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.
First awarded in 2016, 10 of the 16 recipients have gone on to earn USA Rugby senior international caps across XVs and Sevens. Lindenwood University’s Frieda Tafuna has been named the 2024 MA Sorensen Award recipient as the top female college rugby player in the United States.
Tahuna has already risen to the international level with USA Rugby, earning his first cap in the 2023 Pacific Four Series and is currently participating in this year’s USA camp. As a junior, Tahuna was a physical force for this year’s Lions, advancing to the D1 Elite Finals this year, his third appearance after winning two championships. Originally a standout player at Belmont Shore and Southern California Youth Rugby, Tahuna is another great talent to keep an eye on after his college days.
BYU scrumhalf Wyatt Parry has been recognized as the nation’s best male college rugby player and won the 2024 Rudy Scholz Award. Parry is a veteran senior for the Cougars from Utah who led the team in a competitive D1A field, reaching the national semifinals twice, but falling just short of last weekend’s title game against Saint Mary’s. The semifinals were the second game of the season in which the Parry-led offense scored less than 40 points, giving the vote to Parry this year.
Photo: BYU Instagram
About the MA Sorensen Award and the Rudy Scholz Award
The MA Sorensen Trophy pioneered women’s college rugby at William & Mary, was the starting prop for the U.S. team when they won the World Cup in 1991, and reached the next two World Cup finals in 1994 and 1998. Named after Marian Sorensen. Sorensen was a successful medical doctor (specializing in anesthesiology) and an inspirational coach and rugby mentor throughout her career. She has attended her Sorensen Award ceremony every year and presented her with a trophy that bears her name.
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 Washington Athletic Club in Seattle will welcome both award winners to its annual gala, which brings together the rugby community and past winners, on June 8th.
