TEMPE, Ariz.—The National Wrestling Hall of Fame recognized Arizona State wrestling’s incoming freshman Zahid Valencia over the weekend in Stillwater, Okla., as the 2015 recipient of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award.
Valencia, who will join the Sun Devil wrestling program in the fall of 2015 as a member of the No. 1 ranked incoming class in the country, is a three-time California high school state champion. With a career high school record of 164-1, Valencia was selected from the 49 state winners and five regional winners announced on April 27 by the NWHOF.
The award, named in memory of World and Olympic champion Dave Schultz, is in its 20th year.
Also inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame over the weekend was former Sun Devil assistant coach Joe Gonzales, who coached from 1986-89, helping ASU to its first NCAA Championship in 1988. Current head coach Zeke Jones was a member of the 1988 championship team.
Also in attendance was long time Sun Devil supporter and ASU graduate, Art Martori.