RBS&HF Recognizes Its First-Ever Girl Wrestler
The 2026 scholarship goes to Anne Wilson, marking the first time the RBS&HF has recognized a girl wrestler.
The Ray Barron Strength & Honor Fund is proud to announce the recipient of its fifth-annual scholarship. Established in 2020 in honor of legendary Colorado wrestling Coach Ray Barron, the scholarship fund recognizes Colorado wrestlers who demonstrate strength and honor in all they do, on and off the mat.
In 2026, the fund recognizes Anne Wilson of Haxtun High school. Wilson will join the Colby Community College women’s wrestling team in the fall. She placed third at 140 in the 4A division of the CHSAA Girls’ State Wrestling Tournament
Achievement on the mat is only a minor criteria for this $10,000 scholarship. The board looks for wrestlers who display strength, honor, grit, tenacity, humility, and commitment in their daily lives, in their families, and in their communities as well as in the wrestling room. Wilson has all those characteristics, making her a shining example of Coach Barron’s values.
“Annie is a great young woman who started wrestling three years ago,” said Haxtun High School wrestling coach Don Schelling in his nomination of Wilson. “Annie has been through a lot of adversity in her life, and wrestling has been an amazing thing for her as she has excelled in it and has given her something positive that she has fully committed to. She has fought through so many things in her life and has used wrestling to help shape her into the young lady she is today. I am so proud of everything she has overcome and the passion she has for her education and wrestling.”
In her application, Wilson agreed that wrestling has been a driving force in who she strives to become.
“Wrestling has taught me discipline, accountability, and resilience that I carry into everyday life,” she said. “The sport demands hard work and responsibility, which has helped me stay focused and committed in school and personal goals. Off the mat, wrestling taught me how to handle pressure, respect others, and turn challenges into motivation. It shaped me into someone who works hard, stays humble, and carries strength and integrity in everything I do.”
“It’s difficult for me to express how proud we all are—the RBS&HF Board and my family—of the 2026 class of scholarship applicants,” said board president and Coach Barron’s daughter, Jennifer Paulson. “On top of reading their applications, it was a great honor to interview our top three candidates. They all presented themselves with great poise, professionalism, and an open demeanor. The future of Colorado wrestling is bright with programs producing individuals of this caliber. My dad would be excited to congratulate each of the nominees.”
The Ray Barron Strength & Honor Fund is a 501(c)3 organization that raises funds to provide scholarships to universities, junior colleges, and trade schools to graduating Colorado wrestlers. Ray Barron was a wrestling coach for nearly 50 years, leading teams in Fort Lupton, Colorado; Worland, Wyoming; and Littleton, Colorado, at Heritage and Columbine High Schools. He received numerous honors, including being inducted into the National Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame and being named the 2020 5A Wrestling Coach of the Year. He passed away in 2020 due to glioblastoma brain cancer. Learn more about the Ray Barron Strength & Honor Fund and Coach Barron at www.RayBarronStrengthAndHonorFund.com, follow the fund on Facebook, and donate at https://gofund.me/9ec2ba72.