For most collegiate varsity captains, the path is linear: years of junior tournaments, early recruitment conversations, and a secured roster spot going into college. For Oliver Riordan (Colby ’26), the road to leading the Colby Men’s Squash team looked very different.

Despite playing squash throughout his childhood and at Phillips Exeter Academy, Oliver had never chased the college recruitment track. As he approached graduation in the midst of the COVID years, college squash wasn’t always part of the plan.

That changed definitively in the spring of his senior year. As his high school season ended, a realization took hold: he wasn’t ready to put the racquet down.

Oliver made a decision that many would have viewed as too late. However, he was determined to walk on to the Colby team his freshman year, convinced that if he dedicated his entire summer to the game, he could bridge the gap. He set out to make up for lost time with a regimen defined by humility and grit.

Over the summer Oliver was grinding. He attended nearly every summer training camp he could find. Often, this meant stepping onto the court against athletes who had more technical experience than he did. It was a test of ego as much as skill, but Oliver refused to take no for an answer. He showed up, day in and day out, believing he could do it even when the odds suggested it was a long shot.

He arrived on campus in Waterville the following fall as ready as he could possibly be, prepared to do the work with absolutely nothing guaranteed. For a while, his status remained unclear.

Then came the moment that defined his freshman year. He sent parents a text message out of the blue. There were no words needed—just a photo of a Colby Squash racquet bag sitting on his dorm bed. He had done it.

That racquet bag represented more than just a roster spot; it was the entry point to what would become the defining community of his college experience. Oliver didn’t just make the team; he embedded himself in it. Through the same work ethic that got him on the team, he evolved from a hopeful walk-on to a Varsity Captain.

Coach Abplanalp underscores this transformation, noting the impact Oliver has had on the team dynamic.

“Going from a walk-on to captain, Oliver has grown into a true leader within our program,” says Abplanalp. “His development reflects the standards and culture we value at Colby. He sets an example through his work ethic, accountability, and commitment to his teammates.”

Now a senior double-majoring in Economics and Spanish, preparing for a career in finance, Oliver has built a resume of excellence. But his journey on the squash court remains the truest testament to his character: he is a leader who knows exactly what it takes to earn his place.