HomeArticlesDartmouth's Hanson and Princeton's Harrity Win 2013 Men's College Squash Skillman Award

Dartmouth’s Hanson and Princeton’s Harrity Win 2013 Men’s College Squash Skillman Award

New Haven, CT — The 2013 Skillman Award was presented to Chris Hanson of Dartmouth and Todd Harrity of Princeton.

Presented annually since 1983, the Skillman Award is given to a senior men’s squash player who has demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship during his entire college career. Candidates are evaluated for their on-court poise and demeanor; skill level and ability in the game of squash; team play; contributions to intercollegiate squash; leadership; and cooperation with players, coaches, and tournament officials.

The award is named for former Yale head coach John Skillman, who led the Bulldogs for over forty years. Skillman was inducted into the Men’s College Squash Hall of Fame in 1990. This year’s award was presented at Yale University on the final day of the 2013 Men’s National Team Championships.

2013 Men's National Team Championships: Christopher Hanson (Dartmouth)
2013 Men’s National Team Championships: Christopher Hanson (Dartmouth)

Hanson was a four-time All-American for Dartmouth. He was named to the First Team three times and the Second Team once. He was a four-time All Ivy selection and was elected unanimously his senior season. He played number 1 for the Big Green throughout his four years at Dartmouth and consistently turned in one of the team’s best individual records. Hanson also earned Academic All-Ivy honors three years in a row, the only men’s squash player in his year to do so.

During his time at Princeton, Harrity won individual (2011), team (2012), and doubles (2013) national titles, reaching the individual finals in 2010 and 2013. A four-time First Team All-American and All-Ivy honoree, he was named the Ivy League of Rookie of the Year in 2010 and the Ivy League Player of the Year in 2011 and 2013; he was elected unanimously to the All-Ivy team three times. He played number 1 throughout his time with the Tigers and during the 2012 Men’s National Team Championships contributed a win in Princeton’s 5-4  upset of Trinity College, helping the Tigers claim the national title.

2013 Men's National Team Championships: Bob Callahan, Todd Harrity (Princeton) and Neil Pomphrey
2013 Men’s National Team Championships: Bob Callahan, Todd Harrity (Princeton) and Neil Pomphrey

Because both Harrity and Hanson played number 1 for their teams throughout their collegiate careers, they became the faces of their respective programs. Fittingly, both served as co-captains during their senior year. Beyond representing their individual schools, the two players represented United States college squash internationally, teaming up to lead the US to the bronze at the 2010 World University Games in Melbourne, Australia.

Hanson is the second player in Dartmouth history to win the Skillman Award. Harrity is the eighth Princeton player to earn the distinction. This is the third time in college squash history the Skillman Award has been given to two players during the same year.

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