Takedown Report

Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award state, regional winners announced

STILLWATER, Okla. — The National Wrestling Hall of Fame on Thursday announced the state and regional winners of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award (DSHSEA). 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 Hall of Fame will announce the state and regional winners of the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award (TSHSEA) on Monday. 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.

Regional winners for both awards are selected from state winners, and the national winners will be chosen from the regional winners. The national winner of the DSHSEA will be announced on Tuesday while the national winner of the TSHSEA will be announced on Wednesday. The national winners will be presented with their awards during the 43rd Annual Honors Weekend at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum on May 31-June 2 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. For information on Honors Weekend, visit nwhof.ticketleap.com/ or telephone (405) 377-5243. 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 Class of 2019 state and regional winners of our Dave Schultz High School Excellence award represent an outstanding group of students, athletes and citizens who are prepared to have a positive impact on our sport and society in the years to come,” said Hall of Fame Executive Director Lee Roy Smith. “I want to thank our selection committee for the diligent work they have done, and hopefully this award will inspire each of these young and talented individuals to achieve lofty goals not only in wrestling but in their careers and lives.” West Region winner Jaden Abas is the son of Gerry Abas, who was the first four-time All-American from California, reaching the NCAA Division I finals three times while capturing three Western Athletic Conference championships for Fresno State. His uncle, Stephen Abas, a Distinguished Member inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018, was a three-time national champion and a four-time All-American for Fresno State and an Olympic silver medalist in 2004. The state 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 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. National winners of the DSHSEA award have combined to win 19 NCAA Division I individual titles led by four-time champion Logan Stieber (2010), three-time winner Zain Retherford (2013) and two-time winners Steven Mocco (2001), David Taylor (2009) and Teyon Ware (2002). The 2016 winner of the DSHSEA Mark Hall won an NCAA title as a freshman in 2017 while 2015 winner Zahid Valencia has won back-to-back championships in 2018 and 2019.
2019 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award State Winners
State – Name, High School, Hometown, College Attending
North Carolina – Nathan Dugan, Lake Norman High School, Mooresville, Princeton
Rest of the list and story at https://intermatwrestle.com/articles/21883

May 2, 2019 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized