GLOCESTER – He’s been recognized as the highest nationally ranked wrestler in Rhode Island history, and this month, Ponaganset High School senior Joseph Joyce was selected for an elite award honoring achievements both on and off the mat.
Joyce was the only athlete from Rhode Island selected for this year‘s National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s David Schultz High School Excellence Award, which celebrates the nation’s most outstanding high school senior male wrestlers for their prowess in the sport, as well as scholastic achievement, citizenship and community service.
The son of Ponaganset Athletic Director Michael Joyce, the young athlete secured his third RIIL State Individual title in the 2024/2025 season, and went on to win a second consecutive New England title. Last May, he was ranked the #2 high school wrestler in the country, making state history with the placement. The achievement led WPRI to dub him a Cardi’s Furniture & Mattresses Hometown Sports Hero in August.
But in his senior year, Joyce’s participation in his sport was cut short early in the season by an injury. Despite the loss, the PHS wrestling team went on to again secure its fourth consecutive state title last month.
And the athlete, who plans to attend Princeton University, has also garnered recognition – even from his seat on the sidelines.
“Each year, the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award allows us to recognize young men who represent the very best of our sport,” said NWHOF Executive Director Lee Roy Smith. “This award honors not only their achievements on the mat, but also their commitment to academic excellence, leadership and service to others. In the spirit of Dave Schultz, these student-athletes exemplify the character, sportsmanship and dedication that define wrestling at its highest level, and we are proud to celebrate their accomplishments and the example they set for future generations.”
Established in 1996 to honor Olympic and World champion Dave Schultz, whose career was cut short when he was murdered, the award honors just one athlete from each state. DSHSEA 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.
Supt. Renee Palazzo had kind words to describe PHS’s accomplished young athlete.
“There is no one more deserving than Joseph Joyce,” Palazzo said of the award. “He has a heart that is fierce, yet kind. He stands on great moral character and is a role model for all. He speaks truth, overcomes adversity and when he commits his mind, there’s no stopping him.”
“I couldn’t be more proud of this accomplishment and representation of our Ponaganset community,” Palazzo said.
