USAW
International
Greco-Roman

Payton Jacobson named 2025 USA Wrestling Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year

Share:

by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling

Payton Jacobson presented with the award for 2026 USA Wrestling Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year, by National Greco-Roman Head Coach, Herb House, and Greco-Roman team leader Jamie Dinan

Payton Jacobson presented with the award for 2026 USA Wrestling Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year, by National Greco-Roman Head Coach, Herb House, and Greco-Roman team leader Jamie Dinan

Payton Jacobson (Marquette, Mich./New York AC/NMU-NTS) has been named the 2025 USA Wrestling Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year. This is the second consecutive year Jacobson has won the prestigious award.


After a breakout 2024 campaign, Jacobson solidified himself as a force for U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling in 2025.


Jacobson qualified for his first Senior World Championships by winning the 2025 CLAW U.S. Open Championships at 87 kg. He defeated two-time U.S. World Team member Spencer Woods in the best-of-three championship series in Las Vegas, Nevada, in three bouts. Jacobson went on to finish in seventh place at the 2025 Senior World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, with a 2-2 record.


After his Senior Worlds appearance, Jacobson added a U23 World bronze medal to his resume in Novi Sad, Serbia, his first World medal in any age division. He is one of only three Americans to medal at the U23 World Championships.


Additionally, Jacobson scored international gold medals at the 2025 Senior Pan American Championships in Monterrey, Mexico, and the 2025 Junior Pan American Games in Asuncion, Paraguay.


Originally from Elkhorn, Wisconsin, Jacobson represented Team USA at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. He is a Senior World Team member (2025), three-time U23 World Team member (2023, 2024, 2025) and a U20 World Team member (2022).


Currently a Senior student-athlete at Northern Michigan University, Jacobson is a member of the Northern Michigan University – National Training Site and sponsored by the New York Athletic Club. He competed for Elkhorn Area High School in Wisconsin prior to going to Northern Michigan.


Jacobson was presented the 2025 USA Wrestling Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year award at the 2026 U.S. Open Championships.

Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year Award Winners 

2025 — Payton Jacobson, Marquette, Mich., New York AC, NMU-NTS

2024 — Payton Jacobson, Elkhorn, Wis., Sunkist Kids, NMU-NTS

2023 — Cohlton Schultz, Parker, Colo., Sunkist Kids  

2022 — Max Nowry, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army WCAP

2021 — Max Nowry, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army WCAP

2020 — No award (COVID-19)

2019 — Max Nowry, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army WCAP

2018 — Adam Coon, Ann Arbor, Mich., New York AC/Cliff Keen WC

2017 — Kamal Bey, Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunkist Kids

2016 — Andy Bisek, Marquette, Mich., Minnesota Storm

2015 — Andy Bisek, Colorado Springs, Colo., Minnesota Storm

2014 — Andy Bisek, Colorado Springs, Colo., Minnesota Storm

2013 — Spenser Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army WCAP

2012 — Chas Betts, Colorado Springs, Colo., Minnesota Storm

2011 — Justin Lester, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army

2010 — Justin Ruiz, Meridian, Idaho, New York AC

2009 — Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army

2008 — Adam Wheeler, Colorado Springs, Colo., Gator WC

2007 — Brad Vering, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC

2006 — Joe Warren, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC

2005 — Justin Ruiz, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC

2004 — Rulon Gardner, Wellsville, Utah, Sunkist Kids

2003 — Jim Gruenwald, Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunkist Kids

2002 — Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army

2001 — Rulon Gardner, Cascade, Colo., Sunkist Kids

2000 — Rulon Gardner, Afton, Wyo., Sunkist Kids

1999 — Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army

1998 — Matt Lindland, Lincoln, Neb., Sunkist Kids

1997 — Rulon Gardner, Gilbert, Ariz., Sunkist Kids

1996 — Dennis Hall, Stevens, Point, Wis., Sunkist Kids

1995 — Dennis Hall, Stevens Point, Wis., Sunkist Kids

1994 — Dennis Hall, Stevens Point, Wis., Sunkist Kids

1993 — James Johnson, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids