Summer Schofield squashes the competition

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Summer Schofield is a wicked good
squash player. The 12 year old has been playing recreational squash since she
was 6 years old and has been playing competitively in both adult and junior
level tournaments for almost 2 years now. She is currently ranked #4 in Under
19 Girls in Saskatchewan, and ranked #12 in Under 13 Girls in Canada,
volunteers at numerous places and is rooted in her culture and traditions. We
were impressed with her credentials so we fired her an email to get some more
info on this squash prodigy. Her responses are below.

What
is the best thing about pursuing squash as a sport and what was your favourite
squash moment?

The best about playing squash is the mental part of the
game. I have to think about where I am placing my shots, trying to make shots my
opponent is not expecting, and be aware of where my opponent is at all times.
My favorite squash moment was meeting and playing Nour El Sherbini, who is the 
# 4 ranked Women’s player in the World. I had the opportunity to play and train
with Nour at the Edmonton Women’s Weekend Squash Event in February, 2016!

What
do you have to sacrifice in order to perform at an elite level? Pop? Chips?
Fun?

In order to compete at an Elite Level, sometimes, I have to
miss events taking place with friends and family, I don’t always get to
sleep  in on weekends, I don’t eat too much junk food, and I train hard
sometimes when I don’t feel up to it.

My goal is to be the number 1 Female Squash Player in
Canada. My goal for this squash season is to get in the Under 13 Girl’s Top 10
in Canada and be  #2 in Under 19 Girl’s in SK. The season ends at the end
of April 2016. I train at the YMCA in downtown Saskatoon and play with Bridge
City Squash.

In 2 weeks, I am heading to the Rocky Mountain Junior Open
in Calgary, and then I train hard for a month leading up to the Canadian Junior Squash Nationals
taking place from April 21-24th in Toronto, Ontario.

Any
tips for young women who want to be high level athletes?

My advice to young women who want to compete as high level
athletes is to train hard (even when they
are tired), eat healthy, get a good night’s rest and be committed to whatever you
are training for. Also, they should set short/long term goals, create a vision
board of what their goals are, such as being in the Olympics. It will also help
them to have role models.

Beside
squash, what do you do in your spare time?

In my spare time, I hang out with my friends, participate in
the City of Saskatoon Aboriginal Lifeguard     Program, watch
t.v., volunteer, go cross country skiing,(only in the Winter 🙂  ) travel,
and spend time with my family, my dog, Zoey, my cat, Chrystal, and my 2 betta
fish (who don’t have names…lol!).

You
were jigging at Folkfest. What was that like and how else do you celebrate your
culture?

Last year, I was the Youth Ambassador in Training at the
Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre for Folk Fest. I hope I am asked to do this again this year. I celebrate my
Culture by volunteering at Aboriginal events, going to pow wows, helping with a
Treaty 6 and Métis cultural assembly at my school, helping to lead a Talking
Circle at my school about Respect, attending Back to Batoche Days, learning to
jig and pow wow dance and going to Culture Camps. I am making a traditional
offering to have a new jingle dress made for this year’s powwow season.

Who are your role models?

My role model is Nour El Sherbini because she is an amazing squash player and I
can learn from her. My role models are my parents because they love and support
me as I work towards my goals. My Grandpa (who I have always called
“Bampa” since I was a little girl) because I have learned from him
and he taught me how to be loving, kind and respectful. My great coaches, Bob
and Natasha, are my role models because they have taught me so much about
squash in these last 2 years and they always believe in me and know that I can
achieve my goals!