At just 12 years old, Pinewood Seventh grader, Sam Shah has made a name for herself in the squash community, ranking 9th nationally in the under 13 division. She has won Silver Nationals and made it to the National Junior Championships.  

Inspired by her dad, Shah’s passion for squash started at the age of six, with that passion then becoming a serious commitment just three years later.

Even though Pinewood does not have an official squash team, Shah still prioritizes training for it outside of school, constantly working to perfect her craft.

“It’s definitely a sport that not a lot of people know about, and it’s not a very prominent sport on the west coast, so it’s hard to find players,” Shah said. “But it would be cool to have a team.”

In Shah’s eyes, traveling across the country to play the sport she loves is always a fun experience. She enjoys traveling to different places and meeting people with the same passion as her. 

“I go to Philadelphia and Virginia for tournaments a lot,” she said. “I’m going to Charlottesville next week for a tournament.” 

As a student athlete, Shah also finds it important to strike a healthy balance between time spent in the classroom and time spent on the court. 

Although managing both academics and athletics aren’t too difficult for Shah right now, she understands that being a successful, high-level student athlete requires serious commitment, dedication, and discipline.

“The schoolwork doesn’t really affect squash because I still train the same amount I have always trained,” Shah said. “I guess sometimes it’s like, a little more stress, a little more pressure.”

Like any athlete playing at such a competitive level, Shah also experiences ups and downs. In her own unique way, she maintains her confidence by simply pushing through.

“It’s way more like ‘fake it till you make it’, because you’re not really confident in yourself until you win because everybody varies in skill levels,” Shah said.

As Shah continues to play more games, her confidence continues to blossom, aiding in her success at the national level.

“I could play one tournament and be great, or play the next and not play as well,” Shah said. “So I guess you never really know who you’re going up against. You gain that confidence after you get the victory.”

According to Shah, great athletes don’t only train when they feel like it. They show up and play, even on days when they lack motivation. They do the work  even when no one’s watching or giving them credit. Fueled by her passion for the sport, she continues to constantly practice and train to get better. 

“There is a lot of extra stuff you need to do for squash,” Shah said. “The sport is something that just takes time, technique, and skill. I’ve played it for a couple of years and overall I’m a little better now, but I’m still training and trying to get better.”