PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- No. 25 Bates College faced off against fourth-seed and No. 24 ranked Dickinson College on day one of the 2026 Divisional Collegiate Men's Team Squash Championships as the Bobcats dropped a 6-3 decision to the Red Devils.

The trio of Dennis Welte, Oscar Hecker, and Tanish Tangri recorded victories for the Bobcats in their respective matches.

Welte continues to dazzle atop the Bobcats' lineup as the sophomore captain locked down a sixth-consecutive victory, defeating Dickinson's Joe Smythe ( 11-8, 5-11, 11-8, 11-8) at the No. 1 position. Hecker, getting his first taste of the CSA's, outlasted Owen Buroker (11-7, 11-9, 5-11, 5-11, 11-9) in a five-game thriller at No. 3 .

Tangri, who has provided an assortment of highlights of his own during his first collegiate campaign, bounced back at No. 6 to defeat James Kiracofe (7-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-1). 

Bates, serving as the No. 5 seed in the Summers Cup division of the event, will now take on No. 8 seed and No. 28 ranked Denison University in Saturday's Consolation bracket at 9 a.m. as the Big Red dropped a 6-3 result to No. 1 seed and No. 21 ranked Bowdoin.

 Dickinson (9-12) moves on to play the Polar Bears (7-10) in the semifinals Saturday at noon.