DelGallo Wins Schultz Award

Gardiner High School’s Matt DelGallo added another accolade to an impressive high school wrestling resume when he was named Maine’s 2010 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award winner. The award, presented by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, is named in honor of the late Dave Schultz who was an NCAA and Olympic champion.

“The Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award is presented annually to a high school senior in each of the 49 states that sanction a High School State Wrestling Championship,” said Lee Roy Smith, National Wrestling Hall of Fame Executive Director. “The award is based equally on outstanding wrestling success, scholastic achievement and citizenship or community service.”

“Matt certainly meets all the criteria for the award,” said Gardiner coach Matt Hanley. “He has been an honor roll student, is active in his church and his accomplishments on the mat speak for themselves.”

DelGallo leaves the Gardiner program as the all-time leader in wins with 171. He was a four-time state champion, winning two Class A titles and two Class B titles. He was also a four time conference and regional champion among numerous other tournament titles.

The award includes an all-expense paid trip to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs to take part in a four day training camp hosted by USA Wrestling. USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for Olympic Wrestling.

“The camp includes technique sessions with Olympians and World Team coaches, as well as off-the-mat sessions on character development, leadership training, and civic duty,” said USA Wrestling’s Tony Black. "This is a chance for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and USA Wrestling to work together and put together a fantastic camp for some of our nation's finest young men. These are the future leaders inside and outside of our sport, so we are excited to have them at the Olympic Training Center."

“It is awesome to get this award,” said DelGallo. “I am excited to go to the Training Center. I feel honored to get this once in a life time opportunity. It should be a great time.”

The next step in DelGallo’s wrestling journey takes place this fall when he will enter Messiah College (Grantham, PA). DelGallo plans on competing on the Falcon team under the tutelage of Coach Bryan Brunk, a standout wrestler while at Bonny Eagle High School (Buxton, ME)

“I'm really excited to bring in a wrestler with Matt's ability and potential,” said Brunk. “The fact that Matt has wrestled in my home state of Maine and has had so much success on the mat makes him a special recruit for us. Someone who has been a four time State champ knows how to compete and knows how to win. I believe that our room at

Messiah will provide Matt with a number of talented training partners that will only help him to refine his technique and increase his intensity.”