National Wrestling Hall of Fame Announces State Winners of Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award 

STILLWATER, Okla. – The National Wrestling Hall of Fame on Thursday announced the state  winners of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award (DSHSEA).  

The DSHSEA was established in 1996 to honor Olympic and World champion Dave Schultz,  whose career was cut short when he was murdered in January 1996. He was inducted into the  National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1997 and as a member of the  United World Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016. 

The DSHSEA recognizes and celebrates the nation’s most outstanding high school senior male  wrestlers for their excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship, and community  service. 

“This year’s Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award winners represent an exceptional  group of student-athletes whose qualifications encompass a combination of accomplishments  in academics, athletics, and humanitarian service for the benefit of others.,” said Hall of Fame  Executive Director Lee Roy Smith. “We look forward to following their careers and wish them  all the best in sports and life.” 

The state winners are evaluated and selected on the basis of three criteria: success and  standout performances and sportsmanship in wrestling; review of GPA and class rank,  academic honors and distinctions; and participation in activities that demonstrate commitment  to character and community. 

The Central Region, Midwest Region, Northeast Region, Southeast Region and West Region  winners will be announced on April 26 and the national winner will be announced on May 3.  

The Hall of Fame announced the state winners of the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence  Award (TSHSEA) on Wednesday. The TSHSEA recognizes and celebrates the nation’s most  outstanding high school senior female wrestlers for their excellence in wrestling, scholastic 

achievement, citizenship, and community service. The TSHSEA regional winners will be  announced on April 25 and the national winner will be announced on May 2.  

Regional winners for both awards are selected from state winners, and the national winners  will be chosen from the regional winners.  

The regions and the states that they are comprised of are: 

West (11) – Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah,  Washington and Wyoming 

Midwest (10) – Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio,  South Dakota and Wisconsin 

Central (7) – Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas 

Southeast (11) – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina,  South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia 

Northeast (11) – Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,  New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont 

The TSHSEA and DSHSEA national winners will be honored during the 46th Honors Weekend  at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum on June 2 and 3 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. To  purchase tickets for Honors Weekend, visit https://bit.ly/3w2CQOM.  

The Hall of Fame accepts nominations for its high school excellence awards from state  chapters and coaches. The nominations are reviewed by a committee, which selects state and  regional winners. The committee then determines the national winners from the regional  winners. 

National winners of the DSHSEA award have combined to win 19 NCAA Division I individual  titles led by four-time champion Logan Stieber (2010), three-time winner Zain Retherford  (2013) and two-time winners Steven Mocco (2001), David Taylor (2009), Teyon Ware (2002) and Zahid Valencia (2015). 

2023 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award State Winners 

State – Name, High School, Hometown, College Attending 

Alabama – Carson Hall, Ranburne, Ranburne High School, Air Force Academy (Football and  Wrestling) 

Alaska – Liam Babbitt, Soldotna, Soldotna High School 

Arizona – Markell Rivera-Cain, Glendale, Ironwood High School, North Dakota State University

Arkansas – Justin Crutchmer, Hot Springs, Lake Hamilton High School, Oklahoma State  University (Football)l 

California – Beau Mantanona, Bermuda Dunes, Palm Desert High School, University of Michigan  Colorado – Weston Dalton, Pueblo West, Pueblo East High School, University of Nebraska Connecticut – Jack Richardson, Danielson, Killingly High School, Johnson & Wales University Delaware – Luke Poore, New Castle, Caravel Academy 

Florida – Cooper Haase, St. Cloud, Osceola High School, USMA West Point Prep Georgia – Luke Cochran, Pendergrass, Jefferson High School, Central Michigan University  Hawaii – Brycen Pagurayan, Kapolei, Kapolei High School 

Idaho – Aden Attao, Boise, Borah High School, Oregon State University 

Illinois – Kannon Webster, Washington, Washington Community High School, University of  Illinois 

