Dave Schultz H.S. Excellence honorees announced for 2011

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Victoria O'Connell (National Wrestling Hall of Fame)
04/19/2011


STILLWATER, Okla. -- The National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum has selected its 2011 state and regional winners of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award as part of its Educational Outreach Program. Forty-nine seniors from those states that sponsor high school state wrestling championships have been chosen for the honor.
 
The High School Excellence Award is named in honor of the late Olympic and World Champion Dave Schultz. Each award recipient is evaluated on excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, character, citizenship, and community service.
 
“A graduate of Palo Alto High School and the University of Oklahoma, Dave Schultz was one of the most respected high school, collegiate, and international wrestlers the United States has ever had,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
 
Regarded as a tireless competitor and supreme technician on the mat, Schultz was beloved throughout the world of amateur wrestling for his friendliness and eagerness to lend help or advice to teammates and opponents alike. Schultz passed away in 1996. He was inducted into the sport’s Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1997.
 
Since the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award’s inception in 1996, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame has recognized 677 student-wrestlers. The national award winner will be chosen from the regional winners and announced on April 21. The winner will attend the annual Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on June 8 and 9 to personally accept the award.
 
“These student-wrestlers are role models in their communities and influence young people in a very meaningful way,” Smith said. “Statistics show that both male and female students are more likely to stay in school, graduate, and become more productive citizens when they are involved in extra curricular activities and after school programs like sports, theater, debate and music.”
 
The five regional winners are:

Northeast Region – Nico Megaludis compiled a record of 170-1 winning the State Championship as a Sophomore, Junior and Senior at Franklin Regional High School in Pennsylvania. As a senior, he was honored with the “Most Outstanding Wrestler” award while competing in the 125 pound weight class. He is also a four-time WPIAL Champion and was named “Outstanding Wrestler” in 2011. Megaludis also is a two-time Fargo All-American and was named the 2011 Pennsylvania wrestler of the year. He volunteers as a referee and coach for the Junior Wrestling program, and also volunteers with the Mother of Sorrows Food Bank. He carries a 3.41 weighted G.P.A. and will be attending Pennsylvania State University this fall.
 
Midwest Region – Destin McCauley is from Apple Valley High School in Apple Valley, Minnesota and has amassed a career record of 286-7 and 197 pins. He is a five-time state high school champion and finished his senior year with a perfect 49-0 record. McCauley has also won two-national freestyle titles and a Pan-American title and plans to try out for the 2012 USA Olympic team. McCauley also spends his free time working with the youth wrestling teams at Apple Valley and surrounding communities. He also volunteers as an official for youth tournaments. His academic achievements include a 3.7 G.P.A., a two-time academic All-State winner, and a four-time academic All Conference winner. He will be attending the University of Wisconsin this fall.
 
Central Region – Cody Brewer compiled a career record of 198-6 for Oak Park High School in Kansas City, Missouri. He is a four-time State Champion and was named All Metro Wrestler of the Year for the Kansas City area in 2011. Other honors include a championship at the Toshiba Midwest Classic, a third place finish at the 2010 Junior freestyle nationals, a third place finish in the 2007 Cadet Nationals in freestyle and Greco-Roman as well as a double championship in the 2088 Cadet Nationals, as well as earning a spot of the USA Wrestling FILA team in 2009. He has served two years as an adaptive physical education assistance, which helps disabled children be more active. He maintains a G.P.A. of 3.2 and plans to attend the University of Oklahoma in the fall.
 
West Region – Morgan McIntosh compiled a career record of 189-5 with 128 pins for Calvary Chapel High School in Santa Ana, California. He is a three-time state champion and a freestyle national Champion at Fargo Junior National in 2010. McIntosh was also a double Junior Western Regionals Champion in 2008 for both freestyle and Greco-Roman. He also was the 2010 Ironman Champion and a two-time Flo Nationals Champion. His community service includes being involved with the Calvary Chapel hydroponic project which included a mission trip to Mexico to construct and maintain the unit near Ensenada. McIntosh was also the only high school student to go on the tsunami relief trip to American Samoa in 2009 to help rebuild a devastated village. In addition, he volunteers as a kids coach with Team Thunder Kids as well as assisting with camps and clinics. He maintains a 3.2 weighted G.P.A. and plans to attend Pennsylvania State University this fall.
 
