Ben Francis might seem like a typical Towson student, except for the little-known fact that he is a star in the sport of squash. Currently in the 11th grade, Ben has been playing sports since he was a child and was introduced to squash, a racquet sport, in 2009. Ranked 25th in the nation, Ben practices many hours each week in preparation for his tournaments. He is an excellent example of someone who can be both an outstanding student and an amazing athlete.  For more about the sport of squash, click here:

http://www.worldsquash.org/

• How long have you been playing sports in general?

I have been playing sports since I was about five years old. I started out by playing soccer and went on to play lots of various other sports. Overall, I have been playing for twelve years.

• How and when did you get involved in squash?  

I first got involved when my mom introduced it to me at the Barehills club. The first time that I ever played was in 2009. I was playing tennis at the time, and I was willing to try something new.

• What do you like about squash?

My favorite thing about squash is the fast speed at which it is played at. I also enjoy the individual aspect. It is completely up to you to win, and there is no one else to blame if you lose.

• What skills are needed to excel at squash?

There are many skills that are required in order to succeed at squash. You need athleticism, good hand-eye coordination, stamina, and a good work ethic. …Anybody can play if you are willing to work on improving each one of these skills.

• Do you play any other sports?

I do not play any other sports besides squash any longer.

• How have you gotten support from your friends and family throughout your playing career?

My family has always been supportive of me and my development as a squash player. My mom drives me to all my tournaments and is always there to support me. I would not have played squash for as long I have if not for the help of my family and coaches.

• How much time do you spend practicing squash and playing in games? Is it hard to balance?

During the squash season, I practice about 5 to 6 days a week for two and a half hours per day. I also participated in a tournament each month this past season. It can be very tiring playing so much squash, but it is very manageable.

• Do you have any favorite memories or stories from playing?

My favorite memory is when I won the Mid-Atlantic Regional championships. After being down two games to zero in the final (a squash match is played out of five games), I came back to win in five games. Winning a gold tournament in Washington D.C. was also one of the highlights my squash career.

• Who is someone you look up to?

The first people that I Iooked up to while playing squash were my coaches: Lazerus, Joseph, and Lefika. They were all great players and are now amazing coaches. I also have a ton of respect for many of the professional players; for example, Amr Shabana, Ramy Ashour, Greg Gaultier, and many others.

• How high are you ranked?

At the moment, I am ranked 25th in the national rankings in the under 19 age group. I was ranked as high as 17th in the under 17 age group.

• What are some of your best achievements in your sport?

I have participated in the National Junior Championships the last two years. Last year, I won the award for the most improved player in my age group. I have also finished in the top three of six tournaments the last two years.