National Wrestling Hall of Fame Announces Illinois' Winner

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame recently announced Joliet West High School senior Louisa Schwab as the Illinois winner of the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award (TSHSEA). Schwab will be honored at the state chapter’s banquet on October 18.

First presented in 2014, the TSHSEA is named for Tricia Saunders, a four-time World Champion and women’s wrestling pioneer. The award recognizes and celebrates the nation’s most outstanding high school senior female wrestlers for their excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship, and community service.

Winners are evaluated and selected on the basis of three criteria: success and standout performances and sportsmanship in wrestling; review of GPA and class rank, academic honors and distinctions; and participation in activities that demonstrate commitment to character and community.

"I'm very honored to be acknowledged among so many other amazing athletes. It is extremely exciting to see how my hard work is noticed by others,” said Schwab. “I am most thankful to have been able to grow as a person and athlete in such a wonderful environment. I couldn't begin to describe the level of excellence shown by those around me, and having that bar set high is what I can always dedicate my own successes to.”

Women’s wrestling is one of the fastest growing high school sports and there are more than 27,000 female high school wrestlers competing across the nation. There are 81 intercollegiate women’s wrestling teams. The NCAA has approved “Emerging Sport Status” for women’s wrestling at the Division II and Division III levels, and women’s wrestling supporters are hopeful that it will approve it for Division I this summer. The NAIA also recognizes women’s wrestling as an emerging sport.

"Louisa has been such an important part of our wrestling program the past 4 years. She has etched her name in the Joliet West Wrestling history books, and I’m looking forward to seeing what she accomplishes next,” said West Wrestling Coach Chuck Rumpf. “Nobody has been a better ambassador for women’s wrestling or Joliet West High School than Louisa Schwab."

The Hall of Fame accepts nominations for its high school excellence awards from state chapters and coaches. The nominations are reviewed by a committee, which selects state and regional winners. The committee then determines the national winners from the regional winners. TSHSEA regional winners will be announced on May 19 and the national winner will be announced on May 26.

“It brings us great joy to recognize these outstanding female wrestlers, who have excelled not only on the wrestling mat, but also in the classroom and in their communities. I want to thank our selection committee for the thorough work they have done in determining this year's winners,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the Hall of Fame.

Schwab is attending Menlo College in California where she will continue her academic and wrestling careers.