On Feb. 6, 2026, Bates Squash hosted Bowdoin College for their senior night.
“From the moment we walked in, the environment was ecstatic,” said Captain Aasya Patel ‘26. “The courts were decorated for us, a large crowd was gathered to watch us play, professors, parents, everyone showed up.”
The match reflected the exciting atmosphere. Although both the women’s and men’s teams lost, Patel won her individual game, which meant a lot to her as it was her senior night.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better senior night. My co-captains decorated the courts for me, they had a speech prepared, and they made me a poster. All my friends from school showed up too. It was really special.”
This season, Patel stepped into her role as captain after being abroad all last year. A large majority of the team graduated in 2025, and she found herself leading an almost brand new team. “My co-captains were so nice, and our team is small this year, with only eight girls, which I liked. I got really close with all the girls. We also had a new coach this year, and she was great for helping me adjust to being captain.”
When asked to elaborate on what it’s been like with a new coach, Patel said, “Our new coach, Nadya, is from Ukraine. This is her first year as a head coach, as she was an assistant at Amherst College before joining Bates. She’s been a great addition to our team. She’s very systematic in the manner she runs the team: she’s added team lifts, time with trainers on campus, and mobility sessions to our training regimen. Before Nadya, we would never do any of these important aspects. Our practices are also really structured. Overall, I think it’s been a great change.”
Reflecting on her athletic career at Bates, Patel commented, “as a freshman, I would go into matches feeling almost no pressure. I would focus on myself mainly, and how I wanted to play. Now, as a captain, I’m playing for more than just myself. This extra weight has made me strategize more, to ensure I set not just myself, but my team up for success.” Besides her growth as a player, Patel added that her love of the team has increased with her time at Bates.
This season, the women’s team was playing with a smaller roster, which brought some challenges. A typical squash roster carries nine players, but this year they had only eight. With some scattered injuries, at times, only six or seven athletes could play in matches.
“A small team for sure brings some negatives. We have to rely on each other a lot more, and every girl has to win their match for us to win the meet,” Patel said.
“We’ve definitely made the most of it, though. Everyone shows up everyday still, present and putting in their best effort. Everyone is also closer this year than we’ve been in previous years. Some negatives to a smaller roster though is that everyone has to play two spots up than they usually do. This means if someone is usually player nine, but we only have eight players, they have to play player eight on the opposing team. Despite the adversity with a smaller team, everyone stayed positive and made the most of it.”
During our interview, Patel brought up one player that has had a huge impact this year on the women’s team, Zoe Schaedle (the Managing Sports Editor on The Student). Schaedle ‘26, joined the women’s team as a walk-on this season, and was a big help to the squad. Not only did she assist the team by boosting the roster size, but she was also great as another senior for Patel to confide in.
“It was very nice having her as a senior. It’s crazy how much of a difference having another senior on the team can make,” said Patel. Overall, Schaedle walking on the team was valuable to the team dynamic.
In just a few weeks, Patel, Schaedle and senior captain for the men’s team Ashton Monteiro will be leaving squash behind. In a few months, they will graduate from Bates too. Patel described feeling “bittersweet” retiring from squash. She mentioned being excited for graduation, but also sad to leave her teammates.
For Patel, this season was one full of ups and downs for the Bates women’s squash team, but they adapted and persevered, beating Franklin and Marshall, Brown, Connecticut College and William Smith. Patel, along with all the girls, handled every situation with positivity and optimism. The squad will certainly miss Patel next year, but the characteristics of a great leader she embodies will stay with the team even after she leaves.
