After a century of being confined to prep schools and elite universities in the US, the sport of squash has finally reached CRLS. The effort to establish a school team, spearheaded by Milo Miller ’28, aims to introduce the indoor racquet sport to new players and give existing squash players a chance to play in a team atmosphere and represent CRLS. In the future, Miller hopes to establish high-quality varsity boys and girls teams to compete with public and private schools in Massachusetts and across the country.
The game of squash is similar to tennis, except that both players are on the same side and each shot is hit against the front wall of the court. The court is enclosed by walls on all sides, giving players creativity in how they get the golf-sized black rubber ball to reach the front wall. Miller, who has been playing squash since 2021, told the Register Forum, “Squash is such a great sport because it requires a lot of physicality and also strategy.”
In its inaugural season, the squash program will function as a club, rather than a varsity sport. In addition, the team will be a combination of players from CRLS and Arlington High School, allowing both schools to grow interest in the sport. However, the club format has not discouraged the program from its ultimate goals, as Miller told the Register Forum, “[In the future we hope] to be an official team that plays official matches against other schools and then goes to nationals at the end of the year.”
Squash may be unfamiliar to many CRLS students, but Massachusetts is home to some of the best squash talent in the country. The current #1 ranked US player, Timmy Brownell, is from Belmont, MA, and Harvard University features the most successful collegiate squash program in history, with 42 national titles.
Even in its first year, the CRLS team will have access to excellent coaching and facilities. The team will primarily practice at the Murr Center at Harvard, one of the premier squash complexes in the country. Also, Naji Khan, a CRLS graduate who played professional squash, will help to coach the team.
Public high schools rarely have squash teams; over the last decade, however, several programs began in the Boston area. Brookline, Needham, Concord-Carlisle, and Acton-Boxborough public high schools now feature squash teams which compete against one another. The emergence of squash in public schools brings the game away from its privileged background into a sport that is accessible to everyone.
As CRLS ventures into the squash scene, Miller plans to counter the elitist connotations with the sport, and hopes students of all backgrounds feel welcome in the new club. He told the RF, “The community is friendly and welcoming, and although it is a wealthy sport, everyone who plays is really nice.”
If you are interested in being a part of the squash program, contact Milo at [email protected]. All skill levels are welcome.
This article also appears in our October 2024 edition.
