A Rugby Celebration as the Scholz and Sorensen Awards are Handed Out
The Washington Athletic Club hosted the Rudy Scholz and MA Sorensen Awards dinner Saturday night in Seattle, with Solomon Williams and Tiahna Padilla being honored as the nation's top collegiate rugby players.
The Awards Celebration was sponsored in part by Kells Irish Restaurant and Pub in Seattle.
Collegiate Player of the Year Awards Officially Presented Saturday Night
It's Awards Weekend in rugby as the Rugby Scholz and MA Sorensen Awards will officially be presented in Seattle on Saturday evening.
Solomon Williams Named Winner of the 2026 Rudy Scholz Award
Solomon Williams has been named as the 2026 Rudy Scholz Award winner as the best men’s collegiate rugby player in the United States.
Williams, the scrumhalf and one of the field generals of the two-time D1A champion Cal Bears, won the vote from a panel of seven coaches and media.
Finalists for 2026 Scholz Award Named
The finalists for the Rudy Scholz Award, given each year to the top collegiate rugby player in America, have been named.
With votes from a panel of coaches and media, along with votes from the American college rugby public, the 16 nominees have been whittled down to four finalists.
Those finalists are:
Tiahna Padilla Wins 2026 MA Sorensen Award
Harvard flyhalf/center and playmaker Tiahna Padilla has won the 2026 MA Sorensen Award as the nation's top woman collegiate rugby player.
Padilla already reached a milestone this season as she has been a finalist for the Sorensen Award an astonishing four straight times, a testament to her consistently high performance.
