Hatfield, MA — 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.
Coaches consult with their teams and vote on the candidates at the Women’s National Team Championships. Each school has two votes: a team vote and a coach’s vote.
The 2015 Richey Award was presented to Amanda Sobhy (Harvard University).
This year, there were many talented nominees. The Executive Committee selected the three finalists for the Richey Award (listed alphabetically; click on the athletes’ names below to see photos and videos of them playing):
Kanzy El Defrawy (Trinity College): Kanzy El Defrawy has been at the top of the Trinity ladder since her first year with the Bantams. Majoring in international studies and French, Defrawy has gained numerous NESCAC honors, including being named the 2013 Rookie of the Year, the 2013, 2014, and 2015 Player of the Year, and being a member of the past four league championship squads. She has led her team to three Howe Cup (national team championship) finals, including Trinity’s fifth overall title during the 2013 – 2014 season. Individually, the Trinity captain was a First Team All-American in 2013, 2014, and 2015. She has finished the runner up in the Ramsay Cup (individual championship) for the past three seasons. According to Trinity head coach Wendy Bartlett, “Kanzy has been a leader on and off the court. On the court, her performance as an intense and focused competitor, striving to be the very best, has been an inspiration to the team. Her work ethic and dedication to the game has motivated the team to even greater heights.”
Anna Gabriella Porras (George Washington University): Anna Gabriella Porras significantly contributed to the rise of George Washington squash. Prior to her arrival, the Colonials were ranked 17th in the nation and captured the Walker Cup (C Division). By her sophomore year, she helped lead George Washington to the Kurtz Cup (B Division) title and a 9th-place finish nationally. As a junior, Porras and the Colonials played in the Howe Cup (A Division) at Team Championships. The civil engineering major and captain was the first George Washington player to be named an All-American. She has been recognized as a Second Team All-American in 2013, 2014, and 2015. According to head coach Wendy Lawrence, “I can go on about all her squash and academic achievements but what is most important to me is that Gaby is a genuinely wonderful young woman with a big heart and tremendous talent and who has been mainly responsible for bringing GW women’s into the elite spotlight.”
Yan Xin Tan (University of Pennsylvania): Yan Xin Tan burst onto the college squash scene winning the 2013 Ivy League Rookie of the Year honors. Always playing one of the top three positions for the Quakers, she helped Penn capture the 2015 Ivy League Championship. The psychology major was also named to the 2013, 2014, and 2015 All-Ivy League teams. As an All-American — First Team in 2013 and 2014, Second Team in 2015 — Tan has helped her team achieve season-ending national rankings of 3rd and 4th during her career with Penn. According to head coach Jack Wyant, Tan, a 2015 – 2016 captain, is a team player who has a strong competitive spirit. “Off court, Zinny maintains friendships with both teammates and opponents, always greeting them with a smile. On court, she’s a ferocious competitor who always demonstrates complete respect for the rules,” explains Wyant.
