Reeham Sedky was honored at the U.S. Open with the 2016 United States Olympic Committee Athlete of the Year Award. Paul Assaiante, the Ganek Family US Squash Head National Coach, introduced Sedky to a rousing ovation on the ASB GlassCourt.
Sedky, a Seattle native, had won the 2015 national GU19 title and three times was a member of Team USA at the World Juniors. In November last year Sedky made her debut on the adult national team at 2016 Women’s World Team Championships in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France.
It was an astonishing unveiling. She won her first match against Wales. She took Sarah-Jane Perry, then world No.11, to five games in an exciting match against England. Then in Team USA’s final match, against Malaysia, she clinched a 5th place finish by topping Delia Arnold, then ranked world No.18, 11-8 in the fifth.
For the Penn sophomore, it was the best win of her young career. Later in the winter, she went on to reach the finals of both the National Intercollegiates and the National Singles.
Since 1991, the USOC Athlete of the Year has been US Squash’s highest award for outstanding individual achievement in international competition. Previous winners include Mark Talbott (who last night was honored with the Callahan Sportsmanship Award), Demer Holleran, Louisa Hall, Ivy Pochoda, Michelle Quibell, Gilly Lane, Timmy Brownell and last year’s honoree Amanda Sobhy.