The “Major Ray Mendoza Award” was created in 2009 to honor Major Ray Mendoza, an outstanding Blair Academy and Ohio State wrestler, who was killed-in-action in Iraq in 2005. The Mendoza Award is an entirely objective selection given to the wrestler who earns the most team points at the tournament. This award is given at only three tournaments a year: The IRONMAN, Beast of the East, and the National Prep Tournament.
The Mendoza Award has proven to be a great prediction of future greatness. Past winners have achieved: One Olympic Gold Medal Two World Champion Gold Medals One World Champion Silver Medal Nine NCAA Championships Forty-one NCAA All American Places Click here to learn more about the History of the Mendoza Award. |
The “IRONMAN Outstanding Wrestler Award” is named in honor of long-time Walsh Jesuit coach Bill Barger. It was his vision in 1994 to create a tournament featuring the best teams and wrestlers in the country. Bill invited twenty top ranked teams to compete in this first IRONMAN tournament. Thanks to him the IRONMAN, now celebrating its 28th year, is now considered one of the premier in-season high school tournaments in the country.
The Outstanding Wrestler Award is given to the wrestler a panel of judges deems the best in the IRONMAN tournament. |
The “Mascio Ultimate Warrior Award” is a new, unique award that will be presented to the unseeded wrestler who places highest in the tournament among all weight classes. It is an entirely objective award and recognizes an outstanding effort by a wrestler who doesn’t stand at the top of a podium. If necessary, the following tiebreakers will be used to determine the winner:
1. Most pins 2. Most Pins, least time 3. Most Tech Falls, least time 4. Most single match points 5. Most total match points This award is named in honor of John Mascio who was one of the initial founders of the IRONMAN tournament. John served as Bill Barger’s right hand man from the inception of the IRONMAN and remained on the IRONMAN board until he passed away in 2023. This award emulates John in his dedication and tireless devotion to the IRONMAN’s success. The wrestler who wins this award has worked against the odds to find success in one of the toughest tournaments in the country. |
Pete Zaccari
Tournament Director |
Jenn Bernard
Women of IRONMAN Team Director[email protected] |