Crack! The black rubber ball strikes the front wall and dies into the back left corner of the squash court. Evan Khym ‘24 watches his opponent dive and miss. While this scene might look impressive, for Evan, who has played varsity squash at Groton since his freshman year, it’s nothing new. As a senior and the only captain of Groton’s boys varsity squash team, Evan is seen as a motivated and hardworking leader. With both the New England championships and nationals coming up, Evan reflects on his squash career, his future goals, and the lessons he’s learned.

When did you start playing squash?

I started playing squash in 2014, initially taking it up to lose weight. In 2017, I began playing and training competitively while going back and forth between New York and Seoul. I have since played team squash since middle school.

What is your favorite thing about squash at Groton? Favorite memories?

I’ve loved my experience playing for Groton’s team. While we didn’t have a season during COVID, my favorite memories have been the New England and national championships every year. It’s a time when our team is always playing in the best form and I have had some of the best team bonding experiences.

How have your experiences been with being the captain of a younger team? What is some advice you would give to them?

Being the captain of a younger team has been a wonderful experience. I have been able to take the time to talk to eager players about working on their form and training for the future. I love seeing how much they can improve in such short periods of the season. My advice would be to stick to the game and develop your passion for it.

Who is your biggest motivation for playing squash?

My biggest motivation for playing squash would be for myself. Ever since I started playing, I have let it command an important part of my life. I play to reach the goals I set for myself and to continuously hone my game, regardless of what initial setbacks I may face.

Are there any impactful or important lessons you’ve learned from playing squash?

There are way too many lessons I have learned from squash for me to write about, but among the most important would be resilience and discipline. Squash is a game where it is so important for a player to be grounded in their basic drives, shots, and movement. Resilience and discipline are necessary for any squash player to be able to win matches.

What are your plans with squash after high school?

I will certainly make an effort to walk onto my college team. It’s been a dream since I started playing to be able to join a collegiate team, so, even if I do not make it in my first year, I know I will at some point during my time.