Navy senior squash standout Jack Lentz (Philadelphia, Pa.) joins Franklin & Marshall's Sanjay Jeeva and George Washington's Salim Khan as finalists for the College Squash Association's 2021 Skillman Award.

The Skillman Award, voted on by CSA coaches and established in 1983, is the top honor bestowed each year to a senior men's squash student-athlete who has displayed exemplary sportsmanship and skill throughout his career. 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.

Casey Garwood is the only Navy recipient of the Skillman Award, winning it in 1992. Meanwhile, Lentz is Navy's first Skillman Award finalist since Andrew McGuinness in 2015.

"I'm so happy for Jack to be recognized as a finalist for the Skillman Award," said third-year Navy squash head coach Tyler Osborne. "I believe he truly embodies what this award is all about. Not only has he had success on court in his four years, which has included being an Intercollegiate Doubles National Champion, a two-time Barb Tournament winner and a MASC All-Conference member, but his character truly highlights the type of leader he is. His effort and attitude day in and day out are second to none and part of what makes him a true ambassador for our program and the game of squash. Given all the obstacles we have faced this year, and knowing that his senior year is not what he would have wanted, he's kept the team motivated, engaged and, above all, positive. I'm humbled and grateful for the role he has played in helping the team move forward this year. He's had a tremendous impact on our program and could not be more happy for him to be recognized alongside Salim and Sanjay. These three young men are truly great ambassadors for our sport, and it's great to see them recognized as role models for their contributions both on and off court."

Since his arrival in the summer of 2017, Lentz has played either the No. 1 or 2 position on the ladder for the Mids where he has put together a 56-25 record. As a rookie, he produced a 22-9 record, primarily playing the No. 2 spot (13-1), and tied for the most wins on the team. We went on to play No. 1 as a sophomore (16-6), junior (17-9) and senior (1-1) and sits just two wins outside of Navy's all-time record book. He was named to the 10-player All-Mid-Atlantic Squash Conference Team last spring after leading the Mids with a 17-9 record. Lentz went undefeated at the CSA Team Championship and put together a 2-1 mark at the CSA Individual Championship where he knocked off Penn's Saksham Choudhary, who came into the match undefeated (17-0), in four games.

A three-time finalist and two-time winner of the Naval Academy's Barb Tournament (this year's tournament has yet to be played), Lentz has also seen success in doubles action, partnering with Michael Kacergis to win the 2019 Intercollegiate Squash Doubles National Championship. Ironically, he defeated F&M's Sanjay Jeeva, a fellow Skillman Award finalist, and his partner Shamseldeen Abbas in a five-game thriller.

Lentz, the Mids' team captain, will graduate in May and be commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.

The winner of the 2021 Skillman Award will be announced during the CSA's live College Squash Awards Show on March 25 starting at 7:00 p.m. The show will be streamed live on CSA's Facebook Live and YouTube channels.

### Go Navy ###