The National Wrestling Hall of Fame on Wednesday announced that Austin Collins of Wray, Colorado is the 2026 national winner 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.
"I am incredibly honored to receive the national Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award. I am blessed that God has given me so many opportunities in life," said Collins. "This award represents more than who I am as a wrestler; this award represents what it means to pursue excellence in academics, athletics, and in the community. I deeply admire who Dave Schultz was and what he did.
"I am excited to be the next athlete to receive this prestigious award, and I am proud to have my name alongside the previous recipients," he added. "I am proud to represent the University of Wyoming, the State of Colorado, and Wray High School. I will continue to give this sport my all, I am beyond excited to give back to the sport that has made me who I am today."
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 Hall of Fame on Tuesday announced that Natalie Radecki of Newark, Delaware is the 2026 national winner of the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award (TSHSEA). 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.
Collins and Radecki will be honored during the 49th Honors Weekend at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum on June 5 and 6 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. For more information, visit https://nwhof.org/news/2026-honors-weekend-information.
"As the newest recipient of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award, Austin Collins joins an outstanding group of young men who represent the very best of our sport," said Hall of Fame Executive Director Lee Roy Smith. "His accomplishments on the mat, including three state titles, a remarkable career record, and success on the national and international levels, reflect his dedication, discipline, and competitive spirit.
"Austin has also earned the respect of his teammates and community through his leadership, serving in multiple student government roles and giving back as a volunteer. His commitment to excellence extends into the classroom, where he has achieved at a high level academically while remaining actively involved in a number of organizations," he added. "Austin's success in wrestling, academics, and service makes him a deserving recipient of this award, which recognizes and celebrates the nation's most outstanding high school senior male wrestlers not only for their excellence in wrestling but also their scholastic achievement, citizenship, and community service."
The son of Amy and Greg Collins, he will continue his wrestling career at the University of Wyoming.
Austin was a three-time Colorado state champion and four-time state finalist with a career record of 168-6 for Wray High School.
He won gold in freestyle and Greco-Roman at the U15 Pan American Championships and received the Golden Boot as the Outstanding Wrestler in Greco-Roman while helping the United States win team titles in freestyle and Greco-Roman in 2023. He finished fourth in Greco-Roman at Junior Nationals while finishing third in Greco-Roman and fifth in freestyle at the U17 US Open in 2025. Collins went undefeated and won the 16U Greco-Roman national title while finishing fourth in folkstyle and seventh in freestyle in 2024. He had runner-up finishes in U16 Folkstyle and Greco-Roman in 2023.
Collins also lettered in football earning all-conference honors three times while being all-state as a junior and senior after earning honorable mention honors as a sophomore.
A member of National Honor Society, he was academic all-state in both football and wrestling as a junior and senior while being named Most Outstanding SWAF Student in 2024 and 2025. Collins received academic letters and was a member of the high honor roll all four years while achieving excellence in English and math.
Collins received the Congressional Record award which was presented to him by Colorado District 4 United States Representative Greg Lopez.
He was president of student body council as a junior and senior after serving as reporter in 2024. He was president of class student council as a freshman and sophomore and served as a representative as a junior and vice president as a senior.
Collins was secretary for the Future Business Leaders of America while also being a member of RHO Kappa, and Family Career and Community Leaders of America. He was named student of the month by the Lions Club and KRDZ and was student of the year as a sophomore and junior.
He volunteered as a cleaner at the Wray Museum and also with the Book Buddies library program while also donating his time to the Wray Veterans Day celebration, the Lions Club breakfast, and as a walker at a senior citizen home. Collins also volunteered as both a youth football and youth wrestling coach.
He becomes the second national winner from Colorado, joining Cadet Greco-Roman World Champion Cohlton Schultz, who received the award in 2019. Ohio has the most national winners with six followed by Oklahoma and Pennsylvania with three and California, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin with two winners each. Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia have each had one winner.
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.
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).