Indiana – Sam Goin, Crown Point, Crown Point High School, Indiana University  Iowa – Ben Kueter, Iowa City, Iowa City High School, University of Iowa  Kansas – Nick Treaster, Newton, Newton High School, United States Naval Academy  Kentucky – George Ferree, Louisville, Trinity High School 

Louisiana – Ernie Perry III, Bossier, Airline High School, Cornell University  Maine – Derek Cote, Lebanon, Noble High School, Springfield College or The University of  Southern Maine  

Maryland – Coleman Nogle, Laurel, Mount Saint Joseph, Harvard University Massachusetts – Rawson Iwanicki, Andover, St. John’s Prep, Columbia University Michigan – Joshua Barr, Davison, Davison High School, Penn State University  Minnesota – Max McEnelly, Waconia, Waconia High School, University of Minnesota  Mississippi – Nate Taylor, Olive Branch, Center Hill High School 

Missouri – Carter McCallister, Columbia, Rock Bridge High School, University of Missouri Montana – Izzy Moreno, Big Sky High School, Missoula, University of Northern Iowa Nebraska – Kael Lauridsen, Bennington, Bennington High School, University of Nebraska Nevada – Tyson Irby-Brownson, Henderson, Boulder City High School 

New Hampshire – Anthony Fernandez, Nashua, Nashua High School South New Jersey – James Mullen, Hopatcong, St. Joseph Regional High School, Virginia Tech  University 

New Mexico – Adan Benavidez, Bloomfield, Bloomfield High School, Kent State University  New York – Tyler Ferrara, Binghamton, Chenango Forks High School, Cornell University  North Carolina – Jeremiah Price, State Road, Surry Central, Appalachian State University North Dakota – Boeden Greenley, Lisbon, Lisbon High School, North Dakota State University Ohio – Joseph Blaze, IV, Perrysburg, Perrysburg High School, Purdue University Oklahoma – Cael Hughes, Glencoe, Stillwater High School, Oklahoma State University  Oregon – Hayden Walters, Central Point, Crescent Valley High School, University of Michigan  Pennsylvania – Rocco Welsh, Fredricktown, Waynesburg Central High School, Ohio State  University  

Rhode Island – Jacob Joyce, Chepachet, Ponaganset High School, Stanford University  South Carolina – Colt Schrader, Greer, Eastside High School 

South Dakota – Owen Hansen, Gregory, Gregory High School, Augustana University Tennessee – Hunter Mason, Newport, Greeneville High School, Virginia Tech University

Texas – Shawn Ryncarz, Arlington, James Martin High School, Morgan State University Utah – Kyison Garcia, South Jordan, Mountain Ridge High School, Penn State University  Vermont – Coy Lyford, Randolph, Spaulding High School 

Virginia – Patrick Jordon, Providence Forge, New Kent High School, Virginia Military Institute Washington – Q’veli Quintanilla, Spokane, University High School, Utah Valley University West Virginia – Matthew Dolan, Martinsburg, Spring Mills High School, West Virginia University  Wisconsin – Greyson Clark, Wrightstown, Kaukauna High School, Purdue University Wyoming – Lane, Catlin, Gillette, Thunder Basin High School, University of Wyoming 

All-Time National Winners of Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award  

2022 – Cory Land, Moody High School, Moody, Alabama 

2021 – Alex Facundo, Davison High School, Essexville, Michigan 

2020 – Braxton Amos, Parkersburg South High School, Mineral Wells, West Virginia (Freestyle  Junior World Champion and Greco-Roman Junior World Bronze Medalist) 2019 – Cohlton Schultz, Ponderosa High School, Parker, Colorado (Greco-Roman Cadet World  Champion) 

2018 – David Carr, Perry High School, Massillon, Ohio (NCAA Champion and Junior World  Champion) 

2017 – Daton Fix, Charles Page High School, Sand Springs, Oklahoma (World Silver Medalist,  Junior World Champion and 2X Junior World Bronze Medalist) 

