The National Wrestling Hall of Fame announced that Piper Fowler of Cleveland, Tennessee is the 2025 national winner of the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award (TSHSEA). 

The Hall of Fame’s High School Excellence Awards are proudly sponsored by the Hyman Family, whose generous support and passion for the sport help ensure the continued recognition and development of wrestling’s next generation. 

“I’m incredibly honored to receive the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame,” said Fowler. “Tricia Saunders broke barriers and paved the way for so many women in wrestling, and to be recognized in her name is both humbling and inspiring.

“This award fuels my drive to keep pushing forward—not just for myself, but for the next generation of girls in this sport,” she added. “I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has supported me on this journey. I hope to carry on Tricia Saunders’ legacy by inspiring the next wave of strong, fearless women in wrestling.”

First presented in 2014, the TSHSEA is named for Tricia Saunders, a four-time World Champion and women’s wrestling pioneer. Saunders was the first woman to be inducted as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006 and was inducted into the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2011. 

The award recognizes and celebrates the nation’s most outstanding high school senior female wrestlers for their excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship, and community service. 

The national winner of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award will be announced on Wednesday. The DSHSEA recognizes and celebrates the nation’s most outstanding high school senior male wrestlers for their excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship, and community service. 

The TSHSEA and DSHSEA national winners will be honored during the 48th Honors Weekend at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum on June 6 and 7 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. To purchase tickets for Honors Weekend, visit https://bit.ly/2025NWHOFHonorsWeekendTickets. 

“Piper’s high school journey has been nothing short of exceptional,” said Hall of Fame Executive Director Lee Roy Smith. “She has demonstrated remarkable drive and resilience in wrestling, all while excelling academically and giving back to her community in meaningful ways. 

“As the newest recipient of the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award, Piper joins an inspiring group of young women who exemplify the values this award celebrates,” he added. “With women’s wrestling being the fastest-growing high school sport and newly added as the NCAA’s 91st championship sport in 2025, Piper’s success reflects the bright future of the sport—and we look forward to all she will continue to accomplish.” 

The daughter of Zack and McKenzie Fowler, Piper will continue her wrestling career at William Penn University. 

Fowler was an undefeated four-time Tennessee wrestling state champion for Cleveland High School. She helped start the wrestling team at her school and was instrumental in helping them capture three state team titles and a third-place finish. Fowler was named Outstanding Wrestler at the 2024 state tournament and the recipient of the Catherine Neely Female Athlete of the Year award. 

She won a gold medal at the 2023 U17 World Championships and represented the United States again in 2024. She is also a National High School Coaches Association champion, a Fargo champion, a Super 32 champion. 

A Raider scholar, Fowler is a member of the Cleveland High School Leadership Council and the Criminal Justice Club. She is an active member in her youth group at church while also serving as an ambassador for ATS the Bridge, taking a public stand against drugs and vaping, and volunteering at elementary schools. 

Fowler becomes the second national winner from Tennessee joining 2016 winner Katie Brock from Whitwell, Tennessee. California and Tennessee are tied for the most national winners with two while Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma and Washington have each had one winner.

Women’s wrestling is one of the fastest growing high school sports with participation growing by more than 292 percent from 16,562 in 2018 to 65,000 in 2024.

Forty-six state high school athletic associations have voted to approve girls wrestling as an official sport, and 46 held official girls high school state wrestling championships in 2024-25. Hawaii was the first state to host a girls state championship in 1998 and Texas began its girls’ tournament in 1999. The number grew to six states by 2015.

States that hosted girls state wrestling championships in 2024-25 are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

In January, the NCAA added women’s wrestling as its 91st championship sport. Women's wrestling advances from the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program to become a national collegiate championship, featuring female athletes from all three divisions competing against one another. The NCAA's first women's wrestling championship will be in 2026. The NAIA recognizes women’s wrestling as an official varsity sport and held their first official championship in 2023.

There are over 175 intercollegiate women’s wrestling teams competing at the NCAA, NAIA, junior college and community college level.

The Hall of Fame accepts nominations for its high school excellence awards from state chapters and coaches. The nominations are reviewed by a committee, which selects state and regional winners. The committee then determines the national winners from the regional winners.

All-Time National Winners of Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award 

Year - Name, High School, Hometown, State
2025 - Piper Fowler, Cleveland, Tennessee, Cleveland High School, William Penn University
2024 - Nebi Tsarni, Watkins Mill High School, Montgomery Village, Maryland
2023 - Kira Pipkins, Bloomfield High School, Bloomfield, New Jersey
2022 - Sofia Macaluso, Minisink High School, Otisville, New York (U20 World Silver Medalist)
2021 - Olivia Brown, Broken Arrow High School, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
2020 - Nanea Estrella, Lahainaluna High School, Makawao, Hawaii
2019 - Emily Shilson, Mounds View High School, North Oaks, Minnesota (Five-Time College National Champion, Junior World Champion)
2018 - Alleida Martinez, Selma High School, Selma, California
2017 - Cierra Foster, Post Falls High School, Post Falls, Idaho
2016 - Katie Brock, Sequatchie County High School, Whitwell, Tennessee
2015 - Marizza Birrueta, Grandview High School, Grandview, Washington
2014 - Marina Doi, Kingsburg High School, Kingsburg, California

