The 2009-10 Varsity Blues squash program will see both the men’s and women’s teamss combined under the guidance of head coach David Cooper. While the women’s program has prospered in recent years, medaling in each of the past 10 OUA championships, the men’s program has not seen the same result, having failed to reach the 2009 OUA playoffs.

Coach Cooper intends to use many of the strategies that have proved successful for the women as he looks to shake up the mean’s team and get back in the playoff picture.

Two of the biggest changes will be that the men will compete in the Toronto and district men’s D league and accompany the women on their exhibition trip to the United States. Both men and women will also practice together on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights at the Athletic Centre squash courts.

Joining the men’s coaching staff this season will be Ian Power and Karlene Headley-Cooper on the women’s side. Power played professional squash and has been ranked in the top 100 since 2000. He was a member of the Canadian team that won gold at the 2001 Pan American Games. Headley-Cooper, an eight-year veteran on the Blues, makes the transition from player to coach in 2009-10.

The men have several returning members and will again be led by post grad veteran and OUA all-star Ahad Raza. The goal for this season is to return to the 2010 OUA playoffs which are being held at the University of Waterloo.

The women will also be facing an uphill challenge with the loss of Headley-Cooper, as well as nine-year veteran and OUA all-star Edith Chow – a former member of both the Varsity Blues squash and badminton teams.

It will be difficult to replace both these players who have occupied the top team rankings for the past four years, however, it will give current OUA all-stars Megan Northey and Cami Marmoush the opportunity to lead the team. Soojin Yi, Shuhsien Zhu, Daniah Shamim and Rebecca Tristan Aldave, who all garnered OUA silver medals last year, will also be returning this season.

The Varsity Blues men’s team kicks off their OUA season this Sunday, November 15 when they travel to Montreal, Que. to take on the McGill Redmen and Queen’s Gaels in the East sectional.

The Blues women’s team begins their 2009-10 regular season next Saturday, November 14 when they travel to Hamilton, Ont. to take on the McMaster Marauders and Western Mustangs in the OUA West sectional.

Both teams will close the fall season with a three-day trip to Hamilton University in Clinton, New York, December 4-6.

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.