 but has found instant success against some of the best players in the region. Nader Abd El Rahim, meanwhile, is 18 and committed to the University of Pennsylvania to play collegiate squash for the Quakers.
Salisbury Head Coach Trevor Rees spoke on the Berkshire star, who hails from Egypt, before the match, saying he is “one of, if not the best players on the U.S. high school squash circuit.” And today, alongside Roberson, he demonstrated it.
The two played several exhilarating points, including one where Roberson dove to the floor with full extension to keep the rally alive, lighting up the crowd with awe. It was the senior player who prevailed, however, winning in straight games by scores of 11-1, 11-6, and 11-3. Do not be mistaken by those scores, though—for Roberson put on a show just like Nader Abd El Rahim.
The top matchup mimicked almost every other match, too. No. 2 Connor Wambach ’26 battled hard in three ultra-close games, but he, too, ultimately fell 0-3. His scores were 6-11, 5-11, and 8-11. At No. 3, Walter Savage ’26 oh-so narrowly missed out on stealing a game—if not the entire match. He lost 6-11, 12-14, and 9-11. About as close as you can get without pulling one out.
At No. 4, Winn Lemken ’26 won a marathon of a match by a 3-2 margin. After dropping two of the first three, the sixth former won two straight games to pull off the comeback. His scores were 5-11, 11-4, 5-11, 11-5, and 11-7. No. 5 Tyler Ramirez ’26 went blow for blow alongside Lemken, also winning 3-2. With the first four games being evenly split at two apiece, the Brown lacrosse commit gave it all he had in game No. 5—securing the “W.” Scores were 8-11, 11-5, 11-4, 7-11, and 11-7.
No. 6 Finn MacDermott ’26 was unfortunately on the wrong side of the five-game decisions, despite playing excellently. His scores were 11-7, 4-11, 11-6, 9-11, and 8-11. And down at No. 7, the trend continued, with Ollie Bradley ’26 losing by a razor-thin margin in straight games. His first game went 7-11 in favor of his Bears opponent, followed by 8-11 in the second, and 11-13 in the clincher.
The loss may leave a sour taste in Coach Rees’ club’s mouth today. That is reasonable. There’s also a solid chance the narrow defeat serves as a motivator for the remainder of the season. Many expect that to be more likely.
The Knights will have their first chance to rebound on Saturday, January 17, when they visit Choate to take on the Wild Boars and Deerfield. Start time is 3 p.m.
vs.
Millbrook School
Win
7-0
Knights enjoy dominant victory over Millbrook
Salisbury hosted Millbrook today in its first contest of 2026. Despite not playing a match in over a month, the Knights came out with precision, beating the Mustangs 7–0.
No. 1 Owen Roberson ’29 set the tone at the top, prevailing in straight games by scores of 11–4, 11–1, and 11–6. No. 2 seed and team captain Connor Wambach ’26, meanwhile, played a tight initial game against his opponent, squeaking out an 11–8 triumph to take a 1–0 advantage. Things were much more comfortable for the Duke lacrosse commit in the latter two, though, winning by scores of 11–1 and 11–4 to secure a 3–0 victory.
No. 3 Walter Savage ’26 posted identical scores of 11–5 in all three of his games, giving him a 3–0 victory as well. No. 4 Winn Lemken ’26 matched Savage, winning consecutive 11–2 matches en route to a 3–0 “W.” Further down the ladder, No. 5 Finn MacDermott ’26 also found success, winning 3–0 by scores of 11–7, 11–4, and 11–1. No. 6 Tyler Ramirez ’26 faced the most resistance of any Knight on the afternoon, but even so, he too won 3–0. His scores were 11–9, 11–7, and 11–2. Ollie Bradley ’26 rounded out the winnings for Salisbury from the No. 7 spot, sweeping his opponent 11–4, 11–6, and 11–5.
Games won for Salisbury: 21. Games won for Millbrook: 0. A solid Saturday afternoon.
The victory improves the Knights’ season record to 3–2, with a home match against Berkshire next on the schedule. Start time is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14.
vs.
Hotchkiss School
Loss
0-7
Knights battle against Hotchkiss, fall 0–7
Salisbury made the short drive to Hotchkiss on Tuesday evening for a matchup with last year's Division I national runner-up. The Knights, for context, were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Division III tournament last season.
In other words, it was going to be an uphill battle for Head Coach Trevor Rees' squad. That did not deter the group, however, as each racquetsman performed at a high level despite the lack of victories.
