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.