His high school wrestling season ended more than two months ago, but Chenango Forks senior Troy Nickerson continues to rack up the achievements.
Nickerson has been named the national winner of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum.
The award is based on outstanding wrestling success, scholastic achievement and citizenship or community service. Nickerson will be honored during the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Honors Weekend in Stillwater, Okla., on June 3-4.
“I was surprised, “said Nickerson, who will attend Cornell University in the fall. “It’s a tough award to get, but I was very glad to win the award over many other great competitors.”
Nickerson finished his scholastic wrestling career with a 213-6 record, winning a record five New York state wrestling titles, including the state Division I 125-pound title in March at the University at Albany.
In April, Nickerson won the 125-pound title at the Senior Nationals. Last summer, Nickerson was a double champion at the Junior and Cadet Nationals in Fargo, N.D., — his fourth and fifth titles in the event — and he earned Most Outstanding Wrestler honors in both freestyle and Greco-Roman.
“We are extremely fortunate to have a young man of the caliber of Troy Nickerson to acknowledge as the national winner of this award, “said Lee Roy Smith, executive director of the Hall of Fame. ” … I want to congratulate Troy, his family, coaches, teammates, and teachers on his success.”
Nickerson was selected as the Northeast Regional winner for the award. The Hall of Fame honors five scholar-athletes at the regional level.
The award is named in honor of the late Dave Schultz, a former Olympic and world champion.
“It’s definitely high up there in regards to awards I’ve won, “Nickerson said. “He’s a wrestling legend, and a lot of people look up to him.”
The award comes just a month after Nickerson won the Junior Dan Hodge Award, given by Win Magazine, a wrestling publication.
Nickerson won the award as the wrestler who most displays dominance on the mat.
Wrestling Gear