Southeast Region – Caleb Ervin is from Union County High School in Morganfield, Kentucky. Amassing a career record of 199-7, he won three high school State Championships and was awarded “Athlete of the Year” by the Kentucky Coaches Association. In addition, he was a four-time Region 1 Champion and was named “Outstanding Wrestler” in 4 out of 5 tournaments his senior year. Ervin was all voted to the All Resilient Team by the Army National Guard for his inspiring recovery from a farming accident. His community service involves spearheading a local can food drive with his teammates to “Wrestle Hunger in Union County” collecting and delivering more that 1500 cans to the local food pantry. He also coaches adults in a bi-annual six week fundraiser/fitness class called “Champ Camp,” and referees at all elementary league tournaments. Ervin currently maintains a 3.5 G.P.A. and is a member of the National Honors Society. He plans to attend the University of Illinois this fall.
 
2011 Winners by State, Name and School
Alabama, Michael Jordan, Auburn High School
Alaska, Matt Malnoske, East Anchorage High School
Arizona, Kory DeBerry, Sunnyside High School
Arkansas, Tyler Binford, Central Arkansas Christian High School
California, Morgan McIntosh, Calvary Chapel High School
Colorado, Connor Medberry, Loveland High School
Connecticut, Patrick Gillen, Shelton High School
Delaware, Codey Combs, Sussex Central High School
Florida, Earl Hall, South Dade High School
Georgia, Jonathan Rivera, Kennesaw Mountain High School
Hawaii, Shayden Terukina, Kapalama High School
Idaho, Tanner Hall, Meridian High School
Illinois, Austin Marsden, Crystal Lake Central High School
Indiana, Drake Stein, Princeton Community High School
Iowa, Cody Caldwell, Waverly-Shell Rock Senior High
Kansas, Ryne Cokeley, St. James Academy
Kentucky, Caleb Ervin, Union County High School
Louisiana, Mark Pinero, Archbishop Rummel High School
Maine, Forest Cornell, Lisbon High School
Maryland, Lex Ozias, Southern Garrett High School
Massachusetts, Kyle Visconti, Malden Catholic High School
Michigan, Conor Youtsey, Mason High School
Minnesota, Destin McCauley, Apple Valley High School
Missouri, Cody Brewer, Oak Park High School
Montana, Jade Rauser, Broadwater High School
Nebraska, Austin Wilson, Hastings Catholic High School
Nevada, Napoleon Aniciete, Bishop Gorman High School
New Hampshire, Nick Lawrence, Timberlane Regional High School
New Jersey, Andrew Compolattano, Bound Brook High School
New Mexico, Matthew Nunez,Rio Rancho High School
New York, Nick Gwiazdowski, Duanesburg High School
North Carolina, Harrison Honeycutt, Lake Norman High School
North Dakota, Joe Schumacher, Bismarck High School
Ohio, Cam Tessari, Monroeville High School
Oklahoma, Zach Skates, Broken Arrow High School
Oregon, Seth Thomas, Roseburg High School
Pennsylvania, Nico Megaludis, Franklin Regional High School
Rhode Island, Mike Meyers, Warwick Veterans High School
South Carolina, Aaron Hansen, Summerville High School
South Dakota, Logan Storley, Webster High School
Tennessee, T.J. Duncan, McCallie High School
Texas, Andy Rico, Eastwood High School
Utah, Kesni Tasuinga, Bingham High School
Vermont, George Mitchell, Otter Valley Union High School
Virginia, Henry Carlson, Frank W Cox High School
Washington, Chris Castillo, Zillah High School
West Virginia, Josh Fisher, Roane County High School
Wisconsin, Jesse Thielke, Germantown High School
Wyoming, Austin Breckenridge, Central High School