Maya Mansoor ’24 is a freshman at Dartmouth College, where she plays #4 for Women’s Squash. From Ontario, Canada, she was a three- year Senior at Hotchkiss.
During her time in Lakeville, Mansoor helped lead Girls Varsity Squash to a 10-0-2 season and the New England Championships. As a Senior, she contributed to a 3rd place finish at the High School Nationals, the school’s second highest finish in the program’s history.
Squash is a family affair for the Mansoor household. According to Maja Clark, head coach of Girls Varsity Squash, Mansoor has an incredibly loving and supportive family who are also major squash enthusiasts. Coach Clark said, “Her parents would drive night and day to see every match they could. It was superb to coach Maya.”
Mansoor started playing squash when she was six. Since then, she has competed nationally and internationally for 14 years. Her mother said, “When she started playing, she immediately fell in love with the game. She learned the importance of hard work, discipline, and perseverance, which are essential skills to be successful as an athlete and also in life.”
Although Mansoor did not plan on attending high school abroad, the squash courts in Toronto were closed during Covid, which pushed her to apply to Hotchkiss.
“I was excited, but also completely unaware of what my life would look like, which was terrifying. But I had this gut feeling that Hotchkiss was where I belonged. That decision was one of the best decisions I have ever made,” Mansoor said.
On the team, Mansoor alternated between #1 and #2. Coach Clark said, “She always brought intensity and optimism, raising everyone’s level.” As a Senior, she was selected for the Founders All League and All-NEPSAC Class A First Team alongside current Girls Varsity Squash member Makeda Moshi ’26 and captain Elise Kang ’25.
Mansoor said, “Being a Bearcat was an honor and privilege that I will forever be grateful for. I developed athletically, but most importantly, Hotchkiss Squash encouraged me to eventually establish my identity as a sportswoman.
Knowing myself on the court as an athlete and being confident was something I learned with Hotchkiss squash. I am so grateful to have learned from so many wonderful people, who will always be a piece to my story,” she said.
Coach Clark said, “The match of Maya’s I remember most was against Greenwich Academy. Greenwich has been the #1 team in the country by leaps and bounds, and we rarely win matches off of them. Maya, playing #2, played the best match I have ever seen her play. She demolished the Greenwich player with a score of 3-0.” Mansoor said “Home games were always so much fun. Having all our teachers and friends come support us as we battled on the courts was motivational for me. Every time I walked on court with that blue H on my uniform, I played hard and passionately, not just for myself, but for Hotchkiss,” she recalled.
Mansoor began her college recruiting process in the beginning of her Upper Mid year. “It was definitely exciting, but it was very nerve-racking,” she said. “I wanted to play D1 squash, and the recruitment process would determine whether what I had been working on for over a decade would be achieved. I talked to several coaches and visited many campuses, but for me, Dartmouth stood out.”
Mansoor said, “Commiting to Dartmouth was an easy decision for me. On my official visit, I absolutely fell in love with the campus, the community, and the abundance of academic and athletic opportunities offered. I instantly clicked with the coaches at Dartmouth. So, when I was offered commitment, I immediately accepted. It was special, because my dream was finally becoming my reality. I am really glad everything worked out the way it did.”
Reflecting on her first year at Dartmouth, Mansoor said, “I absolutely adore my classes and the incredible professors. Being on the squash team here has always been a dream of mine, and I am so grateful for being able to play the sport I love with incredible coaches and teammates. I have met so many amazing people from all around the world. I look forward to the next few years.”
When discussing her goals for college and beyond, Mansoor said, “I have so much that I want to accomplish in my life, and I am grateful to Hotchkiss and Dartmouth for being institutions that offer an abundance of opportunities to grow in various ways. I am currently taking courses across various fields to ensure that I pursue what I am most passionate about. I feel like I am getting closer to figuring that out.
I strive to become the best squash player I can possibly be, and with the incredible coaches and team I get to work with, I am excited to see my growth as an athlete.”
