PITTSBURGH, PA - Tommorrow the Chatham Men's and Women's Squash teams will host the University of Virginia in their first match of the 25-26 season.
The Cougars are ready to kick off their season and start fresh with the addition of Head Coach Yuri Franca this season.
Franca talked about preparing for his first season saying, "With this being my first season with the Cougars, I'm really excited to build a strong foundation fo teamwork, discipline, and trust. My goal is to establish a standard of consistency and competitiveness both on and off the court."
He has a positive outlook and big goals for the teams this season as he says, "Our outlook for the season is positive. We're focused on continuous improvement - making sure every played develops individually while contributing to the team's success. Our biggest goal is to compete with intensity in every match and create a culture of accountability and resilience."
The attitude is important for this season as Franca says, "I want our team to carry an attitude of confidence, effort, and unity throughout the season. That energy will come from our daily training habits, mutual respect, and the trust we build together as a team."
The players from last year are carrying the energy into this season as, "We're setting high expectations for all our players - commitment, focus, and effort are non-negotiable. A few players have already stood out for their leadership and work ethic, - Sebastian Vaca & Sofia Pinto."
The schedule ahead is a long one, but Franca says, "The season ahead will definitely present challenges, but we're preparing by emphasizing consistency, recovery, and managing the work load. We're focused on managing the grind of a long season with a positive mindset and a growth-oriented approach."
Before the Cougars match tomorrow the Men's team will be honored at 12:15 PM with a ring ceremony for last seasons accomplishments.
The Cougars are in action tomorrow, November 2nd, for their first match of the season at Steel City Squash when they face off with the University of Virginia at 12:30 PM.
