Shipley’s Zoe Quayle is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week
The Shipley senior and second-year squash co-captain won her first 18 games at the No. 2 position for the Gators. She is 8-1 (as of Jan. 28) with her only defeat coming on a 12-10 loss in the fifth game, and is currently ranked No. 83 in the US Squash Girls’ Under 19 national rankings. Next fall, she will play squash for Franklin & Marshall.
Q: What do you think has been your best match of the season, and what was working particularly well for you that day?
A: On Senior Day, I played a very strong, accurate player from Germantown Friends School, and after lost the first two games, I knew that I had to maintain my focus if I wanted to win the match. My final strategy was to play at a high tempo by cutting off the ball and to use angles, like crosscourts and boasts, which ultimately won me the match.
Q: How do you see your leadership role as a second-year co-captain? Can you give us an example of how you exercised your leadership role as co-captain this season?
A: I am very grateful that my team has elected me as a co-captain for the past two seasons, but I would not be a successful leader without my amazing coaches and team. My role, along with my co-captain, is to try to be the best model player I can be, which requires putting all of my energy into warm-ups and drills, cheering teammates on during matches, and taking advice from one another to improve how the team functions. This season, I have had the opportunity to lead warm-ups, cool downs, and to coach teammates during their matches, which I enjoy because it allows me to pass down advice and strategies that past captains and coaches have taught me.
Q: Tell us about your start in squash. What attracted you to squash, who introduced you to the sport, and where did you first play?
A: My brother, who is four years older than I am, began playing squash at The Shipley School in sixth grade. After watching him fall in love with the sport and having his coaches asking me year after year when I was going to start playing, I finally starting doing clinics at Fairmount Athletic Club, where I have been training ever since. I was attracted to squash because it was unlike all of the sports I had played before; I was never competitive or aggressive while competing in team sports, but squash gave me the opportunity to develop a competitive edge.
Q: What do you think is the strongest part of your game? What part of your game are you currently working on the most?
A: I think that the strongest part of my game is constantly changing, but, currently, it is my short game. My favorite shot has always been the boast because it forces my opponents into a difficult position, which allows me to attack the next shot. Currently, I am trying to work on my movement, specifically when the ball comes at me in the middle of the court. Movement is very important in squash because you need to be able to get beside the ball in order to have enough space to swing, but if the ball is coming at you, it is difficult to move quickly enough to be in the correct position to strike the ball.
Q: What in your view has been the most memorable moment in your squash career outside of Shipley?
A: One of the most memorable moments in my squash career is playing in England with one of my coaches, Chris Lengthorn, in the summer of 2018. He has helped me improve significantly in the past two years, so I was really excited to go back to his home town with him to play. One of the best parts of the trip was getting to play with his sister, Laura Massaro, who was recently ranked No. 1 in the world. She told us about her daily routine; played her favorite, but quite challenging, drills with us; and showed us aspects of her game that she was working on, which were similar but much more advanced versions of things that I was working on.
Q: Who are your favorite squash players? Do you try to pattern your game after any of them?
A: My favorite professional squash players are Nick Matthew and Laura Massaro. I enjoy watching both them play, and I learn something new each time I watch one of their matches, but I do not specifically follow either of their game patterns or strategies. However, I do try to take advantage of my long reach to volley more, which Laura also does because of her height advantage.
Q: Who have been your top squash mentors, and what was the most important thing you learned from them?
A: My top squash mentors have been my coaches since my first day, Paul Frank and Lyall Paterson. They have taught me many important lessons to improve my game over the years, but one of the most important things is that squash is not only about your racquet skills but about a combination of fitness, focus, and positivity. A lot of my training at Scozzie Squash Academy is dedicated towards fitness because squash is dependent on getting to the ball quickly enough to play the next shot, which is especially difficult to do towards the end of a long match. I admire their dedication to fitness, which sets a great example for all of their players, and their willingness to help me create the best workouts to improve my game. They also make every single practice fun, which encourages me to stay positive through difficult drills and tough matches.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-match preparation the day of a match.
A: I always try to get at least eight hours of sleep before a match. Around 2 or 2 1/2 hours before I am supposed to play, I eat a meal with a balance of carbohydrates and protein. For each tournament match, I like to get to the venue a little over an hour before my match, which gives me time to adjust if my court is running early or late, eat a snack, and warm up. Around 30 minutes before my warm up, I like to eat either a banana or a granola bar because they both give me enough energy to run during the match without weighing me down.
Q: What is your favorite squash venue, and why?
A: My favorite squash venue is my home club, Fairmount Athletic Club. I feel so comfortable competing there because I can talk to all of my coaches, have a good space to warm up, and go home after every single match.
Q: What is your favorite academic subject at Shipley? What do you think you might like to major in at Franklin & Marshall? Is there a career path that particularly appeals to you at the present time?
A: I have always been interested in math- and science-based courses, and in past years my favorite subjects were chemistry, biology, and pre-calculus. This year, however, my favorite subject is macroeconomics because I am interested in learning about the inner workings of the economy and how they will apply to my everyday life as an adult. Franklin & Marshall has a strong Business, Organizations, and Society Department, which I am interested in because I may want to pursue a career in management or marketing.
Q: Tell us what playing for the Shipley squash program has meant to you.
A: Playing on the Shipley middle school and high school teams over the past six years has meant a lot to me because I have formed close bonds with my coaches and girls from other grades, allowing me to learn important skills from older teammates. Throughout the season, the team not only grows in terms of squash skills, but we also form friendships last through all of high school, which has been a really special experience for me. I have also been able to form a strong connection with my coach, Kellen Vengels, who has helped me improve my squash skills, encouraged me throughout all of my practices and matches, and taught me how to be a leader on and off the squash court.
Q: What does it mean to you to have the home squash courts located at Shipley?
A: Shipley’s new squash facilities have been incredible the past two seasons. In previous years, traveling to various venues at different times was confusing, stressful, and not productive because we really only had an hour of practice. Having the courts at school has benefitted all of the squash teams because we have more time on court, access to the trainers in case of an injury, and we have received many more supporters at all of our home matches, which brings up energy levels and encourages all of the players.
Fun facts – Zoe Quayle
Favorite book: The Handmaid’s Tale.
Favorite author: J. K. Rowling.
Favorite TV show: Grey’s Anatomy.
Favorite movie: The Sound of Music.
Favorite pre-match pump-up song: Dreams and Nightmares by Meek Mill.
Favorite team: Philadelphia Eagles.
Favorite place to visit: London, England.
Favorite pre-match meal: Wawa hoagie.
Family members: parents Bryce and Kathy, older brother Zach.
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)
