National Wrestling Hall of Fame announces Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award state winners

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

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.

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.

“The recipients of our Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award represent an extraordinary group of young women who have set the bar for excellence, not only in the classroom and on the wrestling mat, but also through their leadership and service to others,” said NWHOF Executive Director Lee Roy Smith. “We are incredibly grateful to our committee for their time and diligent work in selecting such outstanding ambassadors for our sport.

“It’s a tremendous honor to recognize these young women, and we take great pride in watching them continue to thrive on the wrestling mat, excelling academically, and serving as inspiring role models for the next generation of wrestlers.”

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

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

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 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.

Women’s wrestling is one of the fastest growing high school sports with participation growing by more than 292 percent from 16,562 in 2018 to 65,000 in 2024.

Forty-six state high school athletic associations have voted to approve girls wrestling as an official sport, and 46 held official girls high school state wrestling championships in 2024-25. Hawaii was the first state to host a girls state championship in 1998 and Texas began its girls’ tournament in 1999. The number grew to six states by 2015.

States that hosted girls state wrestling championships in 2024-25 are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

In January, the NCAA added women’s wrestling as its 91st championship sport. Women's wrestling advances from the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program to become a national collegiate championship, featuring female athletes from all three divisions competing against one another. The NCAA's first women's wrestling championship will be in 2026. The NAIA recognizes women’s wrestling as an official varsity sport and held their first official championship in 2023.

There are over 175 intercollegiate women’s wrestling teams competing at the NCAA, NAIA, junior college and community college level.

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.

2025 Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award State Winners

State - Name, High School, Hometown, College Attending

Alabama - Evelyn Holmes-Smith, Enterprise High School, Enterprise, Emmanuel University

Alaska - Noelle Buck, Colony High School, Wasilla, Colorado Mesa University

Arizona - Alena Gracia, Cesar Chavez High School, Phoenix

Arkansas - Gracie Webb, Searcy High School, Searcy

California - Isabella Marie Gonzales, Clovis East High School, Fresno, University of Iowa

Colorado - Katelyn Valdez, Doherty High School, Colorado Springs, McKendree University

Connecticut - Calli Gilchrist, Choate Rosemary Hall, Norwalk, Brown University

Delaware - Natalie Hackett, St. Georges Technical High School, Newark

Florida - Milana Borrelli, Venice High School, Venice, North Central College

Georgia - Vera Spencer, North Oconee High School, Bogart

Hawaii - Jax Realin, Kamehameha Schools, Mililani

Idaho - Joely Slyter, Lewiston High School, Lewiston

Illinois - Harlee Hiller, Loyola Academy, Evanston

Indiana - Mallory Winner, Jay County High School, East Ridgeville

Iowa - Molly Allen, Riverside High School, Oakland, Oklahoma State University

Kansas - Leiannah Landreth, Mulvane High School, Mulvane

Kentucky - Sophie Anderson, Walton Verona High School, Walton, Campbellsville University

Louisiana - Natalie Davis, Haughton High School, Haughton, Texas Women's University

Maine - Ciara Farias, Gardiner Area High School, Randolph

Maryland - Lexy Pabon, Crofton High School, Crofton, Life University

Massachusetts - Daniella Nugent, Phillips Academy at Andover, Boxford

Michigan - Margaret Buurma, Fowlerville High School, Fowlerville

Minnesota - Ella Pagel, Northfield High School, Nerstrand

Mississippi - Addison Wilson, Oak Grove High School, Hattiesburg

Missouri - Kailey Benson, Francis Howell Central High School, St. Peters

Montana - Tirza Twoteeth, Ronan High School, Ronan

Nebraska - Piper Zatechka, Omaha Westside High School, Omaha, Lehigh University

Nevada - Addison Canja, Cimarron Memorial High School, Las Vegas

New Hampshire - Liz Donovan, Pelham High School, Pellham

New Jersey - Shaelie Young, Gateway Regional High School, Woodbury Heights, D'Youville University

New Mexico - Leslie Nayarez-Alcala, Atrisco Heritage Academy High School, Albuquerque

New York - Zoe Griffith, Gouverneur Central High School, Gouverneur, Presbyterian College

North Carolina - Leah Edwards, East Rowan High School, Salisbury

North Dakota - Alexis Schneider, Napoleon Public School, Kintyre

Ohio - Makennah Craft, Jackson High School, Minford, Campbellsville University

Oklahoma - Jadyn Roller, Bixby High School, Bixby

Oregon - McKenzie Mills, David Douglas High School, Portland, University of Providence

Pennsylvania - Aubree Krazer, Easton Area High School, Easton, Lehigh University

Rhode Island - Victoria Salinas, Toll Gate High School, Warwick

South Carolina - Tiyanna Mack, Blythewood High School, Blythewood

South Dakota - Peyton Hellmann, Bon Homme High School, Tabor, Fort Hays State

Tennessee - Piper Fowler, Cleveland High School, Cleveland, William Penn University

Texas - Riley Rayome, The Woodlands High School, Shenandoah

Utah - Kristina Kent, Davis High School, Kaysville

Virginia - Jenna Anderson, Cosby High School, Moseley

Washington - Libby Roberts, University High School, Spokane Valley

West Virginia - Kaylie Hall, Spring Mills High School, Augusta, Presbyterian College

Wisconsin - Hailie Krueger, New London High School, New London, Wartburg College

Wyoming - Veil Forman, Star Valley High School, Etna

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

Year - Name, High School, Hometown, State

2024 - Nebi Tsarni, Watkins Mill High School, Montgomery Village, Maryland

2023 - Kira Pipkins, Bloomfield High School, Bloomfield, New Jersey

2022 - Sofia Macaluso, Minisink High School, Otisville, New York

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 (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 www.NWHOF.org.