Oregon Chapter
Official State Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame
2018 Oregon Dave Schultz and Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Awards for Male and Female State Winners Announced
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum has announced its winners of the Dave Schultz and Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Awards for 2018.
Originally created in honor of Dave Schultz, an Olympic and World champion, the High School Excellence Award is based on excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship and community service. State winners for both the Schultz and Saunders Awards have been selected in each of the states that sponsor high school state championships.
This year the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award for Outstanding Male Wrestler of the Year for the state of Oregon award goes to 4 time state champion and 4-time triple-crown champion, Travis Wittlake Jr. Travis is a senior at Marshfield HS in Coos Bay, OR. He was the United World Wrestling Cadet freestyle champion in 2016 and 2017, the Junior Nationals cadet freestyle champion in 2016 and the Junior Nationals Greco-Roman champion in 2015 and 2016. Wittlake won a bronze medal at the Junior World Championships in 2016 for USA, but did not compete in 2017 due to an injury. He is a 4-time Sierra Nevada Classic champion and was named 4A Wrestler of the Year in Oregon three times. Wittlake was featured in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” in 2018 and was listed as a ‘Future Game Changer’ by publication in 2012. He has been a motivational speaker at local schools while also serving as a volunteer coach and official. Wittlake has a 3.4 GPA and has signed a letter of intent to wrestle for Oklahoma State University.
In addition to being the Oregon award winner, it was announced that Travis was the West Region Dave Schultz High Excellence Award winner. He is pictured with Nancy Schultz Vitangeli and Trent Kroll.
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award, for the Outstanding Female Wrestler of the Year in Oregon goes to 4-time Oregon girls wrestling state championship finalist and two-time champion from Gold Beach High School, Jade Piper. Jade is one of the pioneers of Girls Wrestling in the State of Oregon. As Women’s wrestling has become increasingly popular in the Oregon & Washington, Jade has wrestled in many of the Pacific Northwest Women’s Wrestling Tournaments posting a very impressive record. Jade has been a 3-sport athlete at Gold Beach HS while also competing in Softball, Cross Country and Cheer. She is a strong member of the Gold Beach community, and helps out with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Local Mat Club, and the Town and Country Animal Clinic.
Congratulations to both.
Originally created in honor of Dave Schultz, an Olympic and World champion, the High School Excellence Award is based on excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship and community service. State winners for both the Schultz and Saunders Awards have been selected in each of the states that sponsor high school state championships.
This year the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award for Outstanding Male Wrestler of the Year for the state of Oregon award goes to 4 time state champion and 4-time triple-crown champion, Travis Wittlake Jr. Travis is a senior at Marshfield HS in Coos Bay, OR. He was the United World Wrestling Cadet freestyle champion in 2016 and 2017, the Junior Nationals cadet freestyle champion in 2016 and the Junior Nationals Greco-Roman champion in 2015 and 2016. Wittlake won a bronze medal at the Junior World Championships in 2016 for USA, but did not compete in 2017 due to an injury. He is a 4-time Sierra Nevada Classic champion and was named 4A Wrestler of the Year in Oregon three times. Wittlake was featured in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” in 2018 and was listed as a ‘Future Game Changer’ by publication in 2012. He has been a motivational speaker at local schools while also serving as a volunteer coach and official. Wittlake has a 3.4 GPA and has signed a letter of intent to wrestle for Oklahoma State University.
In addition to being the Oregon award winner, it was announced that Travis was the West Region Dave Schultz High Excellence Award winner. He is pictured with Nancy Schultz Vitangeli and Trent Kroll.
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award, for the Outstanding Female Wrestler of the Year in Oregon goes to 4-time Oregon girls wrestling state championship finalist and two-time champion from Gold Beach High School, Jade Piper. Jade is one of the pioneers of Girls Wrestling in the State of Oregon. As Women’s wrestling has become increasingly popular in the Oregon & Washington, Jade has wrestled in many of the Pacific Northwest Women’s Wrestling Tournaments posting a very impressive record. Jade has been a 3-sport athlete at Gold Beach HS while also competing in Softball, Cross Country and Cheer. She is a strong member of the Gold Beach community, and helps out with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Local Mat Club, and the Town and Country Animal Clinic.
Congratulations to both.
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