By Anouk Isabel Wandeler ’26

This year, Mercersburg Academy made history by becoming the first boarding school to offer three official seasons of squash. Combined with recent renovations to the Davenport Squash Center, the expansion marks a major step forward for one of the Academy’s fastest-growing athletic programs and a growing sport globally.

According to Head Coach Dominic Benacquista, the move to a year-round program was fueled both by demand and by vision. “There’s probably multiple factors to it,” he explained. “One of the biggest is matriculation and the level of colleges that squash players go to. Squash is a very niche sport in the U.S. – only about 35 colleges have varsity teams, but they’re extremely selective. The median acceptance rate is around 11 percent.”

By offering three seasons, Mercersburg gives its players the kind of exposure and training that prepares them for these opportunities. Benacquista said. “We’re the first school to incorporate three official seasons of squash and probably also one of the first to have more than one season mixed with strength and conditioning. The package we provide – you won’t find it anywhere else in the world.”

Interest in the program has grown rapidly. When Benacquista first arrived in 2023, there were only about six “tournament kids” – students who competed seriously outside of school. Today, that number has increased to about 20, with Mercersburg athletes representing the school crest at all U.S. squash-sanctioned events across the country. For some, the journey starts as beginners. “We’ve had kids who have not ever played before come in and go to college for squash,” Benacquista said. Among them are Avallina Orfield ’25 and Ruby Shang ’24, with many ready to follow in their footsteps.

The program’s growth has been supported by significant facility upgrades. Though not directly tied to the three-season expansion, they came at a perfect time. With 10 newly renovated courts, Mercersburg now offers one of the strongest squash facilities among peer schools. “There are a lot of places that have a large number of courts, but not necessarily set up the same way as ours,” Benacquista said. “When you couple that with strong teams and excellent strength and conditioning, you can do a lot in four years. That’s starting to show on both the boys and girls sides.” The three-season structure also allows for strategic development throughout the year and provides uninterrupted access to individualized plans and targeted skill development." In the fall, players compete in U.S. ranking tournaments, representing Mercersburg the whole time. Winter remains the heart of the team season, with high school nationals and the U.S. Junior Open, while spring is dedicated to end-of-year events such as national titles, college showcases, and international competitions. “The program builds all year,” Benacquista explained. “Kids start seeing college coaches in the fall, it builds more in winter, and it explodes in spring.”

Memorable team moments have underscored just how far the program has come. When asked about his “Mburg Squash Moment,” he recalled Mercersburg’s boys team earning a dramatic upset over nationally ranked Andover last winter, including late-night matches that stretched past midnight. For the girls team, a hard-fought nationals two years ago ended in an electric five-set win by then-senior Coco Zhai ’24, with both teams cheering together. “We’ve tried to build this team as one,” Benacquista said. “Seeing that spirit grow over time has been really rewarding.”

As squash continues to thrive at Mercersburg, the combination of year-round play, top-tier facilities, and supportive coaching has positioned the program as a leader. For players at every level, whether stepping on court for the first time or vying for the top spot in a college showcase, Mercersburg squash offers an unmatched opportunity to grow, compete, and represent the school.