2016 – Mark Hall II, Apple Valley High School, Apple Valley, Minnesota (NCAA Champion, 2X  Junior World Champion and Cadet World Champion) 

2015 – Zahid Valencia, St. John Bosco High School, Bellflower, California (2X NCAA Champion  and Junior World Silver Medalist) 

2014 – Chance Marsteller, Kennard-Dale High School, Fawn Grove, Pennsylvania  2013 – Zain Retherford, Benton Area High School, Benton, Pennsylvania (3X NCAA Champion and World Silver Medalist)  

2012 – Taylor Massa, St. Johns High School, St. Johns, Michigan 

2011 – Morgan McIntosh, Calvary Chapel High School, Santa Ana, California 2010 – Logan Stieber, Monroeville High School, Monroeville, Ohio (World Champion and 4X  NCAA Champion) 

2009 – David Taylor, Graham High School, St. Paris, Ohio (Olympic Gold Medalist, 2X World  Champion, World Silver Medalist and 2X NCAA Champion) 

2008 – Jason Chamberlain, Springville High School, Springville, Utah 

2007 – Zachary Sanders, Wabasha-Kellogg High School, Wabasha, Minnesota 2006 – David Craig, Brandon High School, Brandon, Florida 

2005 – Troy Nickerson, Chenango Forks High School, Chenango Forks, New York (NCAA  Champion) 

2004 – Coleman Scott, Waynesburg High School, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania (NCAA Champion  and Olympic bronze medalist) 

2003 – C.P. Schlatter, St. Paul Graham High School, Urbana, Ohio 

2002 – Teyon Ware, Edmond North High School, Edmond, Oklahoma (2X NCAA Champion)

2001 – Steven Mocco, Blair Academy, Blairstown, New Jersey (2X NCAA Champion and  Olympian) 

2000 – Ben Connell, Lugoff-Elgin High School, Lugoff, South Carolina 

1999 – Zach Roberson, Blue Valley North West High School, Overland Park, Kansas (NCAA  Champion) 

1998 – Garrett Lowney, Freedom High School, Appleton, Wisconsin (2X Olympian) and Justin  Ruiz, Taylorsville High School, Salt Lake City, Utah (Olympian) 

1997 – Jeff Knupp, Walsh Jesuit High School, Akron, Ohio 

1996 – David Kjeldgaard, Lewis Central High School, Council Bluffs, Iowa 

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National Wrestling Hall of Fame Announces State Winners of Tricia  Saunders High School Excellence Awards 

STILLWATER, Okla. – The National Wrestling Hall of Fame on Wednesday announced the state  winners of the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award (TSHSEA).  

First presented in 2014, the award is named for Tricia Saunders, a four-time World Champion  and women’s wrestling pioneer. Saunders was the first woman to be inducted as a  Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006 and was inducted into  the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2011. 

The award recognizes and celebrates the nation’s most outstanding high school senior female  wrestlers for their excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship, and community  service. 

“This year’s Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award winners represent an exceptional  group of student-athletes whose qualifications combine both academic and athletic  accomplishments. They have also participated in a wide range of humanitarian and service related activities for the benefit of others,” said Executive Director Lee Roy Smith. “We look  forward to following their future successes and wish them all the best in sports and life.” 

The state winners are evaluated and selected on the basis of three criteria: success and  standout performances and sportsmanship in wrestling; review of GPA and class rank,  academic honors and distinctions; and participation in activities that demonstrate commitment  to character and community. 

The Central Region, Midwest Region, Northeast Region, Southeast Region and West Region  winners will be announced on April 25 and the national winner will be announced on May 2.  

The state winners of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award will be announced on  Thursday. The DSHSEA recognizes and celebrates the nation’s most outstanding high school  senior male wrestlers for their excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship, and 

community service. The regional DSHSEA winners will be announced on April 26 and the  national winner will be announced on May 3.  

