Sideline Stories: Linley Grosman, Squash Player, Bowdoin College + Portland Community Squash

I love sports. And I’ve always loved sports. As a kid, I tried all of them, from lacrosse to golf to swimming. When I was around six years old, tennis was the sport that I loved the most.

Around eleven years old, my dad introduced me to squash. He used to play when we lived in Boston and wanted to get back into it once we moved to Baltimore. I loved squash from the moment I stepped on the court, so much more than tennis. It’s an intimate sport – the court is 32 feet by 21 feet, less than half the length of a tennis court. I was never compelled to compete in tennis; I was eager to compete in squash!

I improved, working on all the technical and mental aspects needed to be a great squash player. I played in junior tournaments, eventually making the second-tier national tournament, but it was canceled by the pandemic in 2020. During my sophomore year of high school, I knew I wanted to pursue collegiate squash. Come September 1st of my junior year, I was reaching out to coaches, having interviews, and visiting campuses through the spring. Ahead of my senior year of high school, I received and accepted an offer from Bowdoin College.

From my first time stepping foot on Bowdoin’s campus, I knew that it was a place I could excel academically, socially, and on the squash team. Even though I am only in my second semester, I can say that my first impression was completely accurate, and I feel at home here in Maine. My teammates are the most kind and supportive group of women I have ever known. We push each other to be the best squash players, but more importantly, the best community members we can be.

Community shows up in squash in a variety of ways. One aspect of the community that makes squash so special is the Squash+ Education Alliance (SEA). There are over twenty programs around the world that dedicate themselves to helping underprivileged communities get access to academic tutoring and play squash, with the end goal of attending college.

My first introduction to SEA was through my dad, who was one of the first volunteers at SquashBusters, the first urban squash program based in Boston. In Baltimore, I got involved with SquashWise by helping coach the students and raising money for their annual fund.

Now, in Portland, I am involved with Portland Community Squash (PCS) and their efforts to bring more squash to Maine. In the winter of 2024, PCS finished its renovation project to include six singles squash courts, one doubles squash court, a café, a gym, a yoga studio, and new classrooms for academic tutoring.

The game of squash means so much to me – it has taught me valuable life lessons like perseverance, determination, and open-mindedness. It has brought me some of my best friends and fiercest competitors. It is a sport that grows and adapts to your level – find your nearest court and have a swing!