Regional Winners of Dave Schultz High School Excellence Awards: Lockett, Blaze, Duke, Bambinelli, Zepeda

STILLWATER, Okla. - The National Wrestling Hall of Fame on Thursday announced the regional 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 winners are:

Central Region – LaDarion Lockett, Stillwater, Oklahoma, Stillwater High School, Oklahoma State University

Midwest Region – Marcus Blaze, Perrysburg, Ohio, Perrysburg High School, Penn State University

Northeast Region – PJ Duke, Slate Hill, New York, Minisink Valley High School, Penn State University

Southeast Region – Dominic Bambinelli, Hoschton, Georgia, Mill Creek High School, University of Missouri

West Region – Daniel Zepeda, Gilroy, California, Gilroy High School, North Carolina State University

The national winner will be announced on April 30. The national winner will be chosen from the regional winners.

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.

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 regional winners of the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award were announced 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 national winner will be announced on April 29.

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 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

2025 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award Regional Winners

Central Region: LaDarion Lockett of Stillwater, Oklahoma was a four-time Oklahoma state champion for Stillwater High School. The son of Jasper and NaShana Lockett, he will continue his wrestling career at Oklahoma State University. Lockett became Oklahoma’s 51st four-time state wrestling champion, finishing with a career record of 153-3 while also winning four regional titles and helping Stillwater capture three state titles and three state dual titles. He won a gold medal at the 2023 U17 World Championships and a silver medal at the 2024 U20 World Championships. Lockett competed in the 2024 Olympic Wrestling Trials and advanced to the quarterfinals. He was a two-time champion and two-time third-place finisher at the Walsh Ironman tournament and also a two-time Super 32 tournament champion. Lockett finished third at the 2022 U17 World Team Trails and won the U16 freestyle championship at Fargo. He was the 2021 U15 Pan American champion while also winning the U15 National Championships in freestyle and Greco-Roman. Lockett was a member of the All-A Honor Roll as a sophomore and senior and the A-B Honor Roll as a freshman and junior. A member of the Special Olympics Unified Peers program, he also volunteered at St. Francis Early Childhood Development Center’s Reading Week and was a Role Model at Stillwater Methodist Church. An annual volunteer at the Oklahoma Special Olympics, working bocce and cornhole, Lockett also volunteered for Stillwater’s Tim Tebow Night to Shine and makes regular visits to elder care facilities.

Midwest Region: Marcus Blaze of Perrysburg, Ohio was a four-time Ohio state champion for Perrysburg High School. The son of Joe and Addie Blaze, he will continue his career at Penn State University. Blaze had a career record of 200-2, including a 55-0 record as a freshman and 43-0 as a senior, while winning four sectional and four district titles. A gold medalist at the 2023 U17 World Championships, he finished second at the 2024 U.S. World Team Trials and the 2024 U20 World Championships. His most impressive performance, however, was finishing third at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Blaze is a four-time champion and two-time Outstanding Wrestler at the Brecksville Holiday Tournament while also winning the Walsh Ironman tournament twice and finishing second and third the other two years. He earned Academic All-Ohio honors and was a member of the High Honor Roll all four years. Blaze is also a member of DECA, which prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.

Northeast Region: PJ Duke of State Hill, New York was a four-time New York state champion for Minisink Valley High School. The son of Peter and Annie Duke, he will continue his wrestling career at Penn State University. Duke became New York’s 11th four-time state champion and finished with a career record of 152-1, suffering his only loss in 2023. He was named Outstanding Wrestler at the state tournament in 2024 and 2025, when he won every match by technical fall or pin. Duke won a gold medal at the 2024 U20 Pan-Am Championships and a bronze medal at the 2024 U20 World Championships after winning the 2024 U20 U.S. Open title. He placed third at the 2024 Senior World Team Trials and won the 2024 Bill Farrell Senior International tournament. Duke was named USA Wrestler of the Week after winning and being named the Outstanding Wrestler at the 2024 Journeyman World Classic, where he defeated his opponents by technical fall or fall. He is a two-time Super 32 tournament champion while also winning titles at Fargo and the Walsh Ironman tournaments. Duke won the Junior Schalles Award and was a National High School Coaches Association junior champion in 2024. A member of the Varsity Club, he organized and conducted a clinic to raise money for Charli Martin, who was suffering from cancer.

Southeast Region: Dominic Bambinelli of Hoschton, Georgia was four-time Georgia state champion for Mill Creek High School. The son of Joe and Tammi Bambinelli, he will continue his wrestling career at the University of Missouri. Bambinelli finished his career with a record of 180-3, including 46-0 as a senior, while winning four regional and four sectional titles. He is a three-time Super 32 All-American and two-time finalist and a National High School Coaches Association champion as a freshman. Bambinelli is a National Merit Scholarship recipient and a member of the National Honor Society.

West Region: Daniel Zepeda of San Martin, California was a three-time California state champion for Gilroy High School. During his freshman year he was 19-2 before breaking his elbow and ending his season. The son of Daniel Mendoza and Ester Garza, Zepeda will continue his career at North Carolina State University. He had a career record of 149-7, including a perfect 52-0 record as a senior. Zepeda is a Fargo champion and three-time All-American while also being a Super 32 finalist. He volunteered with Our Father’s House church.

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 - Ben 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.