By Al Fontes, NWHOF Writer

The Dave Schultz “Champion of Champions” Award is more than a CIF postseason honor—it functions as one of the most consistent long-range indicators of elite wrestling development in the United States. Since 1991, it has tracked a defining and increasingly undeniable pattern: California’s best high school wrestlers rarely peak at the state level. More often, they extend into NCAA champions, World medalists, and Olympians.

Named for Olympic and World Champion Dave Schultz, a 1977 California state champion from Palo Alto High School, the award reflects a competitive philosophy defined by progression rather than completion. Schultz himself embodied that arc—rising from CIF champion to Olympic gold medalist and World Champion. The award that bears his name has followed that same standard ever since.

The Dave Schultz Champion of Champions Memorial Award trophy was designed through a collaborative effort between Joey Krebs of Wrestling Saves Lives and Harlan Kistler, who served as the award’s sole charitable patron, funder, and producer. Commissioned by CIF Tournament Director Alan Paradise, the trophy was created to recognize excellence at the sport’s highest levels while symbolically connecting California’s state championships to the international wrestling stage and the enduring legacy of Dave Schultz.

With the emergence of girls wrestling in California, the award structure expanded in 2019 to reflect a rapidly evolving competitive landscape. While the boys division carries a continuous lineage beginning in 1991, the girls division began with immediate global relevance—compressing decades of developmental projection into a single competitive generation.

Across both divisions, the meaning remains consistent: this is not simply recognition of state success—it is an early indicator of future impact at the highest levels of the sport.

BOYS DIVISION: THE ORIGINAL PIPELINE (1991–1999)

The early years established the award’s identity as a predictive marker of elite development.

Tony Okada (1991) set the foundation as a CIF champion with national-level competitiveness. Jeremiah Miller (1992) and Julius Reyes (1993) followed with performances that extended beyond state dominance into national tournament relevance. Casey Strand (1994) further advanced that trajectory, combining state success with elite junior national and NCAA Division I experience.

By the mid-1990s, the projection became unmistakable. Eric Guerrero (1995) transitioned from CIF champion to NCAA champion and Olympian, while Stephen Abas (1996) became a three-time NCAA champion and Olympic silver medalist—one of the clearest validations of the award’s forecasting strength. Carlos Blanco (1997), Cristobal Gonzalez (1998), and Ben Martinez (1999) sustained California’s expanding national presence.

BOYS DIVISION: NATIONAL DOMINANCE ERA (2000–2006)

The early 2000s marked a shift from individual projection to sustained national output.

Chris Pendleton (2000) became a two-time NCAA champion. Darrell Vasquez (2001–02) delivered one of the most dominant CIF careers in state history as a four-time champion. Joe Williams (2003) emerged as a national-level freestyle standout, while Nathan Morgan (2004) combined three state titles with NCAA All-American honors.

Jake Varner (2005) defined the highest-level projection: CIF champion, NCAA champion, World/Olympic gold-level competitor, and Olympic gold medalist. Billy Murphy (2006) reinforced the depth of California’s elite pipeline with continued national tournament success.

BOYS DIVISION: EXPANSION AND ELITE DEPTH (2007–2013)

Jason Welch (2008) became a three-time state champion and NCAA All-American known for technical creativity and elite pace. Morgan McIntosh (2009, 2011) became a two-time recipient and three-time NCAA All-American, anchoring Penn State’s national dominance.

Nikko Villarreal (2012, 2014) extended the dual-recipient pattern with three state titles, while Isaiah Martinez (2013) delivered one of the most dominant collegiate transitions in modern wrestling, becoming a two-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American.

BOYS DIVISION: MODERN ELITE ERA (2014–2020)

Zahid Valencia (2015) combined CIF dominance with NCAA titles and international success at the World level. Evan Wick (2016) became a model of consistency as a four-time NCAA All-American. Justin Mejia(2017) maintained national competitiveness, while Seth Nevills (2018) achieved the rare feat of four CIF state titles.

Jesse Vasquez (2019–2020) carried that standard into the modern era with sustained elite performance across multiple seasons.

BOYS DIVISION: CURRENT GENERATION (2022–2026)

Following the 2021 interruption, the pipeline immediately resumed.

Brock Mantanona (2022) added international age-group success and NCAA projection. Clarence Moore(2023) continued national placement consistency. Elias Navida (2024) brought CIF gold and national tournament success, while Daniel Zepeda (2025) entered with Fargo titles and elite national ranking credentials.

Rocklin Zinkin (2026) represents the newest continuation of this lineage as a multi-time state champion and top-tier collegiate prospect.

GIRLS DIVISION: THE NEW ELITE PIPELINE (2019–2026)

With the establishment of the CIF State Girls Wrestling Championships in 2019, the Dave Schultz “Champion of Champions” Award entered a new era—one defined not by gradual emergence, but by immediate global projection.

