Meet The New Captains: Maddie Chai ’21 and Hannah Craig ’21

Hello to all of our wonderful alumni!

We are so delighted to be captains for the upcoming season. The past three years on the team have each been memorable in their own way, and we are so excited to build on the strong foundation that our past captains have established. From our first gathering of the squash freshmen in Annenberg, to winning our third national championship, every moment along the way has been a memorable experience.

Maddie Chai:

“I’m a junior living in Lowell House, and am studying Government and Economics. I grew up playing soccer and squash at the Harvard facilities, so it has been such an amazing experience to attend college in a city that I know and love, and to have my parents come to many of our matches (and bring snacks)! My sister was on the Princeton squash team, so it had also been fun for our teams to compete over the years. Being on the team has given me the opportunity to meet such amazing women and has provided me such an important community on campus. Some of my closest friends are my teammates, and I can’t wait to be able to continue to foster the amazing culture that our team has had for the past several years and to welcome our new recruits.”

Hannah Craig: 

“Hello! I’m a junior from Belfast, Northern Ireland, currently studying History and Literature at Harvard. As a junior player, my greatest achievement was winning the Senior Irish National Championships in 2017 and representing my country. Without a doubt, having the opportunity to join the Harvard Squash team has been the greatest honor of my life. I could never have imagined how incredible it would be to train and spend time with such an inspiring group of women. Getting to captain the team this upcoming year is even more of an honor. I have watched previous captains lead our team to success year after year and I hope to continue the legacy of hard work and team cohesion.”

Our approach during this uncertain time: 

Our team is staying in contact through Zoom video conferences and our group chats. With our team spread out across the world in Egypt, Canada, England, and the United States, staying in touch isn’t always easy, but we’re making it work. Last week, we did a voluntary team workout on Zoom (pictured above) that was a great way to get a sweat in while also seeing everyone. While not being together in person and being able to play squash isn’t ideal, we’re grateful for the technology that allows us to stay connected. In addition, we are checking in individually with each player to ensure they are doing well during these difficult times, as well as helping them stay motivated with their strength and workout plans. We’re happy that everyone is home safe and healthy, and everyone is settling into routines that work for them. If anything, these times have taught us that at the end of the day, what really matters is the people in our lives and the social connections that we share.

-Maddie & Hannah