Ninth-year Navy squash head coach Tyler Osborne announced that senior Tighe Mullarkey (Locust Valley, N.Y.) has been selected by his teammates to serve as the Mids' team captain for the 2026-27 season.

Mullarkey has demonstrated remarkable courage and perseverance in the face of adversity throughout his more than three years at the Naval Academy. The Locust Valley High School product arrived in Annapolis in the summer of 2022 and quickly distinguished himself as a key contributor during his plebe year, opening his collegiate career with an impressive 12-1 record.  Shortly thereafter, he was diagnosed with congenital lobar emphysema, a condition that required corrective surgery and an extensive rehabilitation process. As a result, he was forced to withdraw from the Academy. Undeterred, Mullarkey returned in the summer of 2023 to complete Plebe Summer before resuming both his studies and his playing career.

Since his return, Mullarkey has been a steady presence in Navy's lineup. He posted a 16-13 record during the 2023-24 season while primarily competing in the No. 6 position before recording a 17-9 mark the following year, splitting time between the No. 5 and No. 6 spots. Last season, he battled a hip injury that limited him to just one ladder match. Despite the setback, he remained an engaged leader and supportive teammate, helping lead the Navy squad to a 24-6 record, the program's highest win total since the 2012-13 team posted a 25-9 record.

Mullarkey has also excelled in the classroom. An English major with a 3.72 grade-point average, he ranks among the top 25 percent of the Academy's Class of 2027 (1,078 students) in Academic, Military and Overall Order of Merit. He has earned multiple citations as a member of the Superintendent's and Commandant's List and was named to the Dean's List following the Fall 2024 semester.

His leadership has extended beyond his individual accomplishments. Mullarkey has played a key role in the Navy squash program earning the Academic Dean's Excellence Award in each of the last two years. Presented by the Naval Academy Academic Dean and Provost, the award recognizes the varsity team that records the highest combined Quality Point Rating (QPR) over the fall and spring semesters.

Chosen by his teammates to lead the program into the 2026-27 season, Mullarkey's resilience, leadership and commitment to excellence embody the standards of the Naval Academy and Navy squash.

### Go Navy ###