All-Time National Winners of Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award
Year - Name, High School, Hometown, State, College Attending
2026 - Austin Collins, Wray High School, Wray, Colorado, University of Wyoming
2025 - Marcus Blaze, Perrysburg High School, Perrysburg, Ohio
2024 - Aeoden Sinclair, Milton High School, Edgerton, Wisconsin
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 (World Champion, 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, 3X World Champion, World Silver Medalist, World Bronze 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
2026 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award Regional Winners
Year - Name, High School, Hometown, State, College Attending
Central Region – Austin Collins, Wray High School, Wray, Colorado, University of Wyoming
Midwest Region – Dreshaun Ross, Fort Dodge High School, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Oklahoma State University
Northeast Region – Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez, Long Beach High School, Long Beach, New York, University of North Carolina
Southeast Region – Michael Mocco, Cardinal Gibbons High School, Parkland, Florida, University of Iowa
West Region – Rocklin Zinkin, Buchanan High School, Fresno, California, Oklahoma State University
2026 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award State Winners
State - Name, High School, Hometown, College Attending
Alabama – Bradley Williams, Spain Park High School, Hoover, University of Maryland
Alaska – Michael Dickinson, Soldotna High School, Soldotna, Colorado Mesa University
Arizona – Christopher Ramirez, Canyon View High School, Waddell
Arkansas – Jack Hooe, Shiloh Christian School, Bentonville
California – Rocklin Zinkin, Buchanan High School, Fresno, Oklahoma State University
Colorado -Austin Collins, Wray High School, Wray, University of Wyoming
Connecticut – John Carrozza, Ridgefield High School, Ridgefield, Wesleyan University
Delaware – Nicolas Walker, Cape Henlopen High School, Lewef
Florida – Michael Mocco, Cardinal Gibbons High School, Parkland, University of Iowa
Georgia – Ryder Wilder, Camden County High School, Kingsland, Northwestern University
Hawaii – Hunter Berger, St. Louis School, Honolulu, Duke University
Idaho – Nathan Gugelman II, American Falls High School, American Falls, Utah Valley University
Illinois – Aaron Stewart, Warren Township High School, Gurnee, University of Illinois (For Wrestling and Football)
Indiana – Michael White, Lawrence North High School, Noblesville, Oklahoma State University
Iowa – Dreshaun Ross, Fort Dodge High School, Fort Dodge, Oklahoma State University
Kansas – Brock Johnson, Paola High School, Paola, South Dakota State University
Kentucky – Jayden Raney and Jordyn Raney, Union County High School, Sturgis, Oklahoma State University
Louisiana – Alex Rozas, Teurlings Catholic High School, Rayne, Virginia Tech
Maine – Brady Ouellette, Noble High School, Lebanon
Maryland – Elijah Collick, Stephen Decatur High School, Berlin, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Massachusetts – James Tildsley, Shawsheen Valley Technical High School, Billerica
Michigan – Nicholas Sorrow, Hudson High School, Jackson, Michigan State University
Minnesota – Titan Friedrichs, Watertown Mayer High School, Watertown, University of Minnesota
Mississippi – Caeden Hill, Tupelo High School, Tupelo
Missouri – Miller Sipes, Staley High School, Kansas City, Air Force Academy
Montana – Makael Aguayo, Billings West High School, Billings
Nebraska – Tyler Harrill, Skutt Catholic High School, Gretna, Air Force Academy
Nevada – Brenden Agcaoili, Sports Leadership and Management of Nevada, Las Vegas
New Hampshire – Benjamin Byrne, Nashua High School South, Nashua, New England College (DIII)
New Jersey – Jayden James, Delbarton High School, Westwood, Penn State
New Mexico – Roman Luttrell, Cleveland High School, Rio Rancho, Utah Valley University
New York – Dunia Sibomana, Long Beach High School, Long Beach, University of North Carolina
North Carolina – Bentley Sly, Stuart Cramer High School, Cramerton, Appalachian State University
North Dakota – Nicolas Enzminger, Bismarck Legacy High School, Bismarck, University of Mary
Ohio – Karson Brown, St. Edwards High School, Brunswick, Ohio State University
Oklahoma – Jake Miller, Broken Arrow High School, Broken Arrow, Iowa State University
Oregon – Brody Buzzard, Harrisburg High School, Harrisburg
Pennsylvania – Jax Forrest, Bishop McCort Catholic High School, Johnstown, Oklahoma State University
Rhode Island – Joseph Joyce, Ponganset High School, Chepachet, Princeton University
South Carolina – AJ De La Cruz, West-Oak High School, Westminster
South Dakota – Elijah Schunke, Brandon Valley High School, Brandon, Utah Valley University
Tennessee – Joseph Uhorchuk, Signal Mountain High School, Signal Mountain, United States Military Academy
Texas – Dylan Ota, Southlake Carroll High School, Southlake, Colorado School of Mines
Utah – Austin Paris, Layton High School, Layton, University of Wyoming
Vermont – Cahota LaFond, Colchester High School, Colchester, Vermont State University
Virginia – Jared Goodson, Poquoson High School, Poquoson, Virginia Military Institute
Washington – Czar Quintanilla, Washington State High School, Spokane, Utah Valley University
West Virginia – Jesse Adams, Parkersburg South High School, Coal City, Ohio University
Wisconsin – Kellen Wolbert, Oconomowoc High School, Wales, University of Michigan
Wyoming – Tel Parry, Star Valley High School, Afton
