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Credit: Alex Fisher

Add one more trophy to the cabinet. 

Following a remarkable year on the world circuit, Penn junior and women’s squash superstar Reeham Sedky has been recognized as the US Squash Athlete of the Year. 

The award is US Squash’s highest as it relates to academic achievement — and Sedky was surprised it was given to her, considering that the recognition is usually given to an American professional, rather than a collegiate athlete like her. 

“Being a college athlete plus getting this award and getting some international recognition is pretty cool.” 

Given her list of accomplishments over the past year, however, it’s not particularly surprising that US Squash broke precedent and gave it to her. 

“Last year you played in your first Women’s World Team Championships and made as fine a debut as any Team USA athlete ever has,” US Squash President and CEO Kevin Klipstein wrote in a letter to Sedky notifying her of her award. 

In that debut, the junior from Seattle defeated world No. 15 Delia Arnold to clinch Team USA fifth place in the world. She also took current world No. 6 Sarah-Jane Perry deep into five sets, ultimately losing after an hour-long thriller. 

She also made it to the finals of the U.S. Women’s National Championships in April, falling to world No. 19 Olivia Blatchford in a five-set, 90-minute marathon. 

These accomplishments and more aided Sedky in her rise to the top. Her breakthrough on the Ivy League stage came immediately upon entering college, but this past year saw her break through on a global scale. 

Klipstein invited Sedky to join him as a special guest in the audience during the U.S. Open Squash Championships in October. Sedky herself will also be competing in the Open. 

“This will definitely put my name a lot higher than it was before,” Sedky said. “I got some recognition at the World Championships last year, but I still don’t think people really know who I am just because I don’t play in as many professional tournaments. But I think because this award ceremony is during the U.S. Open and so many people are competing at the U.S. Open, maybe people will start to realize ‘Oh, this girl, she might do something after college.’”

For now, though, Sedky will have her eyes set on the U.S. Open and the Ivy League season beyond that. And if all goes her way, US Squash Athlete of the Year won’t not be the last award she wins.