Oscar Okonkwo ’25 is a four-year Senior from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is co-captain of Boys Varsity Squash and is currently ranked fifth in the U.S. in the Boys Under 19 (BU19) category. He was named a 2023-2024 All-American and was selected to join Team USA at the British Junior Open in January 2025, where he finished 12th.
Okonkwo is also a member of Boys Varsity Lacrosse. He is committed to the University of Virginia for squash. Head Coach Bobby Burns ’08 said, “We are so incredibly lucky that Oscar chose to come to Hotchkiss. He and co-captain Liam Waldron ’25 were able to help transform this program and set new records throughout their careers here. Oscar came here with many goals, and I’d like to think that he has accomplished many of those—from winning a Junior Championship Tour Tournament to making the World Junior Team to being one of the top players in the BU19 this season.”
Teammate Dwyer Illick ’26 said, “Oscar is ferocious on the courts, always doing his best to set an example for us. He unites us during practices, games, and team dinners.”
How did you start playing squash?
I began to play squash at a nearby country club. My mom originally had enrolled me in tennis class; however, I found my way into the squash courts when I was five years old. After that, I wasn’t able to detach myself from squash.
Why did you decide to come to Hotchkiss?
My choice was between Hotchkiss and Kent. At the time, Kent had a stronger team, but I ultimately ended up choosing Hotchkiss so I could lead a team, recruit new players, and help build a strong program while attending a school with better academics.
What have been some of your favorite moments with the team here?
One moment I treasure was beating Deerfield during New Englands last year, which allowed us to continue to the finals and take the second place title. Last year, we also made it to the semifinals of the U.S. High School National Championships and placed fourth.
This year, I’m proud to watch our three Preps find their footing on the team and add to our wins, so we can make a strong push to win the national championships.
What is your leadership style?
Liam and I are the co-captains of the team this year. During our Lower- Mid year, we created the mantra, “PID,” which stands for “Passion, Intensity and Discipline.” We make sure to remind the boys of this every time something goes wrong or when we hit a rut. We always bring the boys together before a big match and tell them to remember “PID.” We also make sure to remind them that in order to play a sport, you have to love that sport.
What are some of the team’s goals for the end of season?
We’re hoping to make the national championships this year. We have a really strong group of boys; our top three or four players could be put against any team in the nation, and I’m confident they would be able to win. I feel that we have one of the strongest teams in the nation this year and that this will help us win New Englands in March.
What was your recruitment process like?
Squash recruitment began in September of my Upper Mid-year. Going into recruitment season, I had an idea where I wanted to go. After a few weeks, it became clear that the front-runners were the University of Virginia and the University of Pennsylvania. At the end of the day, I decided I could make a meaningful difference at UVA and hopefully become part of a new national championship-winning team.
What are some of your personal goals?
During the summer, I will participate in a World Championship in Egypt, where I hope to win both individually and alongside Team USA. Recently, I got back from the British Open, where I placed twelfth. My teammates on Team USA placed really well, and I’m hoping that we can build off of this momentum.
What advice do you have for younger players?
In order to achieve the best results, you have to be willing to sacrifice more than anyone around you. Coming from an area where there is not much squash, my first year was a bit of a struggle to find peers on the courts. The most important part was that I had to be willing to sacrifice more than my competitors here and around the world. Missing so much school and fun events can build up to a point where you reach your breaking point, but if you want to become better, you have to overcome that.
It’s really important to love your sport. It is hard to be good at something that you don’t enjoy.
