From playing independently to taking his first step onto the court at a national championship, freshman Tobin Chang has remained focused and dedicated to both personal improvement and good sportsmanship.
This past squash season, Chang not only scored himself a spot on the boys varsity squash team as a freshman, but also climbed the rankings to become the team’s number one seeded player.
In middle school, Chang did not compete or play for a club team. Instead, he practiced at local facilities and courts. Although the team experience was novel for Chang, he said that it had a positive impact on his season.
“This is my first time being on the team. I always played by myself before, so being very supportive of my teammates is something new, and it’s very helpful,” Chang said.
This year, the boys varsity squash team competed in the U.S. High School Team Squash Championships, in Division III, in Philadelphia, PA. This was Chang’s first time attending and competing at the national level, and he said that it was an achievement for the team considering that squash is a sport dominated by private institutions.
“I like to think that our accomplishment as a team first was making it to Division III. We’re one of the best public schools in the country,” Chang said. “At Nationals, I had a ton of good matches against some of the seniors and juniors that I’ve seen before.”
Freshman Aaron Xu, a teammate of Chang’s, said that Chang is extremely skillful, and his skill was showcased during the beginning of the competition.
“It was our first match of the tournament, and Tobin absolutely crushed his opponent. So that showed me how strong he is,” Xu said.
Xu said Chang’s uniqueness lies in his ability to stay calm and determined when playing.
“I feel like other athletes could definitely learn from Tobin’s determination, because he hasn’t played for that long of a time, but he’s achieved a really high rating in that short period of time,” Xu said.
Head Coach Steve Lantos had seen Chang play at local courts prior to his high school season.
“Tobin is a very humble but fierce competitor. You look at Tobin and you watch him play and he’s fiercely competitive. He respects the sport, which is a big thing in squash,” Lantos said. “You play by the rules and you’re gracious to the loser. He’s not in your face, and [he] is a really good team player.”
Beyond Chang’s performance on the court itself, Lantos said that Chang enhances the team atmosphere and ethos with enthusiastic support of his teammates.
“If he’s not playing, he’s behind the glass cheering on. He’s not off in the corner or doing something else,” Lantos said. “He’s behind the glass cheering you on as he knows all of us are behind the glass when he’s on court cheering him on, so he definitely contributes in that sense.”
Looking to future seasons, Chang said he wants the team to maintain its competitiveness and continue improving, with his personal goal being to progress his own rankings.
“Our team should strive to be as good as we were this year, if not better. Our three freshmen, I’m one of them, I think we can improve a lot by the time we’re seniors. I keep track of my rating and track my improvement, and I would like to get a better rating,” Chang said.
According to Chang, mental strength is one of the most important parts of playing a match, and that it is one of his best qualities in terms of his dexterity within squash.
“You could be down in a game by a lot, and if you have a good enough mental strength, you wouldn’t let that affect your gameplay, you could still come back,” Chang said. “There’s a quote that’s like, ‘you’re never too far behind to win, and you’re never too far ahead to lose.’”
Lantos said that in addition to his performance in the sport of squash itself, Chang has shown good sportsmanship and earned teamwide respect.
“He’s great. He’s such a contribution to the team.” Lantos said. “He may not realize it, but I think in addition to his talents and skills, his solidness is something that his teammates look up to.”
