Brooke Herring ’18 and Youssef El Mays ‘21 arrived at the 2026 Asian Games wearing different national colours and competing in different sports. When they met up in Japan, however, they had something in common beyond the experience of representing their countries: both had developed their sports at St. Michaels University School.
Herring, a Victoria day student who attended SMUS from 2015 until graduation in 2018, represented Japan in squash and earned a bronze medal in the women’s team event. El Mays, a boarding student from Calgary who spent his Grade 9 year at SMUS in 2017-18, represented Lebanon in rowing, a sport he first tried at the school.
Held every four years, the Asian Games bring together athletes representing countries and regions across Asia for a continental multi-sport competition comparable in format to the Olympics. The 20th edition took place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4, 2026.
For Herring and El Mays, the gathering brought their sporting journeys back into contact, eight years after their time at SMUS overlapped.
A Bronze Medal on Home Soil
Competing for Japan under the name Erisa Sano Herring, Herring reached the round of 16 in mixed doubles and helped Japan finish third in the women’s team event. She had earned her spot at the Games by winning Japanese selection trials in March.
The scale of the competition was unlike anything she had experienced. Glass courts were surrounded by spectator seating, creating the biggest stage on which she had played. Once competition began, though, her attention stayed on squash.
“Honestly, I was really focused on the game which is good so I don’t think the audience distracted me that much,” she said.
Among those watching were members of her Japanese family. Her great-aunt was seeing squash for the first time, while other relatives had not watched her compete in several years.
The bronze medal offered both a personal milestone and encouragement for a young Japanese team.
“Personally, the bronze medal also is concrete evidence that I’m more than capable of achieving what I’ve put my mind to,” Herring said.
The Opportunity to Go Further
Herring credits the Brian Graves Award with making her SMUS education possible and opening up opportunities that changed her understanding of where squash could take her.
“Without that financial help, I wouldn’t have been exposed to squash on a global scale where I was fortunate to get a glimpse of junior professional squash players as well,” she said.
While at SMUS, her pool of training partners grew substantially. She travelled to major international junior tournaments and had the opportunity to share a court with a former world No. 1.
Just as valuable were the habits she developed while balancing school and sport. Herring credits then squash coach Chris Hanebury and her teachers with helping her learn to communicate, prioritize and manage her time while maintaining her training and studies.
Those lessons supported her next step: a full squash scholarship to Drexel University, where she continued her education and athletic development.
From a First Row to Representing Lebanon
For El Mays, the pathway began with discovering rowing during his year at SMUS.
A member of Barnacle House, he balanced the sport with a wide range of interests, including concert and jazz bands, robotics, student council and academic clubs. Rowing became one part of a busy school experience, then continued into his university years.
At the University of Toronto, El Mays studies engineering science and competed for the Varsity Blues, serving as captain of the lightweight rowing team. In Aichi-Nagoya, he raced in the lightweight single sculls for Lebanon, finishing fifth in the B final in seven minutes 46.52 seconds.
His appearance at the Games marked an international milestone in a sport he had first encountered as a Grade 9 student in Victoria.
"Being on the start line in Aichi-Nagoya with the flag on my back is something I'll never forget," he said.
Together, his and Herring’s experiences illustrate the possibilities within the breadth of school athletics: the chance to discover a sport, find training partners and coaches, and develop an interest that continues well beyond graduation.
Looking Toward Los Angeles
For both, the next chapter is already underway. All eyes are on the Los Angeles hosted 2028 Olympics.
El Mays, who wraps his sixth season up rowing with the Varsity Blues already has eyes on his next major competitions including FISU World University Games, the Arab Games, and eventually the World Rowing Championship.
Herring has begun a master’s degree at Loughborough University, where she is building her training around dedicated coaching, strength and conditioning, and support for her ambition to compete at the 2028 Games.
Squash will make its Olympic debut in Los Angeles, giving her generation of players a new goal to pursue.
Looking back, the student who arrived at SMUS at 15 could not have anticipated the international tournaments, university opportunities and Asian Games medal ahead of her. Along the way, the encouragement from her school community has remained meaningful.
“Thank you to the SMUS community for your continued support and encouragement!” Herring said. “It seriously means a lot to me!”
