Like a fast-moving front blowing in from Canada, Will Squarek breezed through the 600-meter run at the New York State track and field championships last month in 1:23.59, breaking the Rye High record for the event that was set in 2010. He also ran the 800-meter anchor leg for the Garnets in the Emerging Elite Sprint Medley Relay at Nike Nationals the following week, earning the team a third-place finish. And that’s why he was chosen as February’s Lions Club Athlete of the Month.
Squarek was born in Montreal and spent his early childhood there before his family moved first to Edina, Minn., and then to Rye. Not surprisingly, as a peewee Squarek’s first sport was hockey, but in high school he concentrated full-time on following his older brother onto the track. “He runs the Distance Medley Relay and I run the Sprint,” said the Lions Club recipient.
His coach, Kevin Murphy, had this to say about his young star: “Will has been an athlete on our team since he was an 8th grader. He is one of our fiercest competitors and never quits in any race. Will is the perfect example for our younger athletes to follow since he always gives 110 percent effort into everything he does. He has been our captain for the winter and spring season and is a wonderful leader.”
The young speedster holds fast to his French-Canadian roots, speaking only French with his father at home. “He wants to make sure that I don’t forget where I came from,” Squarek said. “A bunch of my friends are international kids here in town, and a lot of their parents do the same.”
In the classroom, Squarek has over a 95 grade point average, and is a member of the National Honor Society. He’s taken Advanced Placement courses in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, and French Language & Culture (naturally!), earning the AP Scholar Award last year. He admits, “I’m not much of an English or History student; I’m pretty much a math and science guy.”
Squarek has volunteered over 100 hours at The Sharing Shelf, a Port Chester organization where he sorted, sized, and packed clothing and shoes for children in need. The group recognized him as volunteer of the Month in 2021. He’s also been a summer camp counselor and leader-in-training at YMCA Camp Hi-Rock, in Mount Washington, Mass.
Squarek thanked his three track coaches: “Murph (Coach Murphy), Moyn (Coach Moynihan), and Shark (Coach Szarkowicz)” for all the time they’ve put in to get him where he can win the Lions Club Award.
Finally, I asked Squarek what there is about him that even his good friends don’t know. He thought a moment, then said, “They know I play the guitar, and that I’m not all that good, but they have no idea how much I play. It’s a lot!”
This win makes Squarek eligible to be named Rye’s Athlete of the Year at the Lions Club’s annual awards luncheon in the spring.
This story was originally published in the March 22 issue of The Rye Record.
