Decker Honored with Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award

STILLWATER, Okla. – The National Wrestling Hall of Fame announced the state winners of its Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award (DSHSEA) and Duke wrestling incoming freshman Parker Decker was one of those honored.

Decker, who is set to graduate from Keller High School next month, was the state recipient for Texas. Earlier this year, Decker was named a USA Wrestling Scholastic All-American after compiling a 178-8 overall record with 101 falls during his high school career. He also claimed the UIL Class 6A State Wrestling Tournament crown in consecutive years. Back in February, Decker wrapped up his second-straight undefeated season by defeating Plano West's Tagen Jamison with a 5-3 decision in the championship match.

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 award recognizes and celebrates the nation's most outstanding high school senior male wrestlers for their excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship, and community service.

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.

"This is the 25th year that we have presented our Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award and we're excited to recognize another group of young men, who have excelled not only on the wrestling mat, but also in the classroom and in their communities," said Hall of Fame Executive Director Lee Roy Smith. "I want to thank our selection committee for the thorough work they have done in determining this year's winners. We look forward to following these young men as they chart new goals for themselves on the mat and in their lives."

DSHSEA regional winners will be announced on May 21 and the national winner will be announced on May 28. The state winners of the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award (TSHSEA) were announced on Tuesday. 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 19 and the national winner will be announced on May 26.

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.

2020 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award State Winners
State - Name       High School, College Attending
Alabama - Dylan Pearson,   Auburn
Alaska - Hayden Lieb,   Bethel Regional, Wyoming
Arizona - Jesse Ybarra,      Sunnyside, Iowa
Arkansas - Landon Valdez,   Searcy
California - Jesse Vasquez,   Excelsior Charter, Arizona State
Colorado - Isaiah Salazar,   Windsor, Minnesota
Connecticut - Ryan Jack, Danbury, NC State
Delaware - Jackson Dean, Caesar Rodney, Pennsylvania
Florida - Bretli Reyna, South Dade Senior, Iowa
Georgia - Andrew Eller, Evans, Lander
Hawaii - Kysen Terukina, Kamehameha Schools
Idaho - Sawyer Hobbs, South Fremont, Utah Valley
Illinois - David Ferrante, Huntley, Northwestern
Indiana - Silas Allred, Shenandoah, Nebraska
Iowa - Cael Happel, Lisbon, Northern Iowa
Kansas - Cade Lautt, Saint James Academy, North Carolina
Kentucky - Thomas Deck, Madison Central, Army West Point
Louisiana - Alexander Yokubaitis, St. Louis Catholic, Oklahoma State
Maine - Sam Martel, Noble
Maryland - Dominic Solis, McDonogh School, Maryland
Massachusetts - Hunter Adrian, Melrose, Brown
Michigan - Austin Boone, Lowell Senior, Penn State
Minnesota - Patrick Kennedy, Kasson-Mantorville, Iowa
Missouri - Rocky Elam, Staley, Missouri
Montana - Leif Schroeder, Bozeman, Iowa
Nebraska - Maxx Mayfield, Lincoln East, Northwestern
Nevada - Tommy McCormick, Churchill County, Idaho (football)
New Hampshire - Beau Dillon, Salem, Edinboro
New Jersey - Anthony Clark, Delbarton School, Princeton
New Mexico - Andrew Trujillo, Robertson, N.M. Highlands
New York - Greg Diakomihalis, Hilton, Cornell
North Carolina - Kobe Early, Cary, Appalachian State
North Dakota - Garrett Jangula, Napoleon Public School
Ohio - Mick Burnett, Elyria, Pittsburgh
Oklahoma - Konner Doucet, Comanche, Oklahoma State
Oregon - Santos Cantu III, Crescent Valley, Indiana
Pennsylvania - Ed Scott, DuBois Area, NC State
Rhode Island - Mason Clarke, Coventry, Columbia
South Carolina - Walker Stephenson, Hillcrest, Army West Point
South Dakota - Nash Hutmacher, Chamberlain, Nebraska (football)
Tennessee - Noah Horst, Baylor School, UT Chattanooga
Texas - Parker Decker, Keller, Duke
Utah - Stockton O'Brien, Wasatch, Utah Valley
Vermont - Sam Wilkins, Mount Anthony Union, Castleton
Virginia - Samuel Fisher, Fauquier, Virginia Tech
Washington - Haiden Drury, Toppenish, Fresno State
West Virginia - Braxton Amos, Parkersburg South, Wisconsin
Wisconsin - Keegan O'Toole, Arrowhead, Missouri
Wyoming - Jace Palmer, Kelly Walsh

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Decker Honored with Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award

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Decker Honored with Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award

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