Levy is a three-year graduate from the class of 2024. He played Boys Varsity Squash and was manager of Boys Varsity Lacrosse. He was captain of the squash team during his Senior year. He currently plays squash at the United States Naval Academy.
Luke Velasco ’27 said, “I couldn’t have asked for a better captain to look up to during my Prep year than Eli. He looked out for me and the other younger guys. He was also one of the funniest guys on the team, and everybody just loved being around him.”
What was your squash journey like before Hotchkiss?
My dad coached at Williams College, so I grew up watching his team play, and over time, I started getting coached by him. As I got older, I was able to practice with the women’s team and later the men’s team. At a young age, I got really good exposure playing with older people with different skill levels.
Why did you choose Hotchkiss?
Hotchkiss was the only school I applied to. As a freshman, I did a tour and immediately fell in love with it. I knew it was a place I wanted to be. I applied as a repeat sophomore. I loved the squash team, and I loved the coach, Bobby Burns. It seemed like a place where I could grow as a person, athlete, and student.
How would you describe your experience on the Hotchkiss team?
My three years on the team were great. I made lifelong friends. We went into every practice and every season with a positive mindset, with a goal to finish as high as possible in the country. It was my first time being on an actual squash team, which was the best. What was really special about Hotchkiss is that the boys’ and girls’ teams interacted. Not only did I make friends on the boys’ team, but also on the girls’ team. We had a lot of great chemistry, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
What was your experience like as a captain?
Being a captain was my first leadership experience at Hotchkiss. At first, I was really nervous, because I was the only Senior, but I shared captaincy with one of the Upper Mids, Oscar Okonkwo ’25. We ended up working well, because we were really good friends. The team made being captain easy, because everybody was so motivated and wanted to finish at a historic high. We had very few problems and worked really hard every day.
What was your college recruitment process like, and why did you choose Navy?
The college process starts in Upper Mid year. Being a coach’s son, I got to experience all of these teams coming to Williams. Sometimes, I had the opportunity to travel to other colleges throughout the country. The Naval Academy stuck out to me the most. Around my 8th grade year, one of my dad’s players gave me a tour of Navy’s campus. It immediately caught my attention how great an opportunity the Navy Academy would be. The team dynamic was special. It was a brotherhood. I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of.
What is it like playing for Navy?
My experience has been positive all around. The squash team is a brotherhood of people from all around the United States with a shared goal of serving our country at the highest capacity. Our team is a bunch of hard-working individuals who put out every single day and give their all every practice and every match. We support each other through ups and downs. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
What are your goals for college and beyond?
The Naval Academy is a very rigorous school. Its purpose is to face artificial stress to prepare yourself to become an officer and lead enlisted sailors and marines. After graduating from the Naval Academy, you join one of the service programs: the Submarine Force, the Surface Warfare Force, the Marine Corps, or the Naval Aviation Force. The end goal is to better prepare yourself to lead others and become the best officer you can be.