The first recipient in the girls division was Amit Elor (College Park High School), who instantly redefined the competitive ceiling of the award.

From its inception, Elor’s trajectory extended far beyond state-level achievement and established a direct pipeline to world and Olympic dominance:

• CIF State Champion
• U17 World Champion
• 3× U20 World Champion
• 2× U23 World Champion
• 2× Senior World Champion
• Olympic Gold Medalist
• 8 World Titles across age-group and senior levels

Her selection in 2019 did not merely recognize state excellence—it validated the award as an immediate indicator of global championship potential.

Following Elor’s foundational benchmark, the girls division rapidly developed competitive depth. Isabella Gonzalez (2025) emerged as a major force for Clovis East, earning three CIF State titles and four total state medals, signaling early structural strength in the Central Section.

By 2026, Leilani Lemus represented the next peak of this accelerated pipeline as a four-time CIF State Champion, NHSCA All-American, and Fargo All-American, reflecting the division’s continued national relevance.

Unlike the boys division, which required decades to fully mature into a national forecasting system, the girls division has compressed that developmental arc into a single competitive cycle—producing internationally relevant athletes within its first generation.

A SINGLE PATTERN ACROSS TWO DIVISIONS

Across both divisions, the pattern is consistent but temporally distinct.

The boys division demonstrates long-term predictive validity over three decades, steadily converting CIF champions into NCAA and international medalists. The girls division, beginning with Amit Elor in 2019, demonstrates immediate global conversion—compressing that same trajectory into an accelerated timeframe.

Together, they reinforce the same conclusion: the Dave Schultz “Champion of Champions” Award functions less as a retrospective honor and more as a forecasting mechanism for elite wrestling success. From Okada to Zinkin, and from Elor to Lemus, it consistently identifies athletes at the threshold of national and international definition.

CIF STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS (BOYS DIVISION)

Dave Schultz Champion of Champions Award Recipients

1991 – 2026

2026 – Rocklin Zinkin (Buchanan, CS)

• 3x State Champ/4x Finalist (2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st)
• Fargo National Champion (FS)
• Super 32 Champion
• 2x Doc B Champion
• Committed to Oklahoma State

2025 – Daniel Zepeda (Gilroy, CC)

• 3x CIF State Champion 
• Fargo National Champion (FS) 
• 3x All-American
• FLO’s Who’s #1 Winner 
• Competes for University of Michigan

2024 – Elias Navida (Poway, SD)

• CIF State Champion | 2x Medalist (6^th, 1^st)
• Fargo All-American
• US Open All-American
• Attends the University of North Carolina

2023 – Clarence Moore (Branham, CC) 

• CIF State Champion

2022 – Brock Mantanona (Palm Desert, S)

• 2x CIF State Champion | 3x Finalist (1^st, 2^nd, 1^st)
• Fargo Nationals Finalist/All-American 
• U17 World Bronze Medalist
• NCAA All-American (Univ. of Michigan)

2021 – CIF State Tournament Cancelled (COVID)

2020 – Jesse Vasquez (Excelsior Charter, S)

• 4x CIF State Champion 
• 2x Super 32 Finalist
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American

2019 – Jesse Vasquez (Excelsior Charter, S)

• 4x CIF State Champion 
• 2x Super 32 Finalist
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American

2018 – Seth Nevills (Clovis, CS)

• 4x CIF State Champion 
• FLO National Champion 
• 2x ASICS All-American – Second Team | HM 
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American/Academic Team
• 3x Amateur Wrestling News All-American – Second Team | Third Team (2x)

2017 – Justin Mejia (Clovis, CS)

• 4x CIF State Champion 
• 2x FLO Nationals All-American
• 4x ASICS All-American – Second  Team | Third Team | HM (2x)
• 2x Amateur Wrestling News All-American – Second Team 
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American
• NJCAA All-American (Clackamas CC)

2016 – Evan Wick (San Marino, S)

• CIF State Champion | 3x Medalist (5^th, 4^th, 1^st)
• 2x Junior Fargo All-American
• ASICS All-American – HM 
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American
• Cadet Folkstyle National Champion | 2x All-American 
• 4x NCAA Division I All-American (Wisconsin/Cal Poly, SLO)

2015 – Zahid Valencia (St. John Bosco, S)

• 3x CIF State Champion | 4x Medalist (1^st, 3^rd, 1^st, 1^st)
• FLO National Champion | 2x All-American
• 2x Junior Folkstyle National Champion
• 3x Cadet Fargo National Champion (FS/GR)
• 4x ASICS All-American – First Team (3x) | Second Team 
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American – First Team (2x AA)
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American/Dream Team (OW)
• 4x Walsh Ironman Invitational Champion
• 2x NCAA National Champion | 3x All-American (Arizona State)
• UWW World Freestyle Champion | 2x World Medalist 

