HomeArticles2009 Richey Award Presented to MHC's Anckermann

2009 Richey Award Presented to MHC’s Anckermann

Pam Anckermann (Photo Credit: Michael T. Bello)
Pam Anckermann (Photo Credit: Michael T. Bello)

Cambridge, MA — The 2009 Richey Award was presented to Mount Holyoke senior Pam Anckermann. The Richey Award is given annually to the women’s college squash player who best exemplifies the ideals of squash in her love of and devotion to the game, her strong sense of fairness, and her excellence of play and leadership.

The Richey Award was presented to Anckermann at the women’s College Squash Association’s National Team tournament (Howe Cup) by Pam Saunders, the current Yale assistant coach and former Mount Holyoke coach. Saunders recruited Anckermann to Mount Holyoke. It was an emotional moment for both Anckermann and Saunders.

Anckermann, a Guatemalan, is the first Central American player to receive the Richey Award. After arriving at Mount Holyoke in 2005, she helped transform the Lyons from twenty-fifth in the nation to  eleventh. During her senior year playing for coach Allen Fitzsimmons, she only dropped one match in dual match competition. Over her four-year career, Anckermann compiled a 78 – 2 dual match record.  She concluded her college career as the twenty-fourth ranked college player.

The psychology major, Anckermann graduated as arguably the top player squash player in Mount Holyoke’s history.  In addition to her college career, Anckermann has been successful in international competitions. At the 2005 Pan-American Games, she finished eighth and she won the 2005 Centro-American Games.  In the 2006 Centro-American Games, she placed eighth in singles and third in doubles.

(Photo Credit: Michael T. Bello)

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