Manheim, PA - The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) has opened nominations for the 2026 High School All-America Awards, recognizing high school student-wrestlers who demonstrate excellence in the classroom and leadership within their communities.
High school coaches are encouraged to nominate deserving athletes for the following honors:
- Scholar All-America
- Character & Leadership All-America
The nomination deadline for both awards is
Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (ET).
"These awards highlight what makes wrestling special. It builds disciplined students and strong leaders. The athletes recognized through the NWCA All-America programs show excellence in the classroom, commitment to their teams, and character in their communities." -Mike Moyer, NWCA Executive Director
Eligibility & Membership Requirement
- Coaches must be current NWCA members to submit nominations.
- Coaches in states that utilize the NWCA Optimal Performance Calculator (OPC) for weight management receive a complimentary membership.
- Coaches in non-OPC states may purchase a discounted membership for $30 using code NWCA30 at checkout.
- All submissions will be completed through the new NWCA Community platform.
Scholar All-America Award (Form)
The Scholar All-America Award recognizes varsity student-wrestlers who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement while competing in the sport.
Minimum Requirements
- Minimum 3.5 GPA (4.0 scale)
- GPA based on either the fall semester or cumulative coursework
- Must be a 2025–26 varsity letter winner
- No limit on the number of nominees per team
Character & Leadership All-America Award (Form)
The Character & Leadership All-America Award honors student-wrestlers who embody leadership and integrity within their team, school, and community.
Eligibility
Open to junior and senior high school student-wrestlers only
Evaluation Criteria
Nominees are assessed on:
- Dependability
- Judgment
- Endurance
- Initiative
- Tact
- Integrity
- Unselfishness
- Loyalty
- Courage
Nomination Deadline
All nominations must be submitted by March 15, 2026.
Contact Information
For additional information regarding the awards programs, please contact:
Patrick Kelly
Email:
pkelly@nwca.cc