2025 Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award Regional Winners 

Region - Name, High School, Hometown, College Attending
Central Region – Riley Rayome, Shenandoah, Texas, The Woodlands High School, North Central College
Midwest Region – Margaret Buurma, Fowlerville, Michigan, Fowlerville High School 
Northeast Region – Calli Gilchrist, Norwalk, Connecticut, Choate Rosemary Hall, Brown University 
Southeast Region – Piper Fowler, Cleveland, Tennessee, Cleveland High School, William Penn University 
West Region – Isabella Marie Gonzales, Fresno, California, Clovis East High School, University of Iowa 

2025 Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award State Winners 

State - Name, High School, Hometown, College Attending
Alabama - Evelyn Holmes-Smith, Enterprise High School, Enterprise, Emmanuel University
Alaska - Noelle Buck, Colony High School, Wasilla, Colorado Mesa University
Arizona - Alena Gracia, Cesar Chavez High School, Phoenix
Arkansas - Gracie Webb, Searcy High School, Searcy
California - Isabella Marie Gonzales, Clovis East High School, Fresno, University of Iowa
Colorado - Katelyn Valdez, Doherty High School, Colorado Springs, McKendree University
Connecticut - Calli Gilchrist, Choate Rosemary Hall, Norwalk, Brown University
Delaware - Natalie Hackett, St. Georges Technical High School, Newark
Florida - Milana Borrelli, Venice High School, Venice, North Central College
Georgia - Vera Spencer, North Oconee High School, Bogart
Hawaii - Jax Realin, Kamehameha Schools, Mililani
Idaho - Joely Slyter, Lewiston High School, Lewiston
Illinois - Harlee Hiller, Loyola Academy, Evanston
Indiana - Mallory Winner, Jay County High School, East Ridgeville
Iowa - Molly Allen, Riverside High School, Oakland, Oklahoma State University
Kansas - Leiannah Landreth, Mulvane High School, Mulvane
Kentucky - Sophie Anderson, Walton Verona High School, Walton, Campbellsville University
Louisiana - Natalie Davis, Haughton High School, Haughton, Texas Women's University
Maine - Ciara Farias, Gardiner Area High School, Randolph
Maryland - Lexy Pabon, Crofton High School, Crofton, Life University
Massachusetts - Daniella Nugent, Phillips Academy at Andover, Boxford
Michigan - Margaret Buurma, Fowlerville High School, Fowlerville
Minnesota - Ella Pagel, Northfield High School, Nerstrand
Mississippi - Addison Wilson, Oak Grove High School, Hattiesburg
Missouri - Kailey Benson, Francis Howell Central High School, St. Peters
Montana - Tirza Twoteeth, Ronan High School, Ronan
Nebraska - Piper Zatechka, Omaha Westside High School, Omaha, Lehigh University
Nevada - Addison Canja, Cimarron Memorial High School, Las Vegas
New Hampshire - Liz Donovan, Pelham High School, Pellham
New Jersey - Shaelie Young, Gateway Regional High School, Woodbury Heights, D'Youville University
New Mexico - Leslie Nayarez-Alcala, Atrisco Heritage Academy High School, Albuquerque
New York - Zoe Griffith, Gouverneur Central High School, Gouverneur, Presbyterian College
North Carolina - Leah Edwards, East Rowan High School, Salisbury
North Dakota - Alexis Schneider, Napoleon Public School, Kintyre
Ohio - Makennah Craft, Jackson High School, Minford, Campbellsville University
Oklahoma - Jadyn Roller, Bixby High School, Bixby
Oregon - McKenzie Mills, David Douglas High School, Portland, University of Providence
Pennsylvania - Aubree Krazer, Easton Area High School, Easton, Lehigh University
Rhode Island - Victoria Salinas, Toll Gate High School, Warwick
South Carolina - Tiyanna Mack, Blythewood High School, Blythewood
South Dakota - Peyton Hellmann, Bon Homme High School, Tabor, Fort Hays State
Tennessee - Piper Fowler, Cleveland High School, Cleveland, William Penn University
Texas - Riley Rayome, The Woodlands High School, Shenandoah, North Central College
Utah - Kristina Kent, Davis High School, Kaysville
Vermont - Brooke Davis, St. Johnsbury Academy, Lyndonville, Norwich University
Virginia - Jenna Anderson, Cosby High School, Moseley
Washington - Libby Roberts, University High School, Spokane Valley
West Virginia - Kaylie Hall, Spring Mills High School, Augusta, Presbyterian College
Wisconsin - Hailie Krueger, New London High School, New London, Wartburg College
Wyoming - Veil Forman, Star Valley High School, Etna