Retherford Wins Dave Schultz High School Excellence National Award

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Pennsylvania’s Zain Retherford becomes the Keystone State’s second ever wrestler named the Dave Schultz High School Excellence National Award. Retherford joins 2012 Olympian Coleman Scott as Pennslyvania’s award recipients. Below is an excerpt from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

STILLWATER, Okla. – Zain Retherford, a high school senior from Benton Area High School in Benton, Pennsylvania, has been selected as the national winner of the 2013 Dave Schultz High School Excellence National Award presented by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum (NWHOF).

The High School Excellence Award is named in honor of Olympic and World Champion Dave Schultz. Each award recipient is evaluated on excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship and community service.

“I am extremely honored to have been selected as the recipient of the 2013 Dave Schultz Award,” said Retherford, “Dave Schultz was a fierce competitor on the wrestling mat and his mentality and dedication toward the sport of wrestling are two things that I admire most about him. To receive an award, which is commemorating a legend of wrestling, is a great way to end my high school career.”

Retherford was selected from the 49 state winners and five regional winners that were announced on May 1 by the NWHOF. Retherford praised those who have helped him reach his goals thus far, thanking his coaches Scotty Hughes, Russ Hughes, Bryan Hart, Mike Rhone, Larry Mankey, Ken Chertow, and his parents Allen and Sarah Retherford for “pushing me to reach new levels on and off the wrestling mat.”

Zain Retherford is a two-time Pennsylvania High School State Champion with a career record of 130-3. In 2012 Retherford claimed individual titles at the NHSCA Junior National Championships, USAW Junior Freestyle National Championships, and was a FILA Cadet World Freestyle Champion.

His scholastic and community engagement includes being an Academic Distinguished Honor Roll recipient all four years in high school and a member of the National Honor Roll Society. He is also a member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and serves as a volunteer mentor for the Benton Tigers Youth Wrestling Club. Retherford maintains a 4.0 GPA and will attend Penn State University this coming fall as a projected 141 pounder.

“Zain Retherford is an outstanding recipient of this honor,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. “He has balanced his priorities both on and off the mat with a keen sense of purpose in academics, wrestling and his community.”

Retherford will attend Honors Weekend on May 31 and June 1, to accept the award. The following is a list of previous award winners:

 

Dave Schultz High School Excellence National Winners

1996 David Kjeldgaard, Lewis Central High School, Council Bluffs, Iowa

1997 Jeff Knupp, Walsh Jesuit High School, Akron, Ohio

1998 Garrett Lowney, Freedom High School, Appelton, Wisconsin

and Justin Ruiz, Taylorsville High School, Salt Lake City, Utah

1999 Zach Roberson, Blue Valley North West High School, Overland Park, Kansas

2000 Ben Connell, Lugoff-Elgin High School, Lugoff, South Carolina

2001 Steven Mocco, Blair Academy, Blairstown, New Jersey

2002 Teyon Ware, Edmond North High School, Edmond, Oklahoma

2003 C. P. Schlatter, St. Paul Graham High School, Urbana, Ohio

2004 Coleman Scott, Waynesburg High School, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania

2005 Troy Nickerson, Chenango Forks High School, Chenango Forks, New York

2006 David Craig, Brandon High School, Brandon, Florida

2007 Zachary Sanders, Wabasha-Kellog High School, Wabasha, Minnesota

2008 Jason Chamberlain, Springville High School, Springville, Utah

2009 David Taylor, Graham High School, St. Paris, Ohio

2010 Logan Steiber, Monroeville High School, Monroeville, Ohio

2011 Morgan McIntosh, Calvary Chapel High School, Santa Ana, California

2012 Taylor Massa, St. Johns High School, St. Johns, Michigan

2013 Zain Retherford, Benton Area High School, Benton, Pennsylvania

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