Brooklyn boasts four winners in Baird E. Haney Squash Tournament
Will Cembalest has been a serious squash player since age 13. He plays for his school’s team; he plays outside of school; he has elite private coaches and plays in the biggest tournaments. But despite his usually-immersed life of Squash, he found that taking a four-month break from the sport has improved him as a player.
Cembalest took four months off last spring when he went to the Bahamas for a marine biology program through his high school, Poly Prep. The program had a heavy emphasis on fitness and culminated with a half marathon. He said training for the half marathon was the key in improving his focus on the court.
“I think that taking time off really helped me a lot because it improved my fitness and helped me become mentally tougher,” Cembalest said. “Training for that half marathon is hard work not only physically, but mentally as well. Ultimately, I feel that it’s the biggest reason why I’m playing so well right now.”