On Sunday mornings at the Brian Graves Squash Courts, it is not the sound of balls off the wall that stands out first, but the sight of balloons floating through the air. For SMUS’s youngest athletes, those balloons are the starting point of a squash journey that can carry them from age three all the way to graduation.
What begins as playful balloon rallies for the youngest Junior School students is part of a carefully built sport pathway that now stretches from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12. Few schools in British Columbia can offer that kind of continuity. SMUS is one of only three schools in the province with squash courts on campus, and the only one located in a city, giving students rare, daily access to the sport.
“Having courts right here at the Richmond Road campus means students can access courts easily and often,” said Head Coach and alumna Grace Thomas ’16. “That consistent access is what allows us to develop a true pipeline.”
Developing Skills From the Start
At the earliest level, age 3–6 students can take part in Sunday sessions using balloons instead of balls — a fun, effective way to build hand-eye coordination and introduce racquet skills. As they get older, students begin hitting balls and learning basic footwork, so that by the time they are in Grades 4 and 5 they are training more than once a week, solidifying their ability to rally.
The progression is already showing results. At a recent tournament hosted at SMUS, Grade 4 student Harrison MacEachern finished fourth in his category, while two classmates competed in their first event against players from Vancouver and across Vancouver Island. These early opportunities help set players up for competitive success as they enter Middle and Senior School.
Growing Competitive Success
As students advance, they can move into one of several competitive pathways that offer a natural progression from Middle School to Senior School. Middle School athletes train in development and competitive groups based on experience, while Senior School students can join the Elite, A, B or C teams.
In total, 58 Senior School athletes and 65 Middle School athletes now train in squash at SMUS — making it one of the largest and most active squash programs in the country, not only among schools but among clubs as well.
At recent regional tournaments, SMUS athletes earned multiple podium finishes, highlighting both the depth and upward trajectory of the program. Among the standouts is Grade 11 athlete Max Arndt, who began playing squash in Grade 6 at SMUS and has progressed through every stage of the school’s pathway. He is one of five SMUS athletes attending the Canadian Junior Open in Niagara-on-the-Lake and has also been selected to represent Canada at the US Junior Open in Philadelphia.
Leadership With Experience
The program’s structure is shaped by experience. Coach Thomas, who first took up squash in Grade 6, rose through provincial and national rankings before representing Canada at the Pan Ams and World Junior Championships. She returned to SMUS in 2019 as an assistant coach before stepping into the head coach role three years ago.
“What we’re doing is building from the bottom up,” Thomas said. “We have a strong Middle School group right now, and in five years, they will be the Senior School players competing at the highest level.”
The coaching team also includes assistant coaches Sam Krich and Ryan Chow, whose roles are essential to supporting athletes at every stage. At the Junior School level, the program benefits from the leadership of teacher-librarian Thea Wilson-Scorgie, who recently earned first-place finishes at both the UVic Open (Women’s A) and the BC Open in Vancouver (Women’s 40+). Her involvement helps build excitement and awareness of the sport among the youngest students.
World-Class Exposure
This year, the program gained further momentum through a visit from renowned Egyptian coach Mohammed Elkeiy, who spent a week on campus sharing advanced techniques, high-level strategies and insights from coaching some of the best players in the world.
“That was one of the best learning experiences of my career,” Thomas said. “He gave us new ways to think about movement, strategy and technical skills. It brought a fresh perspective to the program.”
A Pathway With Purpose
As interest grows and more students step onto the court for the first time, SMUS continues to strengthen its position as one of the top school-based squash programs in the country. From balloons in Junior Kindergarten to competitive play in high school, the pathway is clear — and expanding.
“Seeing them have fun, improve and find the sport that fits them is the best part,” Thomas said. “We’re giving students something they can stay with for years, whether they play recreationally or take it to the next level.”
