American squash champion Todd Harrity, from Bryn Mawr in Pennsylvania, has joined the Welsh Wizards.
Harrity, ranked 47 in the World, is among 15 signings for Wizards’ 2019-20 Premier Squash League season.
Squash Wales performance director is in charge of recruitment for the PSL team and has signed two men formerly ranked at three in the World plus Welsh champions Tesni Evans and nine-times men’s title winner Peter Creed.
Harrity’s home town of Bryn Mawr is named after the estate of Dolgellau in Snowdonia which belonged to a Quaker, Rowland Ellis, who emigrated to Pennsylvania from Wales in 1686.
Wizards have signed nine male players with three Egyptians plus players from Spain, Wales and England.
They include double World under-19 champion Moustafa Asal, an 18-year-old from Egypt who is ranked inside the World’s top 30.
Wizards’ two former World number threes are Marwan ElShorbagy and Omar Mosaad, both from Egypt.
The six women players signed by Wizards include players from India, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, England and Wales.
Wizards open their new Premier Squash League season on Tuesday, October 1.
The PSL format has changed for the 2019-20 campaign.
The new-look league will feature three men and two women in every match, a change from 4+1.
North and South divisions remain, but the maximum number of teams have been reduced to 10 (five in each) to help avoid conflict with PSA World Tour dates and reduce the financial burden on teams.
Teams will be allowed to field a maximum of one male and one female player from outside the UK.
Matches will begin in October and run through to May (see fixtures below).
The first three home fixtures for Wizards are against St George’s on Tuesday, October 15, Coolshurst on Tuesday, October 26 and Warwick on Tuesday, January 7.
Tickets
Tue 15 Oct 2019, 7:20PM
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Tue 26 Nov 2019, 7:20PM
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Tue 7 Jan 2020, 7:20PM
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Welsh Wizards website – www.welshwizards.com
THE TEAM – MEN:
Marwan ElShorbaggy
World ranking: 11 (highest 3)
Born: Alexandria, Egypt
Residence: Bristol, England
University: UWE, Bristol
Age: 26
Omar Mosaad
World ranking: 13 (highest 3)
Born: Cairo, Egypt
Residence: Cairo, Egypt
Club: Heliopoli
Age: 31
Edmon Lopez
World ranking: 59 (highest 54)
Born: Barcelona, Spain
Residence: Barcelona, Spain
Age: 23
Peter Creed
World ranking: 65 (highest 50)
Born: Caerphilly, Wales
Residence: Caerphilly, Wales
University: University of Wales, Cardiff
Club: Rhiwbina SRC
Age: 32
Emyr Evans
World ranking: 114 (highest 112)
Born: Cardiff, Wales
Residence: Cardiff, Wales
Age: 22
Elliott Morris Devred
World ranking: 251 (highest 227)
Born: Birmingham, England
Resides: Barry, Wales
Club: Leamington plus Cardiff SRC
Age: 21
James Peach
World ranking: 228 (highest 223)
Born: Doncaster, England
Resides: Bristol, England
University: UWE, Bristol
Age: 22
Moustafa Asal
World ranking: 29 (highest 29)
Born: Cairo, Egypt
Resides: Cairo, Egypt
Age: 18
Todd Harrity
World ranking: 47 (highest 44)
Born: Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Resides: Bristol, England
University: Princeton
Age: 29
WOMEN:
Tesni Evans
World ranking: 9 (highest 9)
Born: Cardiff, Wales
Resides: Rhyl, Wales
Age: 26
Joshna Chinappa
World ranking: 13 (highest 10)
Born: Chennai, India
Resides: Bristol, England
Age: 33
Rachael Chadwick
World ranking: 53 (highest 53)
Born: Chester, England
Resides: Chester, England
Club: Neston Cricket Club
Age: 29
Milou van der Heidjen
World ranking: 32 (highest 29)
Born: Veldhoven, Netherlands
Resides: Helmond, Netherlands
Age: 28
Anna Kimberley
World ranking: 76 (highest 76)
Born: Ipswich, England
Resides: Colchester, Essex
University: Trinity
Age: 24
Anna Serme
World ranking: 66 (highest 63)
Left-handed
Born: Krnov, Czech Republic
Resides: Creteil, France
University: Paris-Sorbonne
Age: 28
Welsh Wizards
Professional Squash League fixtures
October
Tuesday 1
Warwick v Welsh Wizards
Round two
Tuesday 15
Welsh Wizards v St George’s
Round three
November
Tuesday 5
Wizards – no game
Round four
Tuesday 26
Welsh Wizards v Coolhurst
Round five
Tuesday 10
RAC v Welsh Wizards
Second Half fixtures
Round six
January
Tuesday 7
Welsh Wizards v Warwick
Round seven
Dates to be arranged
St George’s v Welsh Wizards
Round eight
Wizards – no game
Round nine
Coolhurst v Welsh Wizards
Round 10
Dates to be arranged
Welsh Wizards v RAC
Semi-finals and final to be arranged