“Yeah, I play squash.” That one claim always sparked a series of misunderstandings or teasing. People would ask something along the lines of, “Squash… the vegetable?” or “Ohhh, so like tennis!” Others muttered about its stupidity under their breath. The lack of awareness about my beloved sport irked me; no one seemed to know what it was or harbor much respect for it. Unlike more commonly-known racquet sports, squash is an indoor sport that takes place in a four-walled court. Instead of hitting to the other side of a net, you and your opponent take turns hitting against the front wall. Its supposed simplicity causes many to underestimate the effort and physicality required to play it. Yet, contrary to my expectations, the majority of Andover seems to know squash and acknowledge it as its own sport, not a knockoff of others. There seems to be a developing popularity of it, one that kindles my hope that squash— the once small, niche sport — is growing. The Andover community and its recognition of my sport reminds me to stick with my interests, though they might be unconventional or face scorn. After all, what is foreign to some is a treasure to others.
In past schools, getting into the squash team, whether Varsity or JV, was basically a guarantee due to the lack of interest. However, at Andover, there was a flood of prospective players looking to join by the time winter approached. Even outside of official practices, the squash courts were filled with people playing for fun alongside friends, to the point that it was hard to even find an open court. That’s what I want squash to be: not just a sport, but a source of enjoyment and community. Andover has twelve beautiful courts (excluding the Borden ones) spanning two floors. It deeply saddened me when I watched my sisters at Andover only to see how empty the facility was. My eldest sister had an especially challenging time maintaining her level of play, as four years ago, the sport did not have enough resources to support nationally competitive players. Now, professional coaches come in almost every day to work with varsity teams and are available on campus for students to train outside of the team.
Squash talent has also started to be recognized in Andover over the years. What was once a low-investment program has now consistently produced top-level players. This year, the school has welcomed four nationally-ranked recruits to the school. At one of West Quad North’s meetings, students gathered in Snyder to watch an exhibition match by two members of the Boys’ Varsity team. It was touching to see such public dedication to squash. As I sat in the bleachers, all the “oohs” and “ahhs” garnered from impressive shots filled me with pride and amusement. To my surprise, the exhibition match didn’t stop there. They held a challenge for anyone to go up and play against the boys to possibly win a vintage WQN hoodie. As a result, many bravely tried their hands at the game. The school not only introduced squash to students but also provided them with the experience of playing it. For that, I am eternally grateful. More people saw what squash is really like that day, and perhaps gained new respect for it. (Or, on the flip side, confirmed their suspicions that squash is a dumb sport. Hopefully not!)
Growing up playing squash for more than half of my life, I’d learned I had a very different perception of the sport from others. To me, it was a whole other world of countless strategies, techniques, and skills. For others, it was a vegetable. The public’s nonexistent interest was almost enough to ignite a belief that it was an inferior sport. In another world, I could’ve conformed and spoke of it with shame, not pride. But Andover has fortified my love for squash with its investment and celebration of the sport. Conversing with friends, teachers, or classmates, I no longer get taunts like “Why is there a sport named after a vegetable?” or “Are you going to squash your opponents?” Instead, I get the same responses as if I were to say I play soccer. I don’t need or want it to be seen as some legendary activity, but one that possesses the same respect other sports get while also providing fun for everyone. Going to Snyder every day and seeing the jam-packed courts is a reminder that squash isn’t overlooked, but treasured by many. If there is something you love, whether it’s a sport, game, or anything else, keep it close to your heart regardless of what others might think. There is always a place for everything.