No. 1 Owen Roberson '29 fell in straight games by scores of 5–11, 3–11, and 5–11. Connor Wambach '26, Salisbury's team captain and No. 2 seed, narrowly missed out on winning a game—dropping his first contest 8–11. Losses of 1–11 and 3–11 followed, but Wambach should take pride in his competitiveness.
No. 3 Winn Lemken '26 also fought hard, losing tight games by scores of 5–11, 6–11, and 6–11. No. 4 Finn MacDermott '26 also made some noise, dropping his games 4–11, 3–11, and 4–11. Brown University lacrosse commit Tyler Ramirez '26, the team’s No. 5 seed, lost his contest by scores of 5–11, 3–11, and 5–11.
No. 6 Ollie Bradley '26 and No. 7 Ian Crerend '26 met similar fates in their respective matches, with Bradley losing 2–11, 0–11, and 1–11. Crerend dropped his 4–11, 3–11, and 2–11.
The solid showing against one of the best teams in the country bodes well for Coach Rees & Co. They’ll enjoy a long rest before taking to the courts again in 2026, when they host Millbrook on January 10 for a 2 p.m. match.
vs.
Westminster School
Win
7-0
Knights sweep Westminster in 7-0 victory
Salisbury hosted Westminster on Saturday afternoon and did one thing: dominate. The Knights won all seven matches, with six of them being clean 3-0 sweeps.
No. 1 seed Owen Roberson '29, No. 2 Connor Wambach '26, No. 3 Walter Savage '26, No. 4 Winn Lemken '26, No. 5 Finn MacDermott '26, and No. 6 Ollie Bradley '26 all won in straight games. No. 7 Ian Crerend '26 was the lone Salisbury player to drop a game, but even so, the sixth former prevailed in a 3-2 triumph.
The victory improves Salisbury's season-long record to 2-1, with a match at Hotchkiss next on the schedule. That one will be played Wednesday, December 10, at 5 p.m.
vs.
Kent School, Canterbury School
7-0 W vs. Canterbury, 1-6 L vs. Kent
Knights breeze past Canterbury in season opener, fall to Kent
Salisbury opened the 2025–2026 season this afternoon with back-to-back matches against Kent and Canterbury. Against the Lions, sledding was tough for the Knights as they fell by a score of 1–6. Against the Saints, however, Salisbury enjoyed a smooth 7–0 triumph.
Owen Roberson ’29 made his highly anticipated debut for the Knights at the No. 1 spot, fighting hard against Kent’s Gabriel Costales. The third former from Rye, NY, battled in the match but ultimately fell in straight games by scores of 6–11, 5–11, and 8–11.
No. 2 seed Connor Wambach ’26, this year’s team captain, met the same fate, falling 3–11, 0–11, and 1–11. No. 3 Walter Savage ’26 fell in similar fashion, losing 1–11, 1–11, and 1–11.
No. 4 Winn Lemken ’26 made some noise in some of his games, but he too fell 0–3, with his scores being 4–11, 1–11, and 4–11. No. 5 Finn MacDermott ’26 came close to stealing a game—like Roberson—but fell 6–11, 3–11, and 8–11. No. 6 Henry Brislin ’26 gave it a ride too, falling 3–11, 5–11, and 9–11.
No. 7 Ian Crerend ’26 was the lone victor against the Lions, prevailing in a marathon match by a score of 3–2. His individual games were 14–12, 11–7, 7–11, 6–11, and 12–10.
The tough go against a talented Kent squad did not deter Salisbury in its second match, though.
Against Canterbury, Roberson enjoyed a 3–0 “W”—as did every Knight. The third former’s scores were 11–4, 11–3, and 11–3. Wambach won 11–2, 11–5, and 11–2. Savage, meanwhile, finished with decisive victories of 11–5, 11–2, and 11–2. Lemken found success by scores of 11–1, 11–2, and 11–5.
MacDermott had little resistance, winning 11–2, 11–2, and 11–1. Brislin faced a little more, winning 11–2, 11–1, and 11–4. Crerend, who certainly earned both of his victories, won 11–1, 11–2, and 11–9.
The splitting of matches was a great way to start the season for the Knights. They’ll take the courts again on Saturday, December 6, when they welcome Westminster for a 4 p.m. match.
