Coach of the Year: Brian Kim – Tennis
Brian Kim was the club Tennis coach for this past year. Brian is not only passionate about helping the team improve, but also, and perhaps more importantly, he cares so deeply for the people on this team. Club members describe him as an absolute joy to be around, and his constant energy, motivation, and kindness fuel the team. The team traveled to Hershey, PA, where we competed against several other teams from the region. Throughout the whole weekend, Brian had a smile on his face. During matches, he constantly cheered our players on from the sidelines, and he carefully gauged what each player needed from him during the short breaks between games of a match. It can be very difficult to know whether a player needs comfort, advice, or something else, and Brian is extremely skilled at this. Because tennis is such an individual sport (and even though in doubles you have a partner), it is such an internal mental battle throughout each match.
Officer of the Year: Shereen Ahmad – Taekwondo
Shereen Ahmad exemplifies what it means to be a dedicated and impactful club officer. Now in her second full term as Treasurer, she has consistently gone above and beyond her official responsibilities. During Fall 2024—a critical period of transition marked by graduating seniors, incoming freshmen, and multiple officers studying abroad—Shereen stepped up to fill key leadership gaps. In addition to her duties as Treasurer, she took on the roles of Tournament Coordinator and Social Chair, ensuring the club remained organized and active. Even now, she continues to mentor new board members and provide steady guidance, helping the club run smoothly and effectively. One of her most notable accomplishments this year was securing funding for the club through Penn Traditions for an alumni event—the first time in club history such an event received external financial support. Her initiative not only expanded alumni engagement but also laid a strong foundation for ongoing alumni reunions, ensuring that these events will continue to grow and strengthen over time. Shereen’s commitment to the club is matched by her academic and extracurricular excellence. She balances an intense course load of six classes while contributing to the broader Penn community as a work-study student at the Sweeten Alumni House, a Writing Fellow at the Penn Writing Center, and a member of the Excelano Project. Without Shereen, the club would have struggled to maintain momentum during a pivotal time. Her initiative, reliability, and ability to lead through change held everything together when it mattered most. She leads with consistency, care, and a clear vision—not only sustaining the club but actively strengthening it. Her leadership continues to inspire those around her for the lasting impact she has made on the club. Shereen is more than deserving of Officer of the Year.
Performance of the Year: Albert Chen – Squash
In club Squash’s match against Georgetown University, their score was tied 4-4 with one more match to win. Albert Chen was down 2-0 in a best-of-5 match when he was struck in the face by his opponent, causing noticeable damage. Albert pushed through adversity, eventually winning the next 3 games and leading the team to winning the match 5 to 4. Georgetown had been Penn’s historic rivals and this victory has a huge achievement for the club.
Rookie of the Year: Abby Smith - Women’s Ultimate
Abby Smith has shown great skill and potential in her first year of playing. Her dedication to the sport is evidence, and her commitment inspires players around her to give their all to the game. Her cutting is reliable and she consistently beats her defenders. Her knowledge of the field is impressive for such a young player, as is her confidence and patience with the disc. Additionally, she has made fast friends with members of the team, beloved by her fellow players. Beyond ultimate, Abby is dedicated to Penn Rec, playing on Women's Club Basketball as well. She also makes times for community engagement, volunteering with students in the community through CSSP and WPTP. She is also passionate about her veterinarian ambitions for the future, and volunteers at Philadelphia's working dog center. She is an amazing community member and representative for the club.
Male Athlete of the Year: Ren Yagawara - Men’s Ultimate Frisbee
Battling through chronic injuries of shin splints and knee pain, Ren Yagawara is the quintessential embodiment of grit as he works tirelessly to be there for his team. His unwavering commitment to bettering himself and his team is clear as day, and as captain, he leads by example. On the field, Ren jumps from one position to another and alternates between offense and defense, filling in the gaps to best accommodate his team's needs. He demonstrates exceptional game IQ on the field and provides crucial strategic insights off the field, his calm and collected playmaking shines with discipline, and he uses his quickness and throwing prowess to maximize his impact on the game. Ren has played on the starting lineup since his rookie season, and his poised, clutch playmaking to win close games shows his ability to step up to the pressure. On offense, Ren's seamless transition between his roles as a primary cutter and primary thrower make him difficult to guard, while his keen field awareness helps facilitate offensive flow. On defense, his intensity and anticipation leave little room for opposing offenses to succeed. Always willing to put his body on the line, Ren is the glue that holds the team together. Off the field, Ren embodies the perfect combination of building team camaraderie and pushing his teammates to continue grinding. It is rare to have a practice without Ren joking around with his team, but once he steps on the field, his focus is unwavering. Ren is not a player of many words, but everyone listens to his motivational speeches when he speaks up, although he is plenty loud when cheering and encouraging his teammates from the sideline. Outside of practice, Ren attends physical therapy and works out to stay in shape and strengthen his lower body to placate his injuries, all while studying rigorously for his pre-med classes, conducting immunology and psychology research projects, and tutoring reading and mathematics in West Philadelphia public schools. Ren is also constantly brainstorming ways to promote the team's presence on campus, as well as encouraging his teammates to be more active ultimate frisbee players. He builds relationships with ultimate players outside of Penn to recruit players and coaches, reaches out to other schools to organize scrimmages and tournaments, and looks for opportunities to merge with the women's ultimate team, both on and off the field.
Female Athlete of the Year: Chloe Ng – Taekwondo
Chloe Ng has had a standout season. This past academic year, she dominated the Poomsae competition circuit, winning a gold medal at MIT, another gold medal at Princeton, and a bronze medal at Cornell. Her exceptional performance earned her an impressive Eastern Collegiate Taekwondo Conference All-Star status and took her across the country to Seattle, Washington to compete among the best. As the Penn Taekwondo club demonstration team captain, she has become the backbone of the club's public presence. She spends countless hours choreographing routines and working one-on-one with team members to develop their skills. Chloe voluntarily goes beyond her role, ensuring that every performance is tailored to highlight individual strengths while creating something impressive as a whole. In addition to her strong commitment to taekwondo, she successfully balances her rigorous academic schedule as a student in the VIPER program. When newer members need guidance, she's there offering advice and encouragement. She represents everything our club stands for – discipline, excellence, and community. I can't think of anyone more deserving of this award than Chloe.
