Issue link: https://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1544632
SPRING / SUMMER 2026 13 first take rugby awards / in memory Join rugby's elite at the WAC Players of the year awards ceremony takes place June 13 at the Club e 11th annual Sorensen & Scholz Collegiate Rugby Player of the Year Awards ceremony takes place starting at 6 pm on Saturday, June 13, in the Crystal Ballroom. e event is a verita- ble who's who of college and Northwest rugby. Named aer women's rugby leg- end and trailblazer MA Sorensen, the Sorensen Award honors the nation's best women's college rugby player. e men's award is named for two-time Olympic gold medalist Rudy Scholz (1896–1981). e winners of both awards are chosen by their peers and members of the rugby community. Many former winners have played on U.S. national teams. is year's guest speaker is Kevin O'Brien. Kevin served as head coach of the USA Women's Rugby Team from 1987–1991, coached 2009 Division II men's national champion Middlebury College, and is a past coach at Harvard University. e Washington Athletic Club is the home of the Sorensen & Scholz Awards and helped establish the annual recog- nition of the best college players in the sport. Reserve your tickets on the WAC app or online at wac.net/rugby-awards, where you may also view the list of this year's finalists. E M I L I O H U E R TA S Former Chairman of the Board of Governors Ammon McWashington shared his favorite football moment in a 2002 interview with e Seattle Times. It came during the 1965 season, one of Ammon's two as a member of the Washington State University football team. Down 7–6, Ammon caught a 2-point conversion that lied the Cougars to an 8–7 victory. Aer graduating from Washington State, where he starred as a halack in 1965 and 1966, Ammon spent three decades working in Seattle Public Schools. He is widely remembered as principal at Garfield High School. Ammon also served as Seattle School's Coordinator of Athletics and retired as Exec- utive Director of Student Services. Ammon passed away this past February at age 80. "His passion for education, youth, and athletics brought a valu- able, thoughtful, visionary perspective to the Board," former Chairman Doug Seto says. During a 2012 gathering at Lumen Field, Ammon posed with nine fellow WAC members and Apple Cup alumni. In 2004, he became the first Black Chairman of the WAC. During his tenure, membership grew and $1.3 million was invested into capital projects, including renovations to the Crystal Ballroom and Hagerty's that included making the space smoke-free. "Ammon's service to the WAC as Chairman was defined by his genuine care for our members and our team, leaving a lasting impact on the culture and strength of the WAC com- munity," President & CEO Suzana Sakay says. "I will miss his smile, his warm approach, and the way he made everyone feel seen, valued, and welcome." Ammon is survived by his wife, Carol Coram, an avid triathlete and WAC member, and son Shawn McWashington. Remembering Ammon McWashington First Black WAC Chairman passes at age 80 W A C M A G A Z I N E A R C H I V E