US Naval Academy center Lewis Gray has been named the 2023 Rudy Scholz Award winner as the best men’s collegiate rugby player of the 2022-2023 season.

Gray has been the scoring leader and emotional leader of the team in its 18-0 run to a national D1A championship, capped by Saturday’s 28-22 defeat of Cal.

In that game Gray’s contribution was certainly more on the emotional and defensive side. While he was a key ground-gainer, it was Gray’s emotional speech during a break for hydration in the first half that turned Navy’s fortunes around. 

And, as time was almost up and Cal threatened to score a potential game-winner, it was Gray’s tackle that jarred the ball loose to allow the Midshipmen to run out the clock.

The quantitative economics major played for his dad, Dwight, for the Jupiter Sharks in high school and the father-son combo led the Sharks to a Florida state championship.

At Navy Gray developed into a multi-faceted player who can kick from the hand and the tee, can defend with power, and is a dangerous attacking threat. He plays flyhalf at times and inside center, often sliding into a flyhalf role even when wearing the #12 jersey.