The People’s Choice

Student Interest Brings Niche High School Sports into the Mainstream

By Tutt Stapp-McKiernan

Published in: Warrenton Lifestyle Magazine - April 2024, p. 18 & Haymarket Gainesville Lifestyle Magazine - April 2024, p. 18

In keeping with the value Wakefield places on student voice and initiative, it was student and prospective-student interest that provided the initial push towards both sports [Squash & Equestrian].

In winter, of course, indoor sports reign in Virginia, and they play a vital role in any school’s life. At Wakefield School in The Plains, this past winter season provided a bounty of excitement in two traditional winter favorites, swimming and basketball: the varsity swim team won the GPAC championship for the second straight year, with swimmers qualifying for the Virginia Independent School Athletic Association (VISAA) state tournament and dropping seconds off of their times; and both boys and girls varsity basketball teams captured their respective GPAC conference and tournament championships, with both teams entering the VISAA state playoffs’ round of eight and the girls moving on to finish in the final four.

The VISAA, however, is not the only game in town when it comes to high school sports, and Wakefield is fortunate to also offer two less familiar but equally exciting winter sports that are not part of VISAA’s traditional menu: the squash and equestrian teams.

Both squash and equestrian sport entered Wakefield’s athletics program in the most desirable and organic way possible: by popular demand! In keeping with the value Wakefield places on student voice and initiative, it was student and prospective-student interest that provided the initial push towards both sports. Both were then advocated for by Wakefield parents whose kids wanted to pursue those sports, and ultimately both were championed by Wakefield decision-makers as excellent ways to expand student opportunity. 

And in addition to the happy students who were already squash players and riders and who could now pursue their favorite sports as part of their school’s varsity athletics experience, Wakefield’s adoption of squash and equestrian sport has had the single most desirable effect that any youth sports program can hope for: it has brought eager new beginners into both sports, and has made them into what can only be described as superfans.

As far as varsity competition goes, both teams have much to be proud of. 

Prior to pandemic disruptions, Wakefield squash remained competitive in Chase Interclub Varsity League (CIVL) Division I each year since the program’s inception, winning the championship title each year from 2011-2014 and from 2017-2020. The team also competes in the Mid-Atlantic Squash Organization (MASO) League, under the auspices of U.S. Squash, comprised of Wakefield and seven other varsity teams, including powerhouses like Woodberry Forest, Episcopal, and Gonzaga. Wakefield finished in its highest-ever position of 4th in the team's last competitive season in the MASO League in 2019-20. 

According to Coach Mark Broekman, Wakefield’s varsity team, fully rebounded since the pandemic lull and led by an experienced and nationally-ranked player, is poised for the school’s best season ever next year, with no one graduating off of this year’s squad and more newcomers moving up from the Developmental Squash programs in both the Middle and Upper Schools.

With equal attention to bringing aboard eager beginners, the Wakefield Equestrian Sports Program (WESP) provides school horses, coaching, and a riding facility for students in grades 6 through 12 throughout the school year. The team competes at shows organized by the International Equestrian Association (IEA), which also provides horses for competition. As a result, students are not required to have their own horses to participate in practices or shows.

This past year saw banner accomplishments for WESP. According to Coach Holly Osman, both varsity and Middle School equestrian teams qualified for the IEA Zone 3, Region 10 Finals; it was the varsity team’s first time in eight years, and over half of the team earned individual qualifications to regionals as well. One rider advanced to the Zone Finals, held in Lexington, Kentucky, in March.

According to both Coach Broekman and Coach Osman, though, there is more on the table in both squash and equestrian sport than simply honing skills and winning titles.

Says Coach Broekman, “Squash can be of great benefit both to health and to a child's future. Squash has been rated the #1 healthiest sport in the world by Forbes Magazine! Many top colleges in the U.S. have amazing squash programs, and top-level high school squash players can get recruited to those top schools through their squash-playing achievements as well as their academics.”

When asked about the special lessons that working with horses can offer to students, Coach Osman says, “Horses help these riders learn to make mistakes and identify why and figure out how to make it better. To let it go and apologize to the horse. And to try again. So compassion, accountability, and perseverance.” 

And, she continues, “I also love that horses bridge the gaps. When any humans, old, young, any nationality, get together and they all love horses...they will talk for hours. We realize how weird and dorky we are in our horse craze, and we accept it!”

Just as student voice and agency brought these two off-the-beaten-path varsity sports to Wakefield, student passion now keeps them thriving, to the benefit not only of experienced athletes pleased to find them available, but also of the many who have discovered them as beginners and never left.