Casey Wong has found a new love when it comes to squash — coaching.
The recent Roland Park Country School graduate started training players one day a week in January, and this summer it has become almost a full-time gig.
Between Bare Hills Racquet and Fitness Club in Baltimore and Dread Sports Squash and Fitness in Timonium, she's working with coed players in Under-11 to Under-17 age divisions 35 hours a week.
"I never saw myself becoming a coach, it has been so much fun," Wong said. "I just love the kids I work with."
Her students are learning from a player who will represent the United States from Aug. 6 to 12 for the third time at the 2016 World Junior Squash Individual Championships in Poland, in the U-19 division.
In similar tournaments, Wong finished 17th in the Republic of Namibia in 2014 and 25th in the Netherlands last year.
Her lofty goal is a top-five finish. and she's brimming with confidence heading into the event.
"I think I am really prepared for this Worlds," said Wong, noting she's seeded for the first time after placing 10th in the British Junior Open in January. "I have tons of experience and I have competed internationally for a few years. This year, I really have a chance to rank among the top world-class players.
"I can really compete with the world's best, the Egyptians, and I proved that at British Open," she added. "They are essentially pros."
The 18-year-old Wong will captain the U.S. team for the first time and is the oldest player on a squad that includes competitors from California, New York and Massachusetts.
"I love being captain and I think it's an amazing opportunity because we have a younger team," Wong said. "I will really enjoy showing the other girls what this tournament is like and what to expect. I want to be a role model and be there for them. One of the girls on the team is only 13."
Wong's play in a series of Under-19 National tournaments earned her a return trip to the World Championships.
Wong, who was the country's No. 1 ranked player in the U-17 division during her sophomore and junior years of high school, placed second in the West Coast Junior Championships in San Francisco, the Mid-Atlantic Junior Championships in Baltimore and Frank Millet Championships in Massachusetts.
"She had an incredible year," said Wong's mother, Pat, who functions as a second coach to her daughter and has been traveling with her to national and international tournaments for the past eight years. "A lot of high school seniors don't play in national tournaments because they want a break. She played in every tournament."
Casey Wong has been playing the sport since she was 8.
She will play in the fall at Stanford University, which finished last season ranked sixth in the country by the College Squash Association.
Wong carried a 96.8 average at Roland Park and chose Stanford over Princeton and Yale universities and the University of Pennsylvania.
"We've never had a player that has competed at the World Junior Championships," Stanford squash coach Mark Talbott said. "She has so much experience and such a love for the game. It's really a big deal to go there. The experience is invaluable."
Wong says she wants to play squash well beyond college and follow in the footsteps of her parents, Pat and John, who have been playing squash for about 30 years.
"I just want to play for the rest of my life," Casey said. "It's a sport I will be able to enjoy no matter how old I am."
Pat Wong, the squash coach at Roland Park, said her daughter's coaching will help her at the World Championships.
"With coaching, she is on the court a lot more than she usually is," she explained. "It's been a great benefit for her. It's helped her stamina, court sense and her placement of shots. She is explaining the game to others, so it's really helping her see the game."