Goff Rugby Report and the Washington Athletic Club annually recognize the nation’s best men’s and women’s college players, with Lindenwood University’s USA Eagle Frieda Tahuna receiving the MA Sorensen Award and BYU’s Wyatt Parry. The player received the Rudy Schultz Award.
Gough Rugby Report Article
First awarded in 2016, 10 of the 16 recipients have gone on to earn USA Rugby senior international caps across XVs and Sevens. Lindenwood’s Frieda Tafuna has been named the 2024 recipient of the MA Sorensen Award as the top female college rugby player in the United States.
Tahuna’s impact on the team and the collegiate scene has already earned her a cap for the U.S. National Team. The Southern California youth rugby product is arguably the hardest-hitting loose forward in the women’s college game and would be a game-changer for any team she plays for, including the Eagles.
The junior helped Lindenwood win two national D1 Elite Championships and advance to the finals against Life this year. She beat out outstanding finalists, including Life University’s Matilda Kokaj, Harvard University’s Tiana Padilla, and Brown University’s Akira Cathy.
The MA Sorensen Award was awarded to William & Mary, a pioneer in women’s college rugby when the USA won the 1991 World Cup and reached the finals of the next two World Cups in 1994 and 1998. It was named after starting prop Marian Sorensen.
Sorensen was a successful physician (he specialized in anesthesiology) and an inspirational coach and rugby mentor throughout his career. She has attended her Sorensen Award ceremony every year and presented her with a trophy that bears her name.
The MA Sorensen Award is presented by the Washington Athletic Club in Seattle, Washington, and has been presented annually since 2016. The award will be announced in the spring and formally presented at a gala event at his WAC in Seattle in June. This year’s event will be held on June 8th.
Past MA Sorensen Award winners:
2016: Hope Rogers, Penn State
2017: Iona Maher, Quinnipiac
2018: Mackenzie Hawkins, Lindenwood
2019: Emily Henrik, Dartmouth
2020: Alex “Spiff” Cedric, Life University
2021: Richelle Stevens, Lindenwood
2022: Idia Ihensekian, Dartmouth
2023: Keia Mae Sagapol, Central Washington
BYU’s Wyatt Parry has been named the 2024 recipient of the Rudy Scholz Award as America’s best male college rugby player.
Parry, a product of what is now St. George, Utah’s tribal rugby program, was the architect of BYU’s high-flying attack, leading BYU to its second straight D1A semifinal appearance.
Parry beat out highly competitive finalists, including Saint Mary’s University’s Dom Bethag, Arkansas State University’s Evan Ruud, and Lindenwood University’s Edouan van Heerden.
The Rudy Scholz Award is named for Rudolph Scholz (1896-1981), who played for Santa Clara and led the United States to rugby Olympic gold medals in 1920 and 1924 as a halfback. He served as a volunteer in both world wars. He fought in World War II when he was in his 40s and was decorated in both wars. Rudy Scholz, a successful lawyer and lifelong rugby player, played his final rugby match at the age of 83.
The Rudy Scholz Award is presented by the Washington Athletic Club in Seattle, Washington, and has been presented annually since 2016. The award will be announced in the spring and formally presented at a gala event at his WAC in Seattle in June. This year’s event will be held on June 8th.
Past Rudy Scholz Award winners:
2016: Dylan Owsley, St Mary’s
2017: Bryce Campbell, Indiana
2018: Connor McNerney, Navy
2019: Harley Wheeler, Life University
2020: Peyton Telea Hilario, St. Mary’s
2021: Emmanuel Albert, Lindenwood
2022: Larry Williams, West Point
2023: Lewis Gray, Navy
