CWU Prop Mae Sagapolu Wins 2023 MA Sorensen Award
CWU Prop Mae Sagapolu Wins 2023 MA Sorensen Award
The 2023 MA Sorensen Award for the top women's college player in the country is going to Mae Sagapolu.
The Central Washington University prop is so good she has already been capped by her country and her award marks the first time the Sorensen goes to a West Coast school.
Keia Mae “Mae” Sagapolu came to Central Washington as an unknown prospect having only a couple of months of rugby under the belt before walking on to the rugby program. She quickly excelled and found herself making an immediate impact in the front row as she found a home at tighthead prop for the Wildcats. It was clear to see that even in Sagapolu’s first season, there was potential to go far in the sport with so much natural talent.
Sagapolu continued to impress in the game and battled through any adversity that came her way including the COVID shutdown and a coaching change. Still, Sagapolu worked hard and earned three MA Sorensen Award nominations. Last Summer, USA Rugby brought back the pathway for Under 20s and Under 23s with the Garnet & Gold Classic where Sagapolu’s last season began with a bang. After impressing in camp, she was selected to start at No. 8 for the USA U23s and was eventually named tour MVP for the USA.
A fantastic 15s campaign saw Mae make an impact once again as she was named a 1st-Team All-American for D1 Elite. Her combination of running and catch-pass skills, ability in the contact area, and open-field awareness are rare to find in a tighthead prop, but seemed effortless at times for Sagapolu.
Off the first she is a leader and now has captained the Wildcats for two years. Her coach, Matt Ramirez, calls her "a culture builder and culture driver."
Sagapolu will officially receive her MA Sornesen Award trophy at a gala event hosted by the Washington Athletic Club June 10 in Seattle, Wash.