The regional winners for the TSHSEA and the DSHSEA are selected from the state winners,  and the national winner is chosen from the regional winners.  

The regions and the states that they are comprised of are: 

West (11) – Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah,  Washington and Wyoming 

Midwest (10) – Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio,  South Dakota and Wisconsin 

Central (7) – Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas 

Southeast (11) – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina,  South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia 

Northeast (11) – Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,  New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont 

The TSHSEA and DSHSEA national winners will be honored during the 46th Honors Weekend  at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum on June 2 and 3 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. To  purchase tickets for Honors Weekend, visit https://bit.ly/3w2CQOM.  

Thirty-eight state high school athletic associations have approved girls wrestling as an official  sport and 38 held official girls high school state wrestling championships in 2022-23. Hawaii  was the first state to host a girls state championship in 1998 while Texas began its girls  tournament in 1999. The number grew to six states by 2015 and has exploded in recent years  to 38 states. 

States that hosted state-sanctioned girls wrestling championships in 2022-23 are Alaska,  Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois,  Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,  Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North  Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington,  Wisconsin and Wyoming. 

To date there are 153 intercollegiate women’s wrestling teams. The NCAA has approved  “Emerging Sport Status” for women’s wrestling at the Division I, Division II and Division III  levels while the NAIA recognizes women’s wrestling as an official varsity sport and held their  first official championship in 2023.

Women’s wrestling is one of the fastest growing high school sports with participation growing  by more than 71 percent from 16,562 in 2018 to 28,447 in 2020. Growth has continued  through the pandemic and more than 52,400 female high school wrestlers competed in 2022- 23. 

The Hall of Fame accepts nominations for its high school excellence awards from state  chapters and coaches. The nominations are reviewed by a committee, which selects state and  regional winners. The committee then determines the national winners from the regional  winners. 

2023 Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award State Winners 

State – Name, High School, Hometown, College Attending 

Alabama – Akerah Artis, Sparkman High School, Madison 

Alaska – Trinity Donovan, Soldotna High School, Soldotna 

Arizona – Trinity Bouchal, Basha High School, Queen Creek 

Arkansas – Presley Givens, Bryant High School, Benton, Oklahoma City University California – Kiely Tabaldo, Menlo-Atherton High School, Sunnyvale, Colorado Mesa University Colorado – Taylor Knox, Calhan School, Peyton 

Connecticut – Samantha Yap, Stamford High School, Stamford, Sacred Heart University Delaware – Alyssa Mahan, Delaware Military Academy, Wilmington, Presbyterian College Florida – Kealonie Vega, Osceola High School, Kissimmee, Gannon University Georgia – Lilly Chavis, Jackson County High School, Jefferson 

Hawaii – Isabelle Asuncion, Moanalua High School, Honolulu, University of Providence Idaho – Alyssa Randles, Coeur d’Alene High School, Coeur d’Alene 

Illinois – Attalia Watson-Castro, Homewood-Flossmoor High School, Homewood Indiana – Mackenzie Konanz, Penn High School, Granger, Aurora University Iowa – Lilly Luft, Charles City Community High School, Charles City, University of Iowa Kansas – Makayla Rivera, Olathe West High School, Lenexa, Lindenwood University Kentucky – Addison Messerly, Grant County High School, Crittenden 

Louisiana – Gabriella Cook, Hahnville High School, Luling, Carl Albert State College Maine – May Moren, Bucksport High School, Verona Island 

Maryland – Alex Szkotnicki, South River High School, Riva, McKendree University Massachusetts – Jacyln Dehney, Central Catholic High School, Pelham (New Hampshire) Michigan – Emaline (Emme) Hicks, Saline High School, Ypsilanti 

Minnesota – Joel Makem, Shakopee High School, Shakopee 

Mississippi – Bel Manteith, Oxford High School, Oxford 

Missouri – Maddie Kubicki, Park Hill South High School, Kansas City, Presbyterian College Montana – Kassidee Savaria, Skyview High School, Billings 

