RAMIT TANDON RECEIVES 2015 SKILLMAN AWARD
2/26/2015 9:48:00 AM | Men's Squash
NEW YORK – Last weekend, Columbia squash standout Ramit Tandon received one of the top honors in college squash as the 2015 Skillman Award winner. The Skillman Award is given annually to a senior men's squash player who has demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship during his entire college career.
The award is named after former multiple-champion Yale coach John Skillman, who led the Bulldogs for over 40 years. Players are evaluated based on 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.
In his arrival to Morningside Heights and dawning of Columbia Blue, Ramit Tandon captivated the college squash world and ignited a spark for the Lions' emerging program for the 2011-12 season. In 2012, Coach Swanepoel described him as "definitely the most exciting player in college squash."
The Kolkata, India, native finished his inaugural season with a 15-1 record as Columbia's top player, while becoming the programs first player to achieve Ivy League honors and CSA All-America first team honors. Tandon went unbeaten in match play during the regular season, becoming the Ivy League's co-Rookie of The Year. He capped the year ranked second in the nation after a runner-up finish at the 2012 CSA Individual National Championships.
Tandon helped lead a Columbia team that began the 2011-12 year with No. 20 ranking to its first Ivy League victory over No. 13 Brown, a runner-up finish in the Hoehn Cup finals at the 2012 CSA National Championships, and a No. 10 final national ranking.
In his sophomore season, Tandon used another All-Ivy League team performance to lead the Lions to its first multiple win conference year. A quarterfinals appearance in the CSA Individual National Championships led to a second straight CSA All-American Honor. He started his junior season with nine consecutive victories and finished 14-1, to lead Columbia to a runner-up finish in the Hoehn Cup (B Division) of the CSA Team National Championships. Tandon was unanimously selected to the All-Ivy League team for the third straight year.
This season, the senior captain has continued in his leadership and high-level of play to lift Columbia to incredible heights. With a 13-1 record at the top position, Tandon spearheaded a national championship contender in the Lions, who defeated two top-five teams to earn a program-best No. 3 national ranking, and cap the 2015 campaign with a No. 4 finish in the Potter Cup (A Division) of the CSA Team National Championships.
This weekend, Tandon will compete for a national crown for the final time at the CSA Individual National Championships from Friday, Feb. 27 – Sunday, March 1.
