Princeton University Athletics
Roper Trophy
June 22, 2006 | General
Yasser El Halaby, the most dominant collegiate men's squash player of all time whose success at Princeton earned him "rock star" status, has been named the winner of the 2006 William Winston Roper Trophy.
The Roper Trophy was originally given by Mrs. William Winston Roper and the Class of 1902 in honor of Princeton's famed football coach. It goes annually to "a Princeton senior of high scholastic rank and outstanding qualities of sportsmanship and general proficiency in athletics."
El Halaby put together the greatest individual career in the history of collegiate men's squash. He became the sport's first male player to win four individual titles, joining current Princeton women's coach Gail Ramsay as the only four-time winners, and he never lost a game in any of the four national championship matches. His career game record in his four national championship tournaments was 60-4.
He led Princeton to a pair of Ivy League championships, including the 2003 title when he rallied from two games down and match ball down in the third to defeat Yale's top player in a road thriller. El Halaby, who also became the first amateur player to ever qualify for the prestigious Tournament of Champions in New York City, helped Princeton to two national championship matches, including this year's 5-4 loss to Trinity at a packed Jadwin Gym.
He is a former Ivy League Rookie of the Year, a three-time Ivy League Player of the Year and a four-time All-America selection.