The College Squash Association (CSA) is pleased to present the finalists for the Betty Richey Award. The Richey Award, voted on by the CSA coaches, is the most prestigious individual honor given annually to a current women’s squash student-athlete.
Top candidates for the Richey Award are those players who best exemplify the ideals of squash in their love of and devotion to the game, their strong sense of fairness, and their excellence in play and leadership. Nominees are also praised for their cooperation with opponents, coaches, and competition officials and their overall contributions to intercollegiate squash.
The winner of the 2021 Betty Richey Award will be announced during the CSA’s live College Squash Awards Show on March 25, 2021 starting at 7:00 p.m. The Show will be streamed live on CSA’s Facebook Live and YouTube channels.
This year, the Richey Award is presented by the Aziz Family, a prolific squash family who are staunch supporters of the College Squash Association and Yale Squash. Daughter and Yale graduate Alia Aziz was the 2010 Betty Richey Award winner, and backing like CSA receives from the Aziz Family will sustain intercollegiate women’s squash for years to come.
Finalists are listed in alphabetical order:
Zoe Foo Yuk Han, George Washington University
Arguably the most prolific player in George Washington University women’s squash history, Zoe Foo Yuk Han has impressed both on and off the court since she arrived in the District of Columbia. At GW, she has been an active member of the campus and athletics communities, organizing recreational play and community service opportunities while also serving on the GW Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. As the first three-time All-America selection in program history, Foo earned two Second Team nods during freshman and sophomore year before jumping to First Team All-America status last season. The 2020-2021 season being lost to the pandemic disrupted her efforts to earn a fourth All-America honor and to eclipse the overall program wins mark, of which she was only five wins away.
George Washington Head Coach Anderson Good had this to say about his two-time captain: “Zoey Foo has put together arguably the strongest career resumé in GW Women’s Squash history. But more importantly, she has been an invaluable member and representative of our program in the CSA and on GW’s campus. Her work ethic has been shown in her clear and steady improvement during her time at GW, and her determination, respect, and sportsmanship on court has been a crucial model for her younger teammates in her role as a team leader. Zoey is the type of player any coach would love to have on their team, and she has been an absolute pleasure to coach.”
Helen Teegan, Yale University
A multi-sport student-athlete out of high school, Yale’s Helen Teegan took on an increasingly critical and successful role in the top third of the Bulldog lineup over the course of her college career. While earning All-Ivy and Second-Team All-America accolades during her first three years, Teegan amassed an impressive 33-15 overall record, primarily in the No. 2 position on Yale’s ladder. As a quiet leader whose example and effort led the way, Teegan consistently stepped up in crucial moments for her team.
Retired head coach and Yale legend Dave Talbott shared these thoughts about his Richey nominee: “Helen Teegan is a deserving finalist for the Betty Richey Award. Helen was a leader on the Yale team in all aspects. She was a fierce competitor and one of the fairest players in the league. Helen epitomizes the Betty Richey spirit of top play and great sportsmanship.”
Min Jie Teh, Trinity College
As a leader of the NESCAC’s best women’s team over the past four years, Min Jie Teh has exhibited exceptional sportsmanship and skill while earning seemingly every postseason award available. Teh has been conference Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year while earning All-Conference honors, and then earned both First Team and Second Team All-America selections. While striving to be one of the best college squash players in the CSA, Teh has also acted as a role model and outstanding sportswoman throughout her career. The Trinity co-captain earned an impressive 47-11 career record over her first three season but focused her efforts on supporting her teammates amidst the challenges posed by COVID-19.
Trinity head coach Wendy Bartlett praised her star player this way: “Min Jie’s on-court poise and demeanor is superlative. Whether she is winning or losing, Min Jie exudes fairness and grace. On the court, her performance is intense and focused, which has been an inspiration to the team. Her work ethic and dedication to the game has motivated the team to even greater heights. Min Jie consistently maintains a high level of performance while staying calm and focused under pressure. I am so pleased that she is a finalist for the Richey Award.”
