Written by Bella Wise

If you have ever wanted to watch athletic grit combined with frustrated teenage determination while trapped in what looks like an oversized shoebox, then Boys Varsity Squash matches are the place to be. But, don’t be deceived by the size of the court: within this large shoebox is a game of strategy, resilience, speed, lunges, and so much sweat to the point of questioning the court’s ventilation system.

Under the leadership of Head Coach Elani Landman, the Boys Varsity Squash team has had an incredible season so far and headed into NYSAIS with a record of 13-4. Landman has extensive experience in squash: she played singles for seven years before transitioning to competitive doubles squash where she holds the ranking of number one in the world. Landman has coached squash for 15 years, and she describes her coaching style as intense with a fitness-forward approach. Squash is a sport requiring both physical and mental agility, and Landman makes sure the players are conditioned for success. “Work ethic is everything,” she emphasizes. “You can’t be scared of working hard. Mentally, you have to know how to control your emotions and fight through tough matches.”

Coach Landman highlights several members of the team to be standout players. Winn Metrailler ‘26 is one, demonstrated through his work ethic and determination. Captain Chris Mathias ‘25 is also noted as a standout player; he continues to show remarkable improvement as the season progresses.

For players struggling with confidence in their skills, Coach Landman’s advice is simple: keep pushing through. “No matter how hard it gets, somehow, somewhere along the way, there’s going to be a breakthrough,” she says. “The key is to never give up.” This guidance proved beneficial early on in the season when the team faced Choate in a tight match. Several individual matches went to five sets — matches are typically played first to win three sets — but the players stuck with it and managed to secure the overall team victory.

Leading up to high-stakes matches, the team’s practices consist of conditioning drills and match-play scenarios. The team begins with warmups, hitting around individually before moving into structured drills. Starting with the “First Drive” drill and the “Rotating Drop Drive” drill, players are rotating rails to hone in on perfecting their skill while adding a competition aspect. 

While members of the boys’ squash team say their success is a result of their skill, it is clear that team camaraderie plays a large role. Captain James Murphy ‘25 gifted fellow Captain Henry Fogel ‘25 his bandana, demonstrating that squash is not solely about hitting a tiny rubber ball really hard: it’s about looking stylish while doing it! Murphy later showed off his new shoes to Coach Landman, though whether they actually improved his game or just his confidence is a mystery.

The next drill the team moved into is known as “One Up One Down,” and this works by switching courts based on whether you win or lose. During this drill, a riveting cross-court rally occurred between Captain Mathias and Turner Wolf ‘25. Though the match appeared friendly, each point lost was met with a frustrated smile – one that hinted at a determination for revenge, as the loser won the following point.

The final portion of practice was the “4-7-10” drill. Captain Mathias, perhaps overwhelmed by the rush of adrenaline, momentarily forgot he was playing squash and channeled his inner Troy Bolton. After messing up his first shot, Mathias ran up to the wall and literally jumped on it as if he were trying to dunk a nonexistent basketball. (Note to Chris: Troy Bolton played basketball, not squash.) Mathias did, however, redeem himself, leaving Captain Fogel nearly diving on the court.

When asked about their strategy for winning, senior players revealed their secret weapons. Captain Murphy stated his are boasts, a type of shot where the ball is hit off the side wall into the front. Wolf explains his strategy is a classic, keeping the ball deep in the back of the court. Captain Fogel says his strategy is staying calm and composed under pressure. Captain Mathias reveals his strategy is his “swiftness on the court.”

With the NYSAIS Championship this past week on February 14, the team’s priority was securing the win. As this was their fourth consecutive NYSAIS Championship, the team is ecstatic. When asked about the experience, Captain Murphy was straightforward: “It feels good, but it was always expected to happen, to be honest.” Meanwhile, Captain Fogel emphasized how this tournament was great because it prepared the team for Nationals and kept them very focused, especially on closing out matches very quickly.

This year, the win was secured more easily as the team’s lineup has improved. “We have a much stronger one and two seed, which definitely helped us at Nationals,” Murphy noted. Throughout the tournament, there were many key moments leading up to the victory. Fogel explained that he “really tried to work on attacking in points and finishing out matches quickly, just working on different things like some short shots and hitting it hard.”

When reflecting on the team’s growth and continued success, Murphy emphasizes the depth of the team and the younger players, like Chris Estill ‘28 and Zach Mathias ‘28, as key players. Fogel also highlighted the intensity of practices, saying, “Practices were super tough this year. Also, a lot of people play squash outside of school, so that has helped improve their game.

Although the NYSAIS Championship was another decisive win – “Like, I won’t lie, we won 8-0 in NYSAIS. It was not a tough win, just cool that we got the four-peat,” Murphy admitted – but the real challenge arrived at the High School Nationals.

At Nationals, the Wildcats left it all on the court. Murphy reflected, “In High School Nationals, we finally accomplished our goal to place top 10 in the country (Division I). It was definitely a bittersweet moment, but the way our Nationals run ended is the cause for a lot of excitement and a sense of accomplishment.” Fogel agreed, adding, “It was probably our best tournament yet. We finished 9th in the country, which was amazing – it’s the highest that Rye Country Day has ever finished. That tournament was obviously a very bittersweet moment. It was a great end on a high school note. I played some good squash, and the whole team played good squash. For Murphy, Mathias, Wolf, Alexander Rivas ‘25, and me, there were our last high school matches, so it was great to play them as a team, and that was a great culmination to the season.”

With the winter season officially over, the Boys Varsity Squash team leaves behind a legacy, both on and off the court. Whether through their immense determination, intense practice, or grit, this team has made its mark in RCDS history. And, of course, they did it all in a large shoebox.