Name: Kaitlin Reese
Hometown: Charlottesville, Va.
High School: St. Annie's-Belfield School
Sport: Women's Squash
Activities/Clubs/Committees: Customs Person, Committee on Environmental Responsibility, Environmental Studies Search Committee
Why did you choose Haverford?
The whole college search was greatly narrowed down for me just based on how few schools have varsity squash programs. I was drawn to Haverford in particular because of the Honor Code. After talking to current students and learning about the student-written Honor Code, student governance, and community engagement on campus, I began to realize how unique Haverford is. This was made especially clear to me once I visited campus, met the coach, and stayed overnight with the team. I realized how much I loved the team and the vibrant atmosphere on campus and soon thereafter cancelled all my other scheduled overnights because I knew Haverford was where I wanted to be for the next four years!
What is your favorite team experience?
I have so many! A lot of my favorite memories aren't actually during a squash event but are from off-the-court fun we have as a team. I've found that the night before matches can be one of the best times for our team to hang out because it's usually when people have the least going on and we're all focused on being prepared for tomorrow's match. One of my favorite times from this past season was when we rented out a community kitchen on campus (in the VCAM) and made cinnamon buns and just hung out together. It was very low-key but a really fun time to simply be together and enjoy each other's company.
Why did you choose to play a sport in college?
Ever since I could run, I've always been playing sports. For me, it was never a question of whether or not I wanted to play a sport in college, it was a question of which one and whether or not I was good enough! I fell in love with squash because of the grueling mental aspect of the game combined with incredible physical challenge. I believe that playing a sport in college not only pushes me to be a better athlete, teammate, and leader but also a better student and person in general.
What does being a student-athlete mean to you?
Being a student-athlete means having the privilege of playing the sport I love with my best friends while getting an amazing education. It means finding the harmony of athletics and academics – figuring out how sports can make you a better student and how your academic life can push you to be a better athlete and teammate as well.
What advice would you give a high school student considering Haverford?
Being on the squash team has been such a large part of my Haverford experience and I wouldn't want it any other way. However, my advice would be to choose a school that you really love regardless of your sport. At the end of the day, college is about the learning experience, so my advice would be to choose a school that you really love, not just the best ranked school you're recruited to (athletically or academically).