Not one of the most popular sports in the world, squash tends to exist beyond the margins of mainstream sport. That hasn't been a problem for the Kenyon College Squash Club, though. By embracing obscurity, the organization has its largest membership base in years, has rejoined the Collegiate Squash Association, and plays a schedule that includes large state institutions like The Ohio State University.

Kenyon's squash facilities, tucked in the basement of the $70 million Kenyon Athletic Center, rank among the best in the country. With eight courts, it's not uncommon for students of all levels of athletic prowess to borrow a racket and take a shot at the sport that, perhaps, is more known for sounding like a vegetable than anything else.

The challenge for the Kenyon club is turning that curiosity into commitment. Since 2018, team co-captains Norman Keyes III '20 and Katrina Peterson '20 have been charged with the task.

Keyes, who has been playing since the third grade, joined the club in the fall of 2016. When he became a captain as a sophomore, he focused on maintaining the club's camaraderie as it grew.

"The club felt like a close friend group. It was great to be a part of and everyone was very kind and welcoming, but the club didn't have a strong presence in the Kenyon community," Keyes explained.

Issa Lopez '21 fell in love with the sport in high school, but was not planning on playing in college. When she got to campus, though, she found a club that was the perfect balance of competition and encouragement. While not officially a captain, Lopez has been very involved in the group's growth.

"I've dragged many of my 'what's squash?' friends to practice," Lopez admitted.

The club had success recruiting at the Kenyon Activities fair, but the bulk of the club's growth came from members like Lopez recruiting friends to the team's practices. In less than a year, practices went from having a few people to routinely topping 15.

"Initially, [the first-timers] are terrified of the fast ball and glass back wall that allows everyone to see them," Lopez said. "But the welcoming and easy-going atmosphere that we all share is strong enough to help people overcome those anxieties."

That's the thing about club squash—some players have been playing for over a decade, but most never held a squash racket before coming to Kenyon. The experienced players balance improving their own skills with teaching new players various strategies and techniques, promoting a team atmosphere built around helping each other.

Kenyon's location has been another slight impediment to the club's growth.

"Squash is primarily an East Coast sport and so often you have to drive anywhere from one to three hours or sometimes even longer," Keyes said.

As the club built momentum, he wanted to bring teams to Gambier. The team traveled to Ohio State twice to play tournaments in a more cramped space than at Kenyon. However, Keyes realized while traveling to other schools can be difficult, Kenyon's location makes for an ideal meeting place for schools in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

This spring, the team organized a round-robin tournament that featured Kenyon, Ohio State, Xavier University and the University of Pittsburgh. Most players participated in their first official matches to a home crowd of friends and the team recorded the program's first victory in some time, defeating Xavier 5-4.

Still, the victories are far from the team's focus.

"Some of my happiest moments at Kenyon are when my 'what's squash?' friends made it to practice before I did," Lopez said.

Peterson and Keyes will be handing over the reins to new leadership next year. Keyes is happy with where he is leaving the club, but solemnly reflects on moving on.

"I am going to miss my teammates," he said. "The club is really a great group of people, many of whom I probably wouldn't have interacted with had it not been for the club. Watching so many people come together and pick up the sport has been really rewarding."

While the team will be losing some of its best players, a strong group of underclassmen and returning juniors, including those who were abroad for the 2019-20 season, are well situated to build off its momentum when students return to campus.

To gain more information about the Kenyon College Squash Club, please contact squash.club@kenyon.edu