For Anderson Brown ’26, the final months of his time at St. Michaels University School bring a rare combination of reflection and momentum.
A lifer who began his journey at SMUS in Kindergarten, Brown prepares to leave the school having reached one of the highest levels of junior sport in Canada, earning selection to Team Canada for the 2026 World Junior Squash Championships this July in St. Catharines, Ont.
The opportunity follows a strong performance at the 2026 Canadian Junior National Squash Championships in Vancouver, where Brown placed fourth in the Boys U19 division. The national team selection is highly competitive, with just four athletes chosen to represent Canada at a tournament that brings together roughly 500 of the world’s top junior players.
It’s a moment that reflects not just recent success, but years of steady growth.
Building toward the international stage
Brown started playing squash at just three years old and has since built an international résumé that includes appearances at the U.S. Open, British Open and Pan American Games. He reached the quarterfinals at the 2024 Pan Am Games in Ecuador and helped Canada secure a bronze medal at the 2025 Pan Am Games in Chile. Along the way, he has recorded wins over top-ranked international opponents and finished second at the 2024 Canadian U17 National Championships. This season, he holds a 14–3 record at junior national events and is currently ranked second in Canada in the U19 category.
Still, for Brown, representing Canada carries meaning beyond results.
“Playing for Team Canada gives you a new sense of responsibility and honour,” he said. “Traveling across the world to compete, you represent not only yourself, but your country, your teammates, and everyone who has supported you along the way.”
Next year, Brown will continue both his academic and athletic journey at Western University, where he plans to begin in the Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies (BMOS) program while competing in Division 1 squash, with the goal of transferring into the Ivey Honours Business Administration program in third year.
A lifer perspective
His path to this point has been shaped by more than just training and competition.
As a lifer, Brown points to the balance at SMUS as central to his development, not only as an athlete, but as a student navigating the demands of both.
“SMUS gave me the ideal balance between academics and athletics and lent me the chance to train at a professional level,” he said.
That balance also created space for him to contribute to the broader community. In addition to competing, Brown coached younger students in the Middle School squash program and co-founded the Victoria Squash Premier League, creating new competitive opportunities locally after recognizing a gap compared to larger centres.
His story is also part of a longer SMUS connection.
Brown’s father, Colin Brown ’90, and uncle, Michael Brown ’91, are both alumni, part of a family legacy that has shaped his understanding of the school experience over time.
“Being part of a family with strong ties to SMUS has shown me how lasting the community is,” he said. “I’ve seen how the school shaped my father and uncle, not just academically, but in their values, friendships, and connections. It’s something I’m proud to be part of and contribute to myself.”
That sense of continuity is part of what makes Brown’s journey distinct. From his earliest days on campus to competing internationally, his experience reflects both the opportunities available at SMUS and the relationships that carry forward long after graduation.
As he prepares to leave, there is a mix of gratitude and anticipation.
“I am definitely disappointed to leave SMUS next year,” he said, “but I am confident that the lessons I have learned as a lifer have prepared me for my post-secondary journey.”
Before that next chapter begins, one more opportunity remains.
This July, Brown will represent Canada on the world stage, an experience that brings his SMUS journey full circle, from a young student just beginning to a graduate ready to take his place among the best in the world.