2014 – Nikko Villarreal (Gilroy, CC)

• 3x CIF State Champion | 4x Medalist (3^rd, 1^st, 1^st, 1^st)
• 2x FLO Nationals All-American
• NHSCA Senior HS All-American
• 2x Cadet Fargo All-American (FS)
• NHSCA Frosh All-American
• ASICS All-American HM 
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American

2013 – Isaiah Martinez (Lemoore, CS)

• 3x CIF State Champion | 4x Medalist (3^rd, 1^st, 1^st, 1^st)
• Junior Fargo National Champion (FS) | 2x All-American (FS/GR)
• Cadet Fargo National Champion (GR) | 2x All-American (FS/GR)
• FLO National Champion | 2x All-American
• 2x ASICS All-American – Second | Third Team 
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American 
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American/Academic Team
• 2x NCAA Division I National Champion | 4x All-American (Illinois)

2012 – Nikko Villarreal (Gilroy, CC)

• 3x CIF State Champion | 4x Medalist (3^rd, 1^st, 1^st, 1^st)
• 2x FLO Nationals All-American
• NHSCA Senior HS All-American
• 2x Cadet Fargo All-American (FS)
• NHSCA Frosh All-American
• ASICS All-American HM 
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American

2011 – Morgan McIntosh (Calvary Chapel, S)

• 3x CIF State Champion | 4x Medalist (5^th, 1^st, 1^st, 1^st)
• 2x FLO National Champion (OW)
• 2x Junior National Champion (FS)
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American – First Team 
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American/Dream Team 
• 3x ASICS All-American – First Team | HM
• 3x NCAA Division I All-American (Penn State)

2010 – Nick Sierra (Lemoore, CS)

• CIF State Champion
• NHSCA Frosh All-American

2009 – Morgan McIntosh (Calvary Chapel, S)

• 3x CIF State Champion | 4x Medalist (5^th, 1^st, 1^st, 1^st)
• 2x FLO National Champion (OW)
• 2x Junior National Champion (FS)
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American – First Team 
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American/Dream Team 
• 3x ASICS All-American – First Team | HM
• 3x NCAA Division I All-American (Penn State)

2008 – Jason Welch (Las Lomas, NC)

• 3x CIF State Champion | 4x Finalist (2^nd, 1^st, 1^st, 1^st)
• Cadet All-American (FS)
• Junior All-American (FS)
• 3x ASICS All-American (HM) | First Team (2x)
• Walsh Ironman Champion
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American (First Team)
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American (Dream Team)
• 3x NCAA Division I All-American (Northwestern)

2007 – Jason Lara (Calvary Chapel, S)

• CIF State Champion 
• NHSCA Senior HS All-American
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American 
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American 

2006 – Billy Murphy (Hughson, SJ)

• 2x CIF State Champion | 3x Medalist (3^rd, 1^st, 1^st)
• NHSCA Senior HS National Champion
• NHSCA Junior HS National Champion (OW)
• Cadet All-American (FS)
• 2x ASICS All-American (HM) | First Team 
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American (First Team)
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American (Dream Team)
• NJCAA National Champion | All-American (Iowa Central CC)

2005 – Jake Varner (Bakersfield, CS)

• 2x CIF State Champion | 4x Medalist (4^th, 2^nd, 1^st, 1^st)
• Cadet All-American (FS)
• Junior All-American (FS)
• NHSCA Senior HS All-American
• 2x ASICS All-American (HM) | Second Team
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American (First Team)
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American
• 2x NCAA Champion | 4x All-American (Iowa State)
• Olympic Gold Medalist (FS)

2004 – Nathan Morgan (Bakersfield, CS)

• 3x CIF State Champion | 4x Finalist (2^nd, 1^st, 1^st, 1^st)
• Cadet All-American (FS)
• Junior All-American (FS)
• 3x ASICS All-American First | Second | Third Teams 
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American (First Team)
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American (Dream Team)
• 3x NCAA Division I All-American (Oklahoma State)

2003 – Joe Williams (Calvary Chapel, S)

• 2x CIF State Champion | 3x Medalist (5^th, 1^st, 1^st)
• Cadet National Champion | 2x All-American (FS/GR)
• NHSCA Senior HS All-American
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American 
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American (Academic Team)
• 2x ASICS All-American (HM) | Third Team 

2002 – Darrell Vasquez (Bakersfield, CS)

• 4x CIF State Champion 
• NHSCA Senior HS All-American 
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American 
• 3x ASICS All-American Second | Third Teams (2x)
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American (Dream Team)
• 2x NCAA Division I All-American (Cal Poly, SLO)

2001 – Darrell Vasquez (Bakersfield, CS)

• 4x CIF State Champion 
• NHSCA Senior HS All-American 
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American 
• 3x ASICS All-American Second | Third Teams (2x)
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American (Dream Team)
• 2x NCAA Division I All-American (Cal Poly, SLO)

2000 – Chris Pendleton (Lemoore, CS)

• CIF State Champion | 2x Medalist (4^th, 1^st)
• NHSCA Senior HS All-American 
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American 
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American
• 2x NCAA Division I National Champ | 3x All-American (Oklahoma St.)

