Men's Squash: Sopher twins trade quips, shots

Senior twins Peter and Philip Sopher’s most unmistakable characteristic is their laugh. Loud and boisterous, you can hear it from around the corner and know one or both of the twins are there. Though the twins can frequently be found joking around, when it comes to playing squash, the Sophers are serious.

The Sophers are four-year veterans of the men’s squash team and will be essential to the success of the squad as it tries to regain the Ivy League title. Peter is a co-captain on the team and plays the No. 4 position, while Phil plays one spot below him at No. 5.

Growing up in Washington, D.C., the Sophers did not have the luxury of living near many other squash players.

“We always played together,” Peter said. “D.C. isn’t really a hotbed for squash, and for pretty much our entire high school careers, the only people we had to play against were each other.”

Without each other, they probably would not have ended up playing for Princeton, arguably the most desirable university for men’s collegiate squash given its combination of academics and a squash team that regularly competes for the national title.

“Basically, the reason we were able to compete at a national level was because we had each other to push each other,” Peter said.

Early on, the Sophers had their sights set on coming to Princeton with the hope of playing squash for head coach Bob Callahan ’77.

“I’d always liked Princeton squash camp and kind of wanted to come here since I was 12 or 13,” Phil said. “I did everything in my power to get here.”

Moving out of Washington’s tiny squash scene to Princeton was a major step for the brothers.

“It was the first time I’d ever been with a group of people my age who played squash,” Peter said. “It’s been one of the best experiences of my life just because the camaraderie is so strong.”

“When you’re playing one person all the time, you get used to playing against one style,” Phil added. “The diversity of practice partners and playing partners was a huge upgrade.”

Though the team provides the Sophers with other options, they still play each other in challenge matches and hit together on breaks.

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Like many athletes, the Sophers have some interesting rituals that they go through before big matches. Phil makes sure to eat his favorite food — protein powder — and Peter listens to his pregame song, “My Neck, My Back” by Khia.

“I like to trace the wrinkles of my left hand with a pen that is not black and preferably red or pink,” Phil said. “That’s a ritual that requires a steady hand, and if my hand is steady enough to do that, then it’s steady enough to rip nicks.”

Always trying to one-up his brother, Peter was quick with a response.

“See, my hand is always steady,” he said.

One of the Sophers’ teammates, junior Clay Blackiston, recently told The Daily Princetonian that Peter often sleeps in the locker room. Peter explained that the story was not that simple.

“I have this theory that the quantity of hours I sleep is directly correlated with how well I play,” he said, “so I try to get at least 14 hours of sleep before big matches — eight of which are usually in my bed, and then six of which are in random crevices in Jadwin Gym.”

Both twins also noted that fashion on the court is extremely important to their mentalities while playing the game.

“I’ll adjust my bandanna selection based on how many people are watching the match,” Phil said. “The least sweet bandannas are the solid color bandanas, which are still good if you’re able to match it with your strings or your grip but really stand out if that is not the case.”

Bandana selection is also important to Peter.

“I reserve my pimped-out lips bandana for diSiac tryouts, Ivy League matches and the national finals,” Peter said.

Dance is one of the Sopher twins’ many creative outlets. They have tried out for the dance troupe diSiac all four years. Peter claims the twins made the cut their sophomore year, but diSiac members declined to comment on the accuracy of his statement. After tryouts, however, some members of diSiac questioned whether the Sophers were truly devoted to the dance troupe.

“They didn’t approve of our superstar mentalities,” Phil said.

“We knew that they would only hold us back,” Peter noted.

When not playing squash or trying out for diSiac, Peter likes playing pickup sports, painting and writing, while Phil enjoys skydiving in his free time and pursues humanitarian efforts.

Peter shares his brother’s passion for humanitarianism. “I’m really into alternative energy,” he said.

The Sophers’ varied interests keep them busy, but squash is their passion.

“I’m still obsessed with the game,” Peter said. “I’m willing to go down every morning and play for a solid hour on top of regular practice.”

Having a twin to play with is only a bonus, they said.

“I’ve never not been a twin, so I don’t really know the other side,” Peter said. “It’s kind of cool having somebody who looks like me and plays like me who I can watch so that I can tweak my game.”

“It’s kind of like having a 3-D video or being part of a movie,” Peter said.

The Sophers will next be in action at Jadwin Gymnasium when Princeton takes on Penn on Jan. 26.