Coaches
Coaches
Head Coach: Trevor Rees
Trevor Rees brings more than thirty years in the game, and over a decade of coaching experience to Salisbury’s squash program. A four-year varsity player at Yale and member of its 2006 Ivy League championship team, he won the 2005 Intercollegiate National Doubles Championship, represented Team USA in the Junior Pan American Games, and captained Brunswick School to a New England Championship.
Rees grew up under the guidance of legendary coaches Peter Briggs and Jim Stephens, and continues to coach through the lens of Briggs’s five golden rules:
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!
On campus, Rees teaches English in addition to leading the varsity squash and golf teams. Before arriving on the Hilltop, he worked in strategic communications at Sard Verbinnen & Co. and in capital markets at Lehman Brothers. He holds a B.A. in English from Yale University and an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Rees believes deeply in the lifelong value of learning and competition. His goal is to help players grow as athletes and as young men, carrying with them the habits and values that outlast any trophy.
@SARUMATHLETICS
@SalisburyAthletics
Salisbury Squash Set for Another Big Season in 2025-2026
Squash on the Hilltop has grown an incredible amount over the last decade – spearheaded by Varsity Head Coach Trevor Rees, who arrived at Salisbury in the fall of 2016. Since then, the Knights have flown through the ranks on a national scale, going from a low-end Division 6 program to one that will be pushing for Division 2 this winter. This steady success can be attributed to a key consistency: coaching. Coach Rees – who played Division I at Yale University and on the United States Junior Team – and technical specialist Coach Morgan Phillips – who also played Division I at Williams College and is a certified Level 3 technical coach – have both seen students come in as underclassmen and grow into high-level players.
The two have built a program that is by no means a “hidden” sport, something that is common at most independent schools. Instead, squash at Salisbury is front and center, garnering respect from those on campus and afar. Rees and Phillips make a conscious effort to expose their players to premier talent all year long – even outside of the squash season. They’ve taken trips to the Tournament of Champions and watched countless Yale men’s squash matches in person, all while fostering a healthy team culture by stopping for some fun – i.e., New Haven pizza. While on campus, Salisbury has hosted multiple pro exhibitions between world-class players (Olivia Weaver, Amanda Sobhy, Miguel Rodriguez, Diego Elias, and Tinne Gillis all in the past three years) to help grow visibility of the sport on the Hilltop. These exhibitions have exposed students and faculty alike to how truly elite, impressive, and fun squash really is.
While in season and off, the Knights take full advantage of the pristine facilities offered at the Flood Athletic Center. Eight ASB courts are always available to players of all levels. No outside groups use the space, meaning student-athletes never need to book playing time. With a fierce schedule against some of the best high school teams in the nation, Salisbury’s location in northwest Connecticut has become a hotbed for top-tier squash.
This season, the Knights look to build off a strong 2024–2025 campaign that saw the team advance to the quarterfinals of the Division 3 National Tournament last year. Among the returners from that squad is team captain Connor Wambach ’26, who, though committed to Duke University for lacrosse, is expected to maintain the high level of character Coach Rees’ team has exhibited for the last 10 years. He will play at the top of the ladder all winter – pushing his teammates to be their best. Playing toward the top with Wambach will be newcomer Owen Roberson ’29, a third former from Rye, NY, who has lit the Salisbury squash world on fire this fall with his impeccable work ethic and love for the game. A consistent participant in junior-level tournaments outside of school, Roberson’s intrinsic love for the game is a real difference-maker. Alongside him is fellow new student Walter Savage ’26, a postgraduate committed to Connecticut College. Savage, too, competes at numerous junior-level tournaments, bringing a high skill level and winning experience from his previous squash teams.
Fellow returner Tyler Ramirez ’26, committed to Brown University for lacrosse, had an outstanding offseason, according to Coach Rees, and is expected to be a major contributor this season. The same can be said for Winn Lemken ’26, who has worked hard physically to keep his game at the highest level. Joining them is Finlay MacDermott ’26, who looks to return from a devastating injury that caused him to miss most of last season. Ollie Bradley ’26 is in the same boat, aiming to come back from an injury he suffered last February. The group is rounded out by three great competitors and culture keepers in Henry Brislin ’26, Charlie Merk ’26, and Ian Crerend ’26. They will all be ready to step into battle when their name is called.
A program built on detail and work ethic, Salisbury squash has expanded at a rapid pace over the last 10 years. The sky continues to be the limit for them.