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DECEMBER 2018 31 cavalier profile MADELEINE MAYHEW Fourth-Year • Squash Now that squash is in its second season as a varsity sport at Virginia, fourth-year Madeleine Mayhew feels "legitimate" best describes what it's like. "It's a tribute and honor to play on Coach [Mark] Allen's team," said Mayhew, who was 10-8 overall last season and won two of her three matches in the Kurtz Cup to help UVA finish as the consolation champions in the CSA-B Division. "For four years, we trained like a varsity program," Mayhew added. "To finally have the resources that UVA provides not only academically but also physically is a reason why we've seen a big improvement." What makes Mayhew's performance even more noteworthy is she carries a double major. She's enrolled in the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, is a distinguished history major in the College of Arts and Sciences, and was named a 2018 College Squash Association Scholar Athlete. "The main factor is they complement each other," Mayhew said while explaining how she's able to maintain a high GPA and excel in squash. "Squash provides a structure in college, which I feel is necessary to succeed in the classroom. "The fact I can work out every day clears my mind. All of those things are resources that squash provides which leads to my success in the classroom." When Mayhew attended Phillips Academy Andover in Andover, Mass., she played tennis as well as squash and earned two let- ters in tennis. "Many squash players have a background in tennis," she said. "I played tennis before squash and was a good doubles player in high school, but I was primarily a squash player. "Squash was what I wanted to play in college. Mark always says squash is like chess on legs. It's highly strategic, fast-paced and competitive. It fits my personality." Playing squash on a varsity basis also affects how Mayhew trains. "I've always taken it seriously, but now everyone takes it seri- ously," Mayhew said. "There's added pressure to perform and succeed. I don't train differently, but I train with more purpose." — Mike Scandura Photo by Matt Riley/courtesy UVA