Valko is the third winner of the award, sponsored by the NCAA Division II Wrestling Coaches' Association and voted on by eight regional representatives from around the country. Nebraska-Kearney heavyweight Tervel Dlagnev took the inaugural award in 2008, with Nebraska-Omaha 157-pounder Todd Meneely winning it last year.
Each of the four regions nominated a candidate, with Valko the Super Region One nominee. The senior star finished with 28 points to easily claim the coveted honor.
Upper Iowa 165-pound national champion Travis Eggers of Super Region Three was runner-up in the voting. Wisconsin-Parkside 149-pound national champion Craig Becker was the Region One representative and Nebraska-Kearney 174-pound national winner Marty Usman the Super Region Four nominee.
Valko capped a dominating 2009-10 season by capturing the 133-pound title with a 6-3 win over previously unbeaten Cody Garcia of Nebraska-Omaha on March 13 in Omaha, Neb., winning the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler honor in the process.
A product of Forest Hills High School in Windber, Pa., Valko finished the season 28-1 with 16 bonus-point wins and he ended his career with a 20-match winning streak.
Valko was a four-time national qualifier and three-time All-American for the Mountain Cats, placing fourth at 141 pounds in 2008 and runner-up at 133 in 2009 after losing a tiebreaker decision in the finals. He ended with a 115-30 career record, including a 56-2 mark the last two years.
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