1999 – Ben Martinez (Tulare Union, CS)

• 2x CIF State Champion 
• NHSCA Senior HS All-American
• ASICS All-American (HM)
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American 
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American
• Cadet National Champion | 2x All-American (GR)
• Junior National Champion | 3x All-American (FS/GR)

1998 – Cristobal Gonzalez (Ventura, S)

• CIF State Champion | 2x Medalist (3^rd, 1^st)
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American 
• Junior All-American (FS)

1997 – Carlos Blanco (Canyon Springs, S)

• 2x CIF State Champion | 3x Medalist (5^th, 1^st, 1^st)
• NHSCA Senior HS National Champion 
• ASICS All-American (HM) | Second Team 
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American 
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American (Academic Team)
• Cadet All-American (GR)
• Junior All-American (FS)

1996 – Stephen Abas (James Logan, NC)

• 3x CIF State Champion | 4x Medalist (4^th, 1^st, 1^st, 1^st)
• NHSCA Senior HS National Champion (OW)
• 3x ASICS All-American (HM) | Second Team (2x)
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American (Dream Team)
• Cadet National Champion | 2x All-American (FS)
• Junior National Champion | 2x All-American (FS)
• 3x NCAA Division I Champion | 4x All-American (Fresno State)
• 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist (FS)

1995 – Eric Guerrero (Independence, CC)

• 3x CIF State Champion | 4x Medalist (3^rd, 1^st, 1^st, 1^st)
• NHSCA Senior HS National Champion (OW)
• 3x ASICS All-American Second Team | First Team (2x)
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American 
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American (Dream Team)
• 2x Cadet All-American (FS/GR)
• Junior National Champion | 4x All-American (FS)
• 3x NCAA Division I National Champion | 4x All-American (Oklahoma State)
• 2004 Olympian (FS)

1994 – Casey Strand (College Park, NC)

• 2x CIF State Champion | 3x Finalist (2^nd, 1^st, 1^st)
• ASICS All-American (HM)
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American 
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American (Dream Team)
• Junior National Champion | 2x All-American (FS/GR)
• Dapper Dan USA Team Member
• 2x NCAA Division I All-American (Arizona State)

1993 – Julius Reyes (Hemet, S)

• CIF State Champion 

1992 – Jeremiah Miller (South Hills, S)

• CIF State Champion 
• NHSCA Senior HS All-American 
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American

1991 – Tony Okada (Savanna, S)

• 2x CIF State Champion | 3x Medalist (5^th, 1^st, 1^st)
• 2x ASICS All-American (HM) | First Team 
• Amateur Wrestling News All-American 
• Wrestling USA Magazine All-American (Dream Team)
• Cadet National Champion (FS) | 2x All-American (FS/GR)
• Cadet All-American (GR)

GIRLS DIVISION AWARD RECIPIENTS

2019 – 2026 

2026 – Leilani Lemus (Clovis, CS)

• 4x CIF State Champion
• NHSCA All-American
• Fargo All-American

2025 – Isabella Gonzalez (Clovis East CS)

• 3x CIF State Champion | 4x Medalist (2^nd, 1^st, 1^st, 1^st)
• Multiple High School All-American honors

2024 – Anaya Falcon (Walnut, S)

• 3x CIF State Champion
• USMC Women’s Nationals All-American
• NAIA All-American (Life University)

2023 – Lilli Avalos (Pitman, SJ)

• CIF State Champion 
• NAIA All-American (Vanguard University)

2022 – Jennifer Soto (Gilroy, CC)

• 3x CIF State Champion
• Fargo All-American
• NCAA Division II All-American (McKendree University)

2021 – CIF State Tournament Cancelled (COVID)

2020 – Cheyenne Bowman (Rowland, S)

• 3x CIF State Champion 
• Fargo All-American
• 3x Collegiate All-American (King University)

2019 – Amit Elor (College Park, NC)

• CIF State Champion
• U17 World Champion
• 3x U20 World Champion
• 2x U23 World Champion 
• 2x Senior World Champion
• Olympic Gold Medalist

Photo images: John Sachs (Tech-Fall), Tony Rotundo (WAW), Chris Mora, and California archives.

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