If there’s one word that comes to mind when looking at the men’s half of the draw, it’s “stacked”. The defending intercollegiate champion, Princeton junior David Yik, didn’t even finish the season No. 1 on his own team—classmate and 2001 quarterfinalist Will Evans had that honor. The man Yik beat in the final last year—Trinity co-captain Lefike Ragontse—played No. 3 for the Bantams, while undefeated sophomore Michael Ferreira played in the second slot.

Everyone’s odds-on favorite to take the title, though, is Trinity’s freshman sensation, Bernardo Samper, who has handily beaten the best in college squash all season.

Another threat to Samper is Harvard sophomore James Bullock, who beat Yik during the regular season by relying on his patience and athleticism and played Samper tough last weekend. Bullock also won the Consolation II bracket at last year’s ISA Championships.

Behind Bullock is Patterson, who has gone deeper into the tournament than his seeding predicted each of the past two years.

A potential dark horse is Harvard freshman Mike Blumberg, who beat Ragontse in five games on Saturday and has yet to lose as a collegian.

“We don’t really know where his limit is,” Patterson said.

“I don’t think anyone wants to play him; that’s for sure,” Barry said. “He just came out and no matter what number he played or who he played, he won.”

Sophomore Ziggy Whitman—who lost an epic, five-game match to Trinity No. 4 and 2001 semifinalist Nick Kyme on Saturday—and Barry, a finalist in the (second) Malloy bracket last year, also should not be overlooked.

Overall, the Crimson men know what to expect throughout the tournament.

“We’ve seen everyone play in the regular season, so it’s not as if anyone out there has any big surprises or secrets,” Bullock said. “There are so many outstanding players in the draw that it’s going to be whoever stays the toughest for the whole tournament that will come out on top.”

Women

On the women’s side, the graduation of three-time defending champion Julia Beaver of Princeton has left the title up for grabs.

Trinity sophomore and last year’s runner-up Amina Helal didn’t lose all season, but Leong was nearly as good.