National Wrestling Hall of Fame names 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.

“The winners of our Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award are an amazing group of young men who have set the highest standards for personal achievement, excelling in the classroom and on the wrestling mat while also providing leadership and service,” said NWHOF Executive Director Lee Roy Smith. “I want to thank our committees for their diligence and hard work to select such outstanding representatives of our sport.

“We take great pride watching our DSHSEA winners as they continue their careers and achieve success at the collegiate and international level while continuing to excel academically and be positive role models who inspire young wrestlers.”

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 May 2 and the national winner will be announced on May 9.

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 May 1 and the national winner will be announced on May 8.

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 47th Honors Weekend at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum on May 31 and June 1 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. To purchase tickets for Honors Weekend, visit https://bit.ly/2024NWHOFHonorsWeekendTickets.

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) will become the first DSHSEA national winners to be Distinguished Members of the Hall of Fame when they are inducted in the Class of 2024 during Honors Weekend.

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).

2024 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award State Winners

State - Name, High School, Hometown, College Attending

Alabama - Cole Carter, Jasper High School, Jasper

Alaska - Uatahouse Tuifua, Barrow High School, Barrow, Eastern New Mexico University (Football)

Arizona - Kyler Larkin, Valiant College Preparatory, Gilbert, Arizona State University

Arkansas - Lakoda Caldwell, Glen Rose High School, Malvern

California - Brock Mantanona, Palm Desert High School, Bermuda Dunes, University of Michigan

Colorado - Dale O'Blia, Mullen High School, Thornton, Princeton University

Connecticut - Nate Taylor, Greens Farms Academy, Sandy Hook, University of Pennsylvania

Delaware - James Miller, Salesianum School, Wilmington

Florida - Sawyer Bartelt, South Dade Senior High School, Coral Gables, Iowa State University

Georgia - Seth Larson, Flowery Branch High School, Flowery Branch, Campbell University

Hawaii - Diesel Del Rosario, Lanai High School, Lanai City

Idaho - Mack Mauger, Blackfoot High School, Blackfoot, University of Missouri

Illinois - Dillan Johnson, Joliet Catholic Academy, Plainfield, University of Wisconsin (Football and Wrestling)

Indiana - Will Clark, Crown Point High School, Crown Point

Iowa - Kane Naaktgeboren, Linn-Mar Community High School, Marion, Iowa State University

Kansas - Owen Eck, Andale High School, Andale, Oklahoma University

Kentucky - Breyden Whorton, LaRue County High School, Hodgenville, Thomas More University

Louisiana - Spencer Lanosga, Jesuit High School, River Ridge, United States Naval Academy

Maine - Gavin Ripley, Oceanside High School, Owls Head, Maine Maritime Academy

Maryland - Carter Nogle, Mount Saint Joseph High School, Laurel, United States Air Force Academy

Massachusetts - Nathan Blanchette, Central Catholic High School, Methuen, Rutgers University

Michigan - Justin Gates, Davison High School, Davison, University of Michigan

Minnesota - Nolan Ambrose, Jackson County Central High School, Jackson, Augustana University

Mississippi - Gabrial Shanks, Ocean Springs High School, Ocean Springs, Gannon University

Missouri - Hunter Taylor, Liberty High School, Liberty, Oregon State University

Montana - Keyan Hernandez, Billings West High School, Billings, University of Iowa

Nebraska - Drew Moser, Waverly High School, Waverly

Nevada - Marco Romero, Elko High School, Elko, Colorado School of Mines

New Hampshire - Teghan McConnell, Bedford High School, Bedford

New Jersey - Carter Neves, Blair Academy, Dayton, Ohio State University

New Mexico - Bryson Valdez, Aztec High School, Aztec, University of Northern Colorado

New York - Casper Stewart, Batavia High School, Batavia, United States Military Academy West Point

North Carolina - Cameron Stinson Jr., Mallard Creek High School, Charlotte, University of North Carolina

North Dakota - Leandro (L J) Araujo, Bismarck High School, Bismarck, University of Nebraska

Ohio - Jaxon Joy, Wadsworth High School, Wadsworth, Cornell University

Oklahoma - Gage Walker, Bixby High School, Bixby, University of Missouri

Oregon - Isaac Hampton, Newberg High School, Newberg, United States Naval Academy

Pennsylvania - Pierson Manville, State College Area High School, State College, Arizona State University

Rhode Island - Gabriel Bouyssou, Scituate High School, Hope, Cornell

South Carolina - Jermaine (JJ) Peace, Cane Bay High School, Summerville, American University

South Dakota - Navarro Schunke, Brandon Valley High School, Brandon

Tennessee - Logan Fowler, Cleveland High School, Cleveland, United States Air Force Academy

Texas - Angelo Ferrari, Melissa High School, Allen, University of Iowa

Utah - Cash Henderson, Woods Cross High School, Bountiful, Cornell University

Vermont - Anthony Matas, Essex High School, St. Albans, University of Buffalo

Virginia - Thomas Potter, Union High School, Wise, Gardner-Webb University

Washington - Lars Michaelson, Bremerton High School, Bremerton, Stanford University

West Virginia - Gage Wright, Parkersburg South High School, Mineral Wells, Virginia Tech

Wisconsin - Aeoden Sinclair, Milton High School, Edgerton, University of Missouri

Wyoming - Antonio Avila, Thunder Basin High School, Gillette

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

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. 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

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.