Columbia Squash Enjoys Promotion to Full-Fledged Varsity Team

Situated in the capital of the sport in America, Columbia finally has its own varsity squash team. The Athletic Department made the decision early last year to promote squash to full varsity status next season. For the team, it is recognition and support for years of competition on the varsity circuit—year after year, Columbia has played varsity programs around the country, with a squad of voluntary members.

The Lions hold their own in competition against the powerhouses—in the latest rankings posted by the College Squash Association, Columbia ranked 31st among its peer programs. Hence, getting onto the Columbia squash team requires some experience. The team keeps a lean squad—nine players play in each match, and the team keeps 12 people on the roster at any given time. The small roster makes for competitive tryouts, and most players who make the squad have some sort of squash experience.

“There are only six courts to practice on, so it wouldn’t be worth it if there’s 30 members on the team,” player Nik Trikha, CC ’08, said. “So the guys who round out the 12 are either really athletic, and can pick up the game quickly, or who do have some experience.”

Its New York location puts Columbia squash in a unique situation. Being in the aforementioned hub of American squash, the school attracts a greater caliber of players than otherwise come to Morningside Heights. Players who might otherwise get recruited by other schools feel they can advance their careers here by playing for the many club teams located in New York.

One such player is Trikha, one of the team captains last year. While Trikha was recruited by many varsity programs, he wanted to be in New York, and felt he could further his career here despite the absence of a varsity team. “I’ve never really been in a big city—I came and visited and loved it [Columbia], and my decision was a lot more based on that,” he said. “New York is also the hub of squash in the entire U.S., so the quality of squash downtown is fantastic. Columbia provides me with a membership to the Princeton Club downtown. I have a pretty big network of squash players in the city.”

The presence of the club squash scene is also a big help in attracting potential international players. “I think once Columbia becomes a varsity team and they can recruit, overseas is a great opportunity to bring people in,” Trikha said. “They’re fantastic players, really hard-working students.”

But the city location is a double-edged sword. As with many athletic programs, squash has been limited by the scarcity of space currently available on campus. The limitations in the facilities is reflected in the courts themselves, which are designed for the hardball game that was played in the United States decades ago. “They use softball now, and they’ve expanded the courts, so it becomes a little bit more athletic, a little bit more challenging,” Trikha said. “So it’s hard for the team to practice on courts that aren’t even the right size. I always tell the team that they got to go play other people in the city.”

Fortunately, the team’s promotion to varsity status next season also comes with an upgrade in facilities. “There’s a big nonprofit organization called StreetSquash, which promotes squash with academic tutoring in New York,” Trikha said. “They’re building a facility on 115th and Fifth [Avenue], with eight or nine courts, the normal size. I think a lot of the practices will be held there.”

As a graduating senior, Trikha leaves the program happy with the varsity programs he was able to play, and the individual competitions in which he was able to compete. With better facilities in which to practice and the increase in resources that comes with varsity status, Trikha is confident that the program he leaves will only grow. “I think by us elevating to varsity status, the squash program is going to be great here,” he said.

“You’re in New York, you have so much at your fingertips.”