This week's episode of Squash University has been a long time in the making, as Jackson welcomed University of Rochester #1, friend of the program, and this week's honorary cohost Yash Fadte onto the show. Jackson and Yash talked about being back on campus ahead of the upcoming CSA season, Yash's excitement to become a captain for the Yellow Jackets, helping the team's new freshman acclimate to college life, being snubbed from CSA Individuals last season, his goals for this season, what he's most looking forward to off the court in his senior year, and more (0:22).

Then, Yash's former teammate, current coach, and good friend Matt Dukarm makes his long overdue debut on Squash University. The U of R head coach and reigning Liberty League Men's Coach of the Year discusses his roller-coaster journey to becoming the program's interim head coach this time last year and ultimately being named full-time head coach by season's end. Jackson and Yash also asked Coach Matt about leading the Yellow Jackets to the Hoehn Cup title, Rochester's legendary nicknames tradition, becoming a certified meditation instructor, and more (32:31).

Huge thanks to Yash for cohosting this week's show and to Coach Matt for joining us, as we're wishing Rochester the best of luck this season!

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Episode 16 kicks off with Jackson and Gilly discussing this week’s huge announcement regarding the future of the CSA Individual National Championships event, recapping Gilly’s experience cheering on his beloved Liverpool team in person in Philly last week, and previewing today’s interview with the newest individual to join the CSA head coaching ranks (1:02).

After 40 years as the Head Coach of the Trinity College women’s squash team, Wendy Bartlett did what very few have, she went out on top, winning her 4th National Championship last season to put a bow on her legendary career. The individual entrusted in replacing the longest tenured coach in college squash, Trinity’s newly named ladies head coach Lauren Patrizio.

Patrizio is a former CSA National Champion in her own right as a player as she helped lead Penn to their first National Championship in 2000 and is primed and ready for the opportunity to take over one of the most prestigious programs in college squash. Gilly and Jackson ask the former Mount Holyoke coach about her conversations with Coach Bartlett and legendary Trinity men’s squash coach Paul Assaiante, as well as what standards and culture she's hoping to implement, and what she’s most excited for as she embarks on her first season from Hartford (15:14).

Huge thanks to Coach Patrizio for joining us, as we wish her and her team good luck in their quest to win back to back National Championships this season!

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On this week’s Squash University, Jackson was accompanied by honorary cohost Matias Knudsen! Matias graduated from Drexel University in 2023 where he played number 1 and helped lead the Dragons to a top 5 finish in the country (their highest in program history).

Since graduating last spring, the Bogota, Colombia native has broken into the PSA World Tour top 100 and helped lead the New York City Knights to win the inaugural NSL Championship this past June, a league through which he met super-duper star commentator Jackson Bragman (see how it all comes together?)

Jackson and Matias chatted about the Drexel grad’s offseason training and goals for this season on tour, as well as some of their favorite players on tour to watch, the upcoming NSL Legends match Matias is playing in this September, what it was like playing for Drexel Head Coach and former World number 1 John White and Colombia’s heartbreaking Copa America finals loss (0:39).

Then, Drexel University’s men’s number 1 Nico Serna joined Squash University. Matias and Nico go way back to early in their junior days, both growing up in Bogota and playing international tournaments together across South America, and they reunited for 2 years in Philadelphia while playing for Drexel.

As he’s now getting set for his senior season with the Dragons, Matias and Jackson asked Nico about junior squash in Colombia, starting his college career at Dickinson and transferring to Drexel his sophomore season, his best moments from last season (including the Dragons nearly taking down Trinity in the first round of CSA Nationals) and he shared some more John White stories, as well (39:49).

Huge thanks to Matias for cohosting this week's show and to Nico for joining us, as we're wishing them each the best of luck this season!

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