Nebraska – Reagan Galloway, Amherst High School, Kearney, Hastings College Nevada – Katie Ward, Robert McQueen High School, Reno 

New Jersey – Kira Pipkins, Bloomfield High School, Bloomfield, Columbia University New Mexico – Makayla Munoz, Aztec High School, Farmington, Oklahoma City University New York – Emily Sindoni, Tioga Central School, Nichols, Utica University

North Carolina – Jeulenea Khang, Freedom High School, Newton, University of Mount Olive North Dakota – Allyssa Johnson, Grand Forks Central High School, Grand Forks, Chadron State  College 

Ohio – Josie, Davis Sidney High School, Sidney, Campbellsville University Oklahoma – Peyton Hand, Choctaw High School, Choctaw, Ottawa University Oregon – Destiny Rodriguez, West Linn High School, West Linn, McKendree University Pennsylvania – Abbie Miles, Laurel High School, New Castle, Albion College South Carolina – Caroline Gilstrap, Summerville High School, Summerville, McKendree  University 

South Dakota – Taylor Graveman, Spearfish High School, Spearfish, North Central College Tennessee – Ella-Lina Gonzalez, Clarksville High School, Clarksville 

Texas – Fernanda Lopez, Lake Highlands High School, Dallas, Southern Oregon University Utah – Ashley Cannon, Westlake High School, Saratoga Springs 

Vermont – Paityn Delong, Fair Haven Union High School, Fair Haven, East Stroudsburg  University 

Virginia – Charlize Olivia, Shuler, Grassfield High School, Chesapeake 

Washington – Alivia White, Marysville Pilchuck High School, Lake Stevens, University of Iowa West Virginia – Loralei Smith, Cabell Midland High School, Milton, Indiana Institute of  Technology 

Wisconsin – Kylie Rule, Mineral Point High School, Mineral Point, Wartburg College Wyoming – Maggie Smith, Rock Springs High School, Rock Springs, Colorado Mesa University 

All-Time National Winners of Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award 

2022 – Sofia Macaluso, Minisink High School, Otisville, New York (U20 World Silver Medalist) 2021 – Olivia Brown, Broken Arrow High School, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 2020 – Nanea Estrella, Lahainaluna High School, Makawao, Hawaii  

2019 – Emily Shilson, Mounds View High School, North Oaks, Minnesota (Five-Time College  National Champion, Junior World Champion)  

2018 – Alleida Martinez, Selma High School, Selma, California  

2017 – Cierra Foster, Post Falls High School, Post Falls, Idaho  

2016 – Katie Brock, Sequatchie County High School, Whitwell, Tennessee  2015 – Marizza Birrueta, Grandview High School, Grandview, Washington 2014 – Marina Doi, Kingsburg High School, Kingsburg, California 

National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum 

America’s shrine to the sport of wrestling, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum was  founded as a nonprofit organization in 1976 to honor the sport of wrestling, preserve its  history, recognize extraordinary individual achievements, and inspire future generations. The  National Wrestling Hall of Fame has museums in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Waterloo, Iowa.  The Stillwater, Oklahoma, location reopened in June 2016 following a $3.8 million renovation  and now features interactive exhibits and electronic kiosks, as well as the opportunity to watch  NCAA Championship matches from the 1930s to present day. It also has the John T. Vaughan  Hall of Honors where the greatest names in wrestling are recognized, including iconic granite 

plaques presented to Distinguished Members since the Hall of Fame opened in 1976. The  museum has the largest collection of wrestling artifacts and memorabilia in the world,  including the most collegiate and Olympic wrestling uniforms. Wrestling truly is for everyone  and the diversity and accessibility of the sport continues to be highlighted through exhibits  featuring females, African-Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and Latino  Americans. There is also a library featuring historical documents, including NCAA guides and  results, as well as books on the sport. For more information about the Hall of Fame, please  visit http://www.NWHOF.org