Three-time California high school state wrestling champion Zahid Valencia is the 2015 winner of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award. He was selected from 49 state winners and five regional winners.

Valencia competed for St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California. He won state wrestling championships in 2012 as a freshman (106 pounds), 2014 as a junior (132 pounds), and 2015 as a senior (182 pounds). He was named Outstanding Wrestler at the state tournament three times.

As a sophomore, Valencia placed third at the 2013 state wrestling championships after losing in the semifinals with a broken foot. It was the only setback of his high school wrestling career. He compiled an overall record of 158-1 with 100 pins and 12 technical falls.

Valencia won the prestigious Walsh Ironman tournament four consecutive years, becoming only the second wrestler in history to accomplish this feat. He also won USA Wrestling Junior National titles in freestyle (2012, 2013) and Greco-Roman (2013).

Overall, he was a four-time All-American, four-time first team All-State, four-time first team All-CIF, and four-time first team All-League.

Valencia earned 135 community service hours during his high school career. He also served as a youth wrestling coach and volunteered at a senior convalescent home in his hometown. On the scholastic side, he carries a 3.72 GPA and was named St. John Bosco Varsity Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2012, 2013, and 2014. He will attend Arizona State University this fall as a projected 184 pounder.

This is the 20th annual Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award, which is named in memory of World and Olympic champion Dave Schultz.