Three-time Iowa state high school champion David Kjeldgaard was the first national winner of our Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award in 1996.

David, who had a career high school record of 173-4, graduated first and was valedictorian of his class with a 4.0 GPA at Lewis Central Senior High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

He was an officer in the National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes while also serving as an officer for the freshman, sophomore and junior classes. David was Student of the Year in Geometry, Algebra II, Biology, General Chemistry, Physics and Trigonometry and received the National Academy Math and Science Award.

Kjeldgaard was a three-time Cadet National Champion and a five-time Junior National Champion.

To win his first freestyle title as a junior, he defeated T.J. Williams, who would go on to win two NCAA titles and have a career record of 98-1 for Iowa Wrestling.

To capture his second title as a senior, Kjeldgaard defeated future NCAA champion and four-time Top-Three finisher Joe Heskett just to reach the finals, where he triumphed over Cael Sanderson, a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame who went on to be an undefeated four-time NCAA champion, world champion and Olympic gold medalist.

Kjeldgaard's career at the University of Oklahoma was hampered and cut short by knee injuries, but he twice qualified for the NCAA tournament and was a Big 12 Conference runner-up in 2000.