Athlete of the Week | Agarwala carves unique path to squash greatness

Squash is often thought of as a gentleman's sport, but as Arjun Agarwala '10 will attest, it is anything but gentle. "Squash is one of the fastest games in the world," says Agarwala. Balls hurtle around the court at speeds upwards of 100 miles per hour, ricocheting off of pockmarked walls, leaving only a scuff to betray their aggressive impact. And in the middle of all of this action are two players fighting to make sure that their racket is the last to make contact. Agarwala is one such player, and his shots mimic lightening as they rip through the air and arc around the court. Anyone who can maintain his cool in this situation is impressive, but an individual such as Agarwala who can excel in the frenzied blitz is tremendous.

Agarwala began playing squash at Vassar. He found that his previous experiences with badminton afforded him skills that were easily transferred onto a squash court. Agarwala believes that he is a perfect fit for the program, and describes his team as close-knit. On the court, Agarwala is a potent force. He believes that a game is not truly played unless "you walk off the court completely tired." He exhibits an unwavering focus and the drive of a dreadnought. "Any athlete wants to win," Agarwala stated plainly. "I'm very competitive, and I am always trying to push myself to the brink."

Agarwala has grown into an accomplished and inspiring team captain. His skill is not supernatural, but rather the product of long hours of perfecting his craft. Initially, Agarwala found himself in a reserve position on Vassar's team. He explained this as an interim period during which he "got used to the rules and stroke play while improving fitness and stamina." He added, "Unless you're at your peak, you're going to find it hard to compete." It was this dedicated, patient, calculating attitude that allowed Argawala to blossom into the player he is today. A single game of squash can last up to 15 minutes. During this time Agarwala is running, swinging, smashing, diving and dodging, and that's an easy game. Squash is an incredibly demanding sport, and Agarwala has grown to meet those demands.

Agarwala's route to greatness has carved a unique, alternative path to a career in squash. The Brewers have maintained a rivalry with Fordham University's squash team since Agarwala's junior year. Their first skirmish occurred during a home game on Dec. 3, 2008 during a midseason match. Fordham trounced Vassar 7-2. It was a defeat, but it was not disheartening. Rather than submit to the superiority of their opponents, the Brewers gathered their resolve and intensified their focus. They realized that their previous faltering was not a measure of their skill, and that zest and mental strength were the only necessary components to procure future victories. The next time the Brewers met Fordham they would be ready. This long anticipated grudge match came up on Feb. 22, 2009 during the Serues Cup competition during the College Squash Association Team Championships, where the Brewers beat Fordham 5-4 and achieved a bronze medal, thanks in large part to a sweeping victory by Agarwala.. This triumph was all the more glorious due to the fact that the Brewers were playing with a reduced team, forcing a few of their players to work double-time. Not content to merely defeat Fordham, Agarwala led his team against them yet again during a home match on Nov. 18, 2009 and decidedly devastated them 8-1.

Arjun Agarwala is a team player, a focused mind and a polished body. However, he rises above these mere components; each and every time he steps onto the court he proves himself as an athlete worthy of the title "Of the Week."