the hodge trophy

Originally created to celebrate the pin in college wrestling, the Dan Hodge Trophy is based on seven criteria including record, a number of pins, dominance, past credentials, quality of competition, sportsmanship/citizenship, and heart.

The trophy is based primarily on the results of a single season, but past accomplishments are considered as well, particularly in years where the competition is tighter. 

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The winner of the Hodge Trophy is determined based on a voting process that includes previous Hodge members, national media members, retired college coaches from each region of the United States, and a representative of the national wrestling organizations in the country. Fans also have a chance to vote for the Hodge winner, and the athlete with the most fan votes will receive two first-place votes in the count. Voting is typically conducted after the conclusion of the NCAA tournament, and the winner is announced in April.