Mae Sagapolu and Lewis Gray received their Washington Athletic Club trophies Saturday at a Gala event in Seattle as they were recognized as the two best collegiate rugby players in the country.
Those attending the dinner were treated to a superb speech from former 1991 World Cup winner Cassie Law about the lessons rugby taught her in her life and career. Those attending also heard a stirring recalling from Bonnie Puleo, one of Rudy Scholz's 13 grandchildren, of the struggles and challenges the USA faced in winning the 1924 Olympics rugby gold medal. MA Sorensen once again had everyone laughing with her inumpeachable insitance that props rule the world.
As for the award winners ...
Sagapolu, tighthead prop for Central Washington University, already capped by the USA and, most recently, captain of the USA U23s, captained CWU this season and was the central figure in a strong forward effort, said her coach Matt Ramirez. CWU recorded an incredible 26 stolen scrums this season, much of that down to Sagapolu. She received her MA Sorensen Award directly from Maryann Sorensen herself. Sorensen, who propped for the USA when they won the Rugby World Cup in 1991, was delighted to honor a fellow front-rower, and Sagapolu received huge cheers as she is also the first Washington state resident to win the award. It was also her graduation day, and Sagapolu received her diploma before speeding off from Ellensburg to Seattle to attend the WAC event.
Sagapolu is going to be moving to England to play with the new Leicester club in the Women's Premier League.
