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NWCA announces annual Scholastic Award winner

Manheim, Pa. – The National Wrestling Coaches Association announced Friday that five-time New York state champion Troy Nickerson of Chenango Forks High School in Binghamton, N.Y., was named the NWCA scholastic wrestler of the year.

 

Nickerson, who will attend Cornell, completed his high school career with a 213-6 record and became New York’s first five-time state champion. Nickerson went 35-0 his senior season with all regular season victories coming via pin or technical fall.

 

A three-time outstanding wrestler of the New York state tournament, Nickerson also was the double-OW at the 2004 USA Wrestling Junior Nationals, winning titles in both freestyle and Greco-Roman.

 

Nickerson won the NHSCA senior national championship at 125 pounds and is part of Cornell’s third-ranked incoming recruiting class.

 

“Troy Nickerson’s accomplishments over the course of his career are unmatched,” said Mike Moyer, Executive Director of the NWCA. “He’s set the bar very high for wrestlers not only in New York, but around the country. He deserves this award with the tremendous year he had and his outstanding career.”

 

The NWCA Coach of the Year is Poway ( Calif.) head coach Wayne Branstetter. His team won the California Interscholastic Federation state championship, placed fifth at the Reno Tournament of Champions and won four tournament titles during the 2004-05 season.

 

Branstetter had six wrestlers place at the CIF state tournament, and crowned one champion, Colton Nichols at 215 pounds.

 

Branstetter has guided the San Diego high school to an incredible 320-4-1 record in 27 seasons at the helm and his and went 15-0 in dual meet competition in the 2004-05 season. His Titan grapplers have won three CIF state championships and 27 San Diego Section CIF championships.

 

“What makes Wayne’s accompishment’s that much more remarkable, is the fact that California only has a one-class system,” Moyer said. “He has everyone involved and he’s a driving force behind the depth the program has.”

 

The NWCA Assistant Coach of the Year is Larry Hovden of Owatonna, Minn. Hovden won the regional award in conjunction with the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association. Hovden has also piloted the Owatonna junior high program for the last 17 years and he’s currently the Youth Director for the Owatonna Wrestling Association. Larry’s children, Josh, Gabe and Adam are also heavily involved in the development of the program.

 

Award are presented yearly and winners were nominated by their state coaches associations for regional consideration and regional winners were then voted on by representatives from around the country.

 

“Larry is the type of person that really helps small-town wrestling programs thrive.” Moyer said. “ Owatonna’s wrestling program is one reason that the city is recognized nationally. When you talk about Minnesota wrestling – Owatonna is usually in the conversation 99.9 percent of the time.”

 

“I think this year’s crop of award winners represents what’s best about the sport of wrestling. Hard work, dedication and a level of competition that puts them at the pinnacle of scholastic wrestling,” Moyer said.

 

The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a professional organization dedicated to serve and provide leadership for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with primary emphasis on scholastic and collegiate programs. The membership embraces all people interested in amateur wrestling.

 

The NWCA, through its organizational structure, promotes communication, recognizes achievement, recommends rules and regulations, sponsors events, and serves as an educational and informational source. Additionally, the NWCA strives to foster the sportsmanship and integrity that are the cornerstones of athletic competition.

 

 

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