As Boys Squash enters the second half of the season, Co-Captain Avery Lin ’25 hopes to lead his team, as well as himself, to new heights. Despite being a size that might surprise those who expect towering athletes to dominate the court, Lin has consistently demonstrated that his passion lies in connecting with his new teammates. His brotherly love for younger players is what truly drives him.
Corey Shen ’26 detailed Lin’s relaxed approach to leading the team this season. Embracing his role as a team captain, Lin has become more outspoken to instill discipline within the players.
“Avery takes a pretty relaxed position as Captain, but he does put his foot down whenever someone does step out of line, when he does believe that something is wrong with the team. I don’t think he’s afraid to speak up, but he’s not overbearing as well,” said Shen.
Philip Meng ’26, who has known Lin since he was eight years old in Hong Kong, specified how Lin has matured as a squash player and leader. In addition to improving as a player by constantly refining his shot selection and strategy throughout the years, Lin effortlessly maintains a vibrant team spirit by virtue of his humorous attitude.
“We started off the season a little bit rough, but Lin has always led the team with a lot of conviction and a lot of humor, which I really like, and our team also appreciates it. We’re really lucky to have someone like him who’s always so stable mentally, but also able to converse with everyone on the team and keep the atmosphere lively… he’s always been a humorous leader and I’m glad he’s maintained those traits still to this day,” said Meng.
Apart from being approachable and funny, Lin also promotes punctuality and discipline. Moreover, after every game, Lin sits down with the team in a circle to reflect on the team’s strengths and weaknesses. John-Jayden Luo ’28 recalled how Lin guided him at the beginning of the year.
“He guides all of us. When I first came here and was choosing my classes, he was telling me what class to take, considering the training I’m going to be doing for squash,” said Luo.
Claiming to be shorter than others, Lin believes this attribute allows him to connect with the team’s newer players. By witnessing Lin overcome the challenges he faces, the newer players are inspired by his character.
“[The players] are able to resonate with me more as a leader. They see the things I am capable of as a vertically challenged individual. They see the mountains I am able to surpass, and they think they can achieve the same,” said Lin.
When asked which cartoon character most accurately reflects his play style on the court, Lin resonated with Judy Hopps from Zootopia in light of the character’s exuberance portrayed throughout the movie.
“I have been told by several people that my squash style would be characterized most accurately by Judy Hopps. For this reason, I’ve been described as a hot player. I’m fast, I’m hot, high energy, bouncing around. I get to every ball, each and every single one. I take them, and I run with it. I am Judy Hopps,” said Lin.
Having sometimes been mistaken for a young player during games, Lin has overcome the notion that height is a weakness in squash. Furthermore, Lin uses these presumptions to his advantage.
“There is 100 percent a psychological component, and I use it to my advantage. When an opponent walks on [the] court with me, they immediately underestimate me. So it doesn’t bother me; it’s actually a strength of mine,” said Lin.
Lin isn’t just leading his team — he’s redefining what it means to stand tall where it matters most.
