ELIZABETH ZANGHI/THE RAM Quetzalli has played squash for three years here at Fordham in addition to helping start the club soccer team.
The Fordham Ram: Quetzalli, you are from Chicago, right? A Jesuit high school?
Quetzalli Torres: That’s right, I went to St. Ignatius College Prep, and I guess that’s why I came to Fordham, those same Jesuit ideals.
TFR: Were you looking for a Jesuit college during the whole admissions process?
QT: Not really, but the moment I stepped on campus I felt the same vibe. I said, “Yep, this is home.”
TFR: You have played squash all four years here?
QT: No, only three years actually, since sophomore year; that’s actually when I picked up the sport. I tried out for the varsity soccer team; soccer’s the love of my life. I didn’t make it, and I wanted to stay with sports, so I picked up squash. I had a friend on the team who taught me how to play. He recommended that I try out. I said, “No, you’ve got to be kidding me.” But then I went out, made the team and here I am.
TFR: Do you have a favorite moment in those three years of squash?
QT: I think I’m living in it right now. Right now I’m on a four match win streak, and that’s really awesome. Having just started the sport, it’s been a rough road for me. Now I’m really finding the groove — I think I’m up to like six wins on the season — so I’m really happy.
TFR: What is your mindset like going into a squash match? What do to you try to do against an opponent?
QT: The main objective of the game is to make the opponent move and try to get the ball in the corners. Whether it’s a drop shot, or way back in the corner, you want to put them in a position where it’s difficult to make a return. For me, coming from a soccer player, I love to run, I’m fast and I have the endurance. So, part of my game is moving the opponent around as much as possible. Some people will get stuck doing the same rails, staying on the left side over and over. I try to vary it up left side, right side, front, back, over and over. Hopefully, they’ll tire, and I’ll be able to hang in there.
TFR: There are a lot of seniors on the squash team. Do you see yourself as a leader, teaching those younger guys?
QT: We’re definitely an older team and I feel like I’ve done a lot of talking to the younger guys. I want to try to teach them to be leaders, give them some insights on how to lead the freshmen that will be coming in next year. I think that’s really important, we are an older team, and there are a lot of freshmen coming in so that leadership development is definitely important.
TFR: Do you think the squash program can continue getting even better?
QT: Yeah, definitely, I’ve said that all year. As soon as we seniors are out they’re going to shoot way up there. Half the team is a reformed squash player team. I and a couple others picked up the sport but the younger guys have been playing for several years, and there’s even more freshmen coming in. I’m very excited for where the program is going to go.
TFR: You’re on the club soccer team too, right? Can you tell us a little about that?
QT: Well, when I didn’t make the varsity soccer team I wasn’t too torn up about it because I knew that I was at the same level as some of the players who did make it. I had another friend who tried out with me and we decided we wanted to keep going, so why not push for a club team? He did a lot of the work pushing for a team, and we’re in our third year now, and I think we’re doing really well. It’s a great thing because there are a lot of kids out there who are into soccer. It works out perfectly for me because I have club soccer in the fall, and then squash in the winter and then I get to cap off the year with even more soccer. It was a great fit.
TFR: You’re a communication major, right? What are your plans after graduation?
QT: Yes, I’m majoring in communications with a specialization in journalism. I thought about going down the journalism route, but I’m thinking more the media, culture and society route. I would love to do some PR for a professional soccer team, either in the MLS or the U.S. Soccer Federation. I’d maybe even go abroad and do some stuff in England because that’s where the big clubs are, but who knows? I’m open to anything, if it’s fun and exciting.
