USAW
High School & Youth
Women

Applications Now Being Accepted for the 2026 Brian Keck Memorial Scholarship

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by David Gerhart, USA Wrestling

USA Wrestling has opened applications for the 2026 Brian Keck Memorial Scholarship, awarded annually to a high school senior wrestler who has been adopted and exemplifies determination, sportsmanship, and a commitment to making a positive impact.


The $5,000 scholarship was created in 2023 in honor of Brian Keck as a tribute to his lasting legacy in the sport of wrestling. Keck was an Ohio state champion, a U.S. Senior National Team member, and was proudly adopted at the age of 15. Before his passing in 2019, Brian worked tirelessly for 12 years to make the USA Wrestling Preseason Nationals a great success and provide athletes with the opportunity to compete against the best in the nation.


The scholarship will be awarded on Thursday, October 29, at the 2026 U.S. Marine Corps Brian Keck Memorial Preseason Nationals & Boys National Recruiting Showcase in West Des Moines, Iowa. The following criteria must be met to be eligible to apply:


  • Must be a high school senior who is both adopted and actively participating in wrestling.
  • Must be competing at the 2026 U.S. Marine Corps Brian Keck Memorial Preseason Nationals & Boys National Recruiting Showcase
  • Must exemplify the qualities of determination, sportsmanship, and a commitment to making a positive impact.
  • Must have a proven academic record of excellence.
  • Must be accepted to or planning to apply to an accredited college, university, or vocational institution.
  • Must submit an essay detailing how your adoption journey and wrestling experiences reflect the qualities that Brian Keck represented.

The scholarship application deadline is 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday, October 14. Fill out the application form here.


USA Wrestling believes that stories like Brian's deserve recognition and support. This scholarship embodies our commitment to honoring those who have left a lasting impression on their communities.


For more information on the Brian Keck Memorial Scholarship, click here or email Marty Margolis at mmargolis@usawrestling.org.



Brian Keck Memorial Scholarship Award Recipients

2023 – Yuki Uchishiba of Hawaii / Wheaton College

2024 – Braxton Stewart of Colorado / Arcadia University

2025 – Cora Schut of Iowa / Simpson College