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 University
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, Stillwater, 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)
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