Senior Clay Blackiston is a “senior team leader” on the men’s squash team with a long history of success — he has amassed a 37-6 regular season record during his time at Princeton. He hails from Greenwich, Conn., and attributes his interest in squash directly to this fact. Blackiston recently talked with the ‘Prince’ about his special leadership role on the team, the Princeton Varsity Club and the other meanings of the word “squash” in his patented sarcastic wit.
Q: What is your role on the squash team at Princeton?
A: Though I am not a captain, my coach [Bob Callahan ’77] crowned me as a “senior team leader.” This basically means I get all of the privileges of being a captain with none of the responsibility. I am the one who stirs the pot. Roll the dice.
Q: What are some of your athletic accomplishments?
A: Thrice, I’ve beaten junior Todd Harrity in a fight.
Q: Who is your professional athletic role model?
A: Muhammad Ali.
Q: How did you get started playing squash?
A: I’m from Greenwich, Conn.
Q: What was your “welcome to college” moment?
A: Woody Hines ’12 said, “Welcome to college,” when I walked into his room.
Q: How fast do you think you can hit a squash ball?
A: Much faster than you.
Q: What is your favorite type of squash shot?
A: Forehand crosscourt nick off the serve!
Q: I know nothing about squash. Can you summarize the sport in one sentence? How about in five words or fewer? Two words?
A: You hit the ball against the wall and try to hit it away from your opponent at all times. Hit ball away from opponent. Hit ball.
Q: What’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened during a match?
A: One time a guy dove for a ball I hit and then didn’t get up. Turns out he fainted or had a heatstroke or something. I won the match by default!
Q: What’s the funniest story you’ve heard about your coach?
A: I heard that his junior year when he was a student at Princeton, he rented out a room in the Nassau Inn just so he could finish his junior paper. Apparently there were too many distractions on campus for him to focus.
Q: I’m sure you spend a lot of time holding your racquet over the course of an average season. Do you ever feel like your racquet is an extension of your person?
A: Absolutely horrible question. Next.
Q: If you didn’t play squash, what sport would you play?
A: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu all the way.
Q: Why is the sport called squash?
A: Another bad one.
Q: Who is the quirkiest member of the squash team?
A: Todd Harrity.
Q: What’s the best thing about being an athlete at Princeton?
A: You don’t have to be as smart to get admitted.
Q: What’s the worst thing about being an athlete at Princeton?
A: You have to listen to [senior] Andrew Lewis give horrendous speeches to the Princeton Varsity Club.
Q: Do you like the vegetable squash?
A: No.
Q: Do you occasionally squash things?
A: Shut up.
Q: What are you majoring in at Princeton?
A: Philosophy.
Q: What has been your favorite class at Princeton so far?
A: PHI 201: Introductory Logic.
Q: Do you have any pre-match rituals?
A: None that are suitable for publication.
Q: Tell me about some of the squash team traditions.
A: Senior Kelly Shannon is injured the entire season.
Q: If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
A: Senior Chris Ghaffari’s good looks with my personality.
Q: What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not playing squash?
A: Talk on the phone with my mother.
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