Caroline F. '24 Leads the US at Worlds

Just last week, the calendar turned to September, which marked the official end to the summer and the beginning of a new school year. Students, faculty, and staff started pouring into the halls once again, asking one another about their summer experiences. One senior, Caroline F. ‘24, will have one of the more unique and exciting responses.

Fouts, a native of Rye, New York, represented the United States of America at the World Junior and Senior Squash Championships in Melbourne, Australia, in a tournament that welcomed the world’s best juniors and seniors. Fouts was one of six athletes to represent the women’s team in Melbourne, as she earned a spot on the team by being ranked as the top player in her class in the country. She also sits at 90th overall in the world rankings.

Fouts competed in both the individual and team competitions, helping her team earn a bronze medal. In the individual competition, Fouts was a top-10 seed and projected to make the quarterfinals competing in an extremely competitive field of players. 

“I was up for the challeng,” said Caroline. I learned a lot from the competition last year, and I was ambitious and hungry to compete.”

She was able to make it all the way to the quarterfinals, where she lost to the No. 2 seed and eventual finalist. Fouts carried the energy and momentum right into the team competition, playing as the No. 1 for Team U.S.A., and helping the American team go undefeated in pool play with wins over South Africa, England, and Chinese Taipei. Following pool play, the U.S. team defeated India, before falling to Malaysia. Despite the defeat, Fouts and her team took home bronze medals, marking the team’s best finish since 2015–an extremely exciting and rewarding moment for her.

“Being able to represent the U.S. is really exciting for me. It was also really cool to be competing against other players in tournaments all year and then being on the same team as them. It was a bit of a mental shift, but it was unique and very rewarding.”

While her appearance on the world stage is relatively new to her, she is certainly no stranger to playing the game she loves. In fact, even as a high school senior, some may call her a veteran.

Fouts began playing squash at the age of nine and quickly found joy in the game. A competitor at heart, she began playing in tournaments at 11, and it was at the U13 U.S. Open where she began to feel the confidence in believing that she could compete at a high level.

“I got to meet so many international players. I won it (the tournament) and thought, ‘I can actually do this.’”

She certainly can. She also found so much joy in the process and the experience.

“Being able to get to know other players and bond with other teams was really fun. England has a number of girls coming to the U.S. for college, so it was fun to get to know them and create unique friendships that will last a long time.”

Following her second year competing at the World Championships, Fouts is already looking forward to next year’s competition, but what’s next?

“I’m going to try and play more professional tournaments this year, so I can grow as a player. I’d love to chrome a top-70 player. I’m hoping to win the U.S. Open again and represent the U.S. next summer at Worlds.”

She committed to play squash at the college level as well, with that announcement set to be made this winter, and while she is staying focused on the present, we also got a glimpse into what she hopes the future might hold.

“There’s a rumor that squash will be in the next (2028) Olympics,” she told me with a smile.

While her goals are ambitious, Fouts has proven that she is not only up for the task, but excited for it and will be enjoying the journey and ready for whatever the sport that she loves throws her way.