Athlete of the Week: James Burrow
When did you start playing squash?
I started playing squash at the age of 10 but only started playing the sport consistently and more competitively in my Freshman year of high school.
Why St. Lawrence to continue your athletic career?
Squash in my home country South Africa was not very big and there are not a lot of opportunities, so I had always dreamed of one day studying in America and playing College squash. St Lawrence stood out for me from the rest because it was so noticeable how there was an abundance of opportunities that extended far beyond the sports field. The academic side of things was also very important to me and St Lawrence has an amazing field of different courses on offer no matter what your interest is.
How has the team been practicing with COVID restrictions?
Our coaches have done an amazing job in implementing strict COVID measures for example dividing the team into small pod groups for practices and training sessions. This has allowed us to be on the court for a consistent period of time since being back at school. From this week we are back to full team practices which are extremely exciting for all of us, to be able to spend time with all of our teammates again and get to know the newer members of our team a bit better.
What’s one thing you would tell others about playing a collegiate sport?
Playing collegiate sport is a huge honor, being able to travel around America with your best buddies to play the sport you love is a real privilege. As a collegiate athlete, you are exposed to a wide range of opportunities, to not only improve your skills on the court but also improve yourself as a person and to learn from the amazing mentors and coaches that we are so fortunate to have. To be able to play against some of the top student squash players in the world is a huge challenge but it is a huge opportunity to test yourself against the best and improve your skills.
What’s been your favorite part about St. Lawrence so far?
My favorite part about St Lawrence so far is definitely the people that I have met. Everyone on campus from the professors to your fellow students is just unbelievably friendly and welcoming. Being from Africa I thought it would be a huge challenge with the cold winters and being so far from home and not seeing my family for such extended periods, but this has definitely not been the case as I have made amazing friends with people far beyond the squash court and from all walks of life.