2026 NWHOF Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award: Austin Collins

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by National Wrestling Hall of Fame

Austin Collins of Wray, Colorado, is the 2026 national winner of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award, one of the nation’s highest honors for senior male high school wrestlers.


The Hall of Fame’s High School Excellence Awards are proudly sponsored by the Hyman Family, whose support helps recognize and inspire wrestling’s next generation.


A three-time Colorado state champion and four-time Colorado state finalist for Wray High School, Collins established himself as one of the most accomplished wrestlers in school history. Competing against many of the top athletes in the state throughout his career, he compiled an outstanding 168-6 overall record while consistently performing at an elite level on the mat.


Collins also excelled nationally and internationally in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. He won freestyle and Greco-Roman gold medals at the U15 Pan American Championships in 2023 and earned the Golden Boot as the Outstanding Wrestler in Greco-Roman. He captured the 16U Greco-Roman national title in 2024 and placed fourth in Greco-Roman at Junior Nationals in 2025. He also earned top finishes at the U17 US Open and was a U16 national runner-up in both folkstyle and Greco-Roman.


In addition to wrestling, Collins was a standout football player, earning three all-conference selections and all-state honors as a junior and senior.


Off the mat, Collins excelled academically and as a leader. A National Honor Society member, he earned academic all-state honors in football and wrestling, was named Most Outstanding SWAF Student twice, and served as student body council president his junior and senior years. He also volunteered throughout his community and coached youth football and wrestling.


The son of Amy and Greg Collins, he will continue his wrestling career at the University of Wyoming.


For his excellence in wrestling, academics, leadership, and service, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame proudly honors Austin Collins as the 2026 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award winner.