Indoors on the squash courts, coaches Quan Hyunh and Tony Campbell have been involved with the school’s program for more than 10 years, allowing them to keep things in perspective as they watch the current students develop.
“It’s an all-growth mindset,” Campbell said in describing how his players progress over the years. “We always try to make it fun, and we’ve been able to develop good chemistry as a result.”
Campbell, who has been coaching the girls squash team for 14 years, said this season’s team is the largest in the program’s history, with over 40 players spread across five teams. The varsity squad hopes to stay atop the FairWest league, after finishing 12-6 and making it to last year’s U.S. High School Team Squash Championships in Philadelphia. That will be no easy task, however, with teams like Darien and Bronxville starting off their seasons 3-0 and 3-1, respectively.
Among the strongest performers on Rye’s girls’ team is Ella Erickson, a high school All-American who has committed to playing for Georgetown when she graduates in 2025. “Ella is an ambassador for this game, said Campbell. “She loves it…. It’s where her enthusiasm comes from.” Erickson is already 4-0 on the season, with a match rating of 4.86, second-highest in the league.
Campbell noted that, while the team’s goal is always to win its division and make it to nationals, he is just as excited about how the athletes enjoy playing the sport and develop such camaraderie.
“We started out with 20 players early on,” he said. “There aren’t that many winter sports if you’re a girl, and this is an opportunity where you can be a part of a group of likeminded athletes and play at one of five different levels.”
As for the boys’ team, coach Hyunh has seen it all during his 15 years with the team. While there have been obstacles to overcome, the group continues to grow and remains extremely competitive within a challenging division.
“Every year there is always a different set of dynamics,” he noted. “We don’t have a home venue, we play in a competitive conference, and we’ve lost some good athletes to different sports.”
Anchored by a strong group of seniors and one of the top freshmen in the country, the team will be taking on the likes of Fairfield, Bronxville, and Greenwich in its quest to return to the top of its division.
The varsity team is co-captained by Nicolas Edhlove, William Latara and Andrew Chun, each of whom started playing for Rye High School after the pandemic and have remained a part of the group.
“Our squad a few years ago during that period of time was very strong, and these guys have been with us since covid,” Hyunh said. “It was a turning point for this team”
Freshman Charlie Rodilosso is No. 1 in the team’s lineup this season and is one of the top-ranked players in the Class of 2027. He’s won three of his first four matches to start the season. The team itself has started 2-2, but both losses have been close (losing 4-3 each time).