Katelyn Walker Named MA Sorensen Award Nominee

HANOVER, N.H. - Last week, Katelyn Walker was announced as a nominee for the MA Sorensen Award. The award is presented annually to the top collegiate women's rugby player in the nation.

The MA Sorensen award is named after MaryAnn Sorensen, a prop for Team USA who won the 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup and made it to the finals in 1994. Sorensen played collegiately at William & Mary and pursued a career in coaching and the medical field.

Walker scored six tries during the Big Green's 15s season, the third most amongst the team. Her 30 total points was third overall.

Dartmouth and Harvard women's rugby are the ultimate rivals, having consistently faced each other in the 15s National Championship. Walker was up to the task during the team's regular season meeting this past season, leading the team with 10 total points.

Head Coach Katie Dowty described Walker as a gamechanger, "combining rare speed and power with fearless intent."

The 2025 15s season saw Walker transition from wing to the forward pack, where she continued to succeed, "breaking tackles and making huge impacts while taking on fresh challenges," Dowty said.

Due to her contributions in the fall, Walker was named a first-team All-NIRA honoree, the second time she's been recognized by the conference.

During the 2025 spring 7s season, Walker led the Big Green to their first College Rugby Association of America (CRAA) National Championship, being named the MVP after scoring five tries in six matches. Across all of 7s play, Walker tallied 50 points in 147 total minutes.

Walker is also a two-time captain, in the leadership role in both her junior and senior seasons.

"Katelyn has been an inspirational leader for our program since the day she arrived at Dartmouth. She leads with grace, emotional intelligence, and an unwavering commitment to her team, always true to her north start that athletic success is inseparable from our growth as people," Dowty said. "Now in her second year as captain, she continues to be a transformational force, helping us celebrate all we achieve while relentlessly challenging us to better our best."

The MA Sorensen Award winner will be announced at the Washington Athletic Club in Seattle in June.

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