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 Hall of Fame’s High School Excellence Awards are proudly sponsored by the Hyman Family, whose generous support and passion for the sport help ensure the continued recognition and development of wrestling’s next generation.

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.

“The recipients of our Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award represent an exceptional group of young men who have set the standard for achievement — excelling not only in the classroom and on the wrestling mat, but also through leadership and service to their communities,” said NWHOF Executive Director Lee Roy Smith. “We are incredibly grateful to our selection committees for their thoughtful and dedicated efforts in choosing such outstanding ambassadors for our sport.

“It’s a privilege to honor these student-athletes, and we take great pride in following their continued success at the collegiate and international levels — both in competition and academics — as they grow into the next generation of leaders and role models in wrestling.”

DSHSEA 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 24 and the national winner will be announced on April 30.

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 23 and the national winner will be announced on April 29.

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 48th Honors Weekend at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum on June 6 and 7 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. To purchase tickets for Honors Weekend, visit https://bit.ly/2025NWHOFHonorsWeekendTickets.

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.

Coleman Scott (2004) and Logan Stieber (2010) became the first DSHSEA national winners to be inducted as Distinguished Members of the Hall of Fame when they were inducted in 2024.

Cael Sanderson, who was the Utah and West Region winner of the DSHSEA in 1997, and Jake Varner, who was the California winner of the DSHEA in 2005, are also Distinguished Members of the Hall of Fame.

National winners of the DSHSEA have combined to win 20 NCAA Division I individual titles led by four-time champion Logan Stieber (2010), three-time winner Zain Retherford (2013) and two-time winners David Carr (2018), Steven Mocco (2001), David Taylor (2009), Teyon Ware (2002) and Zahid Valencia (2015).

2025 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award State Winners

State - Name, High School, Hometown, College Attending

Alabama - Yanik Simon, Huntsville High School, Huntsville

Alaska - Jacob Strausbaugh, Soldotna High School, Soldotna, Cornerstone University (Not for Wrestling)

Arizona - Sergio Vega, Sunnyside High School, Tucson, Oklahoma State University

Arkansas - Ryan Rogers, Central Arkansas Christian School, Little Rock, McKendree University

California - Daniel Zepeda, Gilroy High School, Gilroy, North Carolina State University

Colorado - Traven Sharon, Home Schooled, Ordway, University of Wyoming

Connecticut - Scott Romano, Joel Barlow High School, West Redding

Delaware - Malachi Stratton, Sussex Central High School, Frankford

Florida - Maximus Brady, Mariner High School, Cape Coral, University of Northern Iowa

Georgia - Dominic Bambinelli, Mill Creek High School, Hoschton, University of Missouri

Hawaii - Tyger Ta'am, Moanalua High School, Honolulu, Menlo College

Idaho - Matthew Martino, Bishop Kelly High School, Eagle, Princeton University

Illinois - Seth Mendoza, Mount Carmel High School, Mokena, University of Missouri

Indiana - Jake Hockaday, Brownsburg High School, Pittsboro, Nebraska University

Iowa - Kyler Knaack, Don Bosco High School, Gilbertville, University of Northern Iowa

Kansas - Taye Wilson, Pratt High School, Pratt, University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Kentucky - Isaac Johns, Woodford County High School, Nicholasville, Bellarmine University

Louisiana - Richie Clementi, Brother Martin High School, Slidell, California Baptist University

Maine - Eli Potter, Wells High School, Wells

Maryland - Calvin Kraisser, Centennial High School, Ellicott City, Frostburg State University

Massachusetts - Sid Tildsley, Shawsheen Tech, Billerica

Michigan - Sebastian Martinez, Gabriel Richard Catholic High School, Lincoln Park, United States Air Force Academy

Minnesota - Landon Robideau, St. Michael-Albertville High School, St. Michael, Oklahoma State University

Mississippi - Jaiden Gipson, Oxford High School, Oxford

Missouri - Hank Benter, Hickman High School, Columbia, University of Missouri

Montana - Zach Morse, Billings West High School, Billings, Northern State University, Aberdeen South Dakota

Nebraska - Tyson Terry, Omaha North High School, Omaha, University of Nebraska

Nevada - Manuel Saldate, Sports Leadership & Management of Nevada, Las Vegas, Oregon State

New Hampshire - David Pento Jr., Londonderry High School, Londonderry

New Jersey - Harvey Ludington, Brick Memorial High School, Brick, University of Iowa

New Mexico - Mason Posa, La Cueva High School, Albuquerque, Wisconsin (Football)

New York - PJ Duke, Minisink Valley High School, Slate Hill, Penn State University

North Carolina - Liam Hickey, Cardinal Gibbons High School, Raleigh, University of North Carolina

North Dakota - Mark DeForest, Bismarck High School, Bismarck, University of Mary

Ohio - Marcus Blaze, Perrysburg High School, Perrysburg, Penn State University

Oklahoma - LaDarion Lockett, Stillwater High School, Stillwater, Oklahoma State University

Oregon - Oscar Doces, West Linn High School, West Linn

Pennsylvania - Aaron Seidel, Northern Lebanon High School, Jonestown, Virginia Tech

Rhode Island - Preston Marchessault, Ponaganset High School, Cranston, Brown University

South Carolina - Cason Howle, Greenwood High School, Greenwood, North Carolina State University

South Dakota - Moses Gross, Huron High School, Huron

Tennessee - Maximus Norman, Baylor School, Abingdon, Brown University

Texas - Caio Aron, The Woodlands College Park High School, Willis, California Baptist University

Utah - Geronimo Rivera, Layton High School, Hooper, Utah Valley University

Vermont - Elias Kalat, Spaulding High School, Rochester

Virginia - Tyler Hood, St. Christopher's School, Chesterfield, United States Naval Academy

Washington - Alan Salguero Jr., Orting High School, Puyallup, Colorado Mesa University

West Virginia - Brock Kehler, University High School, Morgantown, West Virginia University

Wisconsin - Daniel Heiser, Evansville High School, Oregon, University of Missouri

Wyoming - Liam Fox, Cheyenne East High School, Cheyenne, Western Wyoming Community College

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

2024 - Aeoden Sinclair, Milton High School, Edgerton, Wisconsin

2023 - Cael Hughes, Stillwater High School, Glencoe, Oklahoma

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. Paris 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

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 www.NWHOF.org.