McAvoy Recipient of Doug Sciutto #4 Jersey

Berkeley, CA - When Doug Sciutto attempted to break down a locked door at a burning house on Sept. 8, 1990, at the University of California Berkeley, he was trying to rescue his friends from the flames that engulfed the structure. He never made it out of the building that day, but his memory will live on whenever the Golden Bears step on the lacrosse field this spring.

Sciutto, a former captain and MVP for the Golden Bears, had his No. 4 retired that year out of respect, and it had never been worn for 25 years.

With the blessing of Sciutto’s father, Bob, and in an effort to better remember and celebrate Sciutto’s legacy, the program unretired the No. 4 in the Fall of 2015. It is now worn each year by the senior or graduate student who best demonstrates his qualities of courage, commitment and selflessness, while dominating all aspects of the Cal Men's Lacrosse experience.

“Some programs bestow a number to a player based on merit or the quality of their play,” said head coach Ned Webster. “This award is based primarily on strength of character and will be the highest achievable honor for a Cal Men's Lacrosse player.”

In the tightest voting in the award's eight year history, graduate student and second year captain Ryan McAvoy (Granite Bay, CA) has been named the recipient of the 2023 Doug Sciutto #4 Memorial Jersey.

The player and coaches' voting resulted in two finalists- McAvoy and fellow second year captain Jack Ronan (Danville, CA). However, nearly every senior received votes, speaking to our overarching leadership of Andy Harris, Marshall Wiesner, Joe Sonsini, Dawson Hill, Kai Cheslack, Jacob Steensma, Zach Blake, and Cooper Endicott.

Both McAvoy and Ronan returned to the program this year for identical reasons: to lead and win. Each voted for the other, an unsurprising demonstration of their humility, mutual respect and friendship. They were separated by just three votes.

Congratulations to Ryan McAvoy!

GO BEARS!