2016 Major Award Winners
Taxidermist of the Year
The Theodore Roosevelt Lion Award
Mike Nakielski
Iron Ridge, WI
139 Wood Duck
The Breakthrough Best of Show Award
Judges' Choice Best of Show
Timothy Gorenchan
Escanaba, Michigan
176 Pink Salmon
The WASCO Award
Most Artistic Entry
Timothy Gorenchan
Escanaba, Michigan
177 Brown Trout
Best All-Around Taxidermist
Highest Combined Score in Four Categories
Jason Krause
Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
166–169 Black Bear, Crow, Wolf, Western Diamondback
Distinguished Taxidermist Award
Entry has previously won a Judges' Best of Show at another qualifying competition
Vince Spellane
Saltsburg, Pennsylvania 107 Whitetail Deer
Challenge of the Art of Taxidermy
First Place
Mike Nakielski
Iron Ridge, WI
139 Wood Duck
Challenge of the Art of Taxidermy
Second Place
Timothy Gorenchan
Escanaba, Michigan
176 Pink Salmon
Challenge of the Art of Taxidermy
Third Place
Mike Nakielski
Iron Ridge, Wisconsin
143 Black Duck
Delia Akeley Award
Best Entry by a female competitor selected by convention attendees
Delores Carley
Kent, Pennsylvania
223 Coyote Pup
Joseph Bruchac Memorial Award
Judges' Choice for Best Whitetail Deer
Tommy Hall
Indian Trail, North Carolina
103 Whitetail Deer
Brian Harness Memorial Award
Judges' Choice for Best Lifesize Mammal
Kent Stryker
New Alexandria, Pennsylvania
157 Wolf
National Wild Turkey Federation Award
Judges' Choice for Best Turkey
Elmer W. Stoltzfus
Ronksa, Pennsylvania
220 Turkey
Frank Newmyer Award
Judges' Choice for Best Upland Gamebird or Waterfowl
Mike Nakielski
Iron Ridge, Wisconsin
143 Black Duck
The Polytranspar Award
Highest Scoring Fish Painted with Polytranspar
Timothy Gorenchan
Escanaba, Michigan
176 Pink Salmon
The New Wave Award
Judges' Choice for Best Reproduction Fish
Jamie Cameron
Bolivar, Pennsylvania
151 Bluegill
Safari Club International Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Large Lifesize Mammal
Jason Krause
Pine Grove, Pennsylvania
169 Wolf Group
Henry Wichers Inchumuk Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Lifesize Mammal, Size of Squirrel or Smaller
Brian Hendricks
Scottville, Michigan
223 Least Weasel
Chris Barnhardt Memorial Award
Judges' Choice for Best Gamehead
Owen Eldred
Blanchard, Michigan
136 Sika Deer
The Star*Fish Award
Judges’ Choice for Best Reproduction Fish
Jamie Cameron
Bolivar, Pennsylvania
151 Bluegill
North American Champions
North American Champion Open-Mouth Whitetail Deer
First Place in the Division of Excellence
Tommy Hall
Indian Trail, North Carolina
103 Whitetail Deer
North American Champion Gamehead
First Place in the Division of Excellence
James Newport
Pearsall, Texas
209 Pig
North American Champion Reptile
First Place in the Division of Excellence
Matt Zimmerman
Denver, Pennsylvania
111 Gabboon Viper
North American Champion Warmwater Fish Skin Mount
First Place in the Division of Excellence
Brian Noody
Garden City, New York
193 Rock Bass
North American Champion Waterfowl
First Place