Penn State Wrestling Signee Wins Major Award

Jayden James named 2026 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award winner for New Jersey

Apr. 19, 2026 at 8:20pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the chaotic energy and multi-angled perspectives of a high school wrestling match, with sharp planes of navy, green, and red hues.A cubist interpretation of the intense focus and dynamic movement of high school wrestling, as exemplified by Penn State signee Jayden James' decorated career.Cleveland Today

Penn State's top wrestling signee for the 2026 cycle, Jayden James, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award for New Jersey. James, the No. 2 pound-for-pound wrestler in the country in his class, is coming off a high school career that included two state championships and 74 straight wins.

Why it matters

The Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award is one of the most prestigious honors in high school wrestling, recognizing the nation's top senior male wrestlers. James' award further cements his status as an elite prospect and underscores the continued strength of Penn State's wrestling program in recruiting top talent.

The details

James, who had previously committed to Virginia Tech before decommitting and signing with Penn State, was described by current Nittany Lion star PJ Duke as 'one of my best friends.' Duke, who just finished a standout freshman season, helped James train and prepare, including for his two upset wins over four-time NCAA champion Yianni Diakomihalis at Final X last summer.

  • James won his second New Jersey state championship in March 2026.
  • James will compete in the U.S. Open at U20 in Las Vegas from April 22-26, 2026.

The players

Jayden James

Penn State's top wrestling signee for the 2026 cycle, who is ranked No. 2 pound-for-pound in the country in his class and was named the 2026 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award winner for New Jersey.

PJ Duke

A current star wrestler for Penn State, who helped train and prepare James, including for his two upset wins over four-time NCAA champion Yianni Diakomihalis.

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What they’re saying

“Before he left for college, he was my training partner every day. So, getting beat up by him for four years straight is going to make you way tougher and a way better wrestler. So he's helped me in that aspect, and also in the mindset of watching him throughout these tournaments, helping him train for Yanni in the warmup before Yani at Final X. Just good visualization to see where I need to be and where I need to get to.”

— Jayden James

What’s next

James will compete in the U.S. Open at U20 in Las Vegas from April 22-26, 2026, as he prepares to join the Penn State wrestling program.

The takeaway

Jayden James' Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award underscores Penn State's continued ability to recruit and develop elite wrestling talent. His close relationship with current Nittany Lion PJ Duke also highlights the program's strong culture of camaraderie and mentorship, which helps incoming wrestlers like James reach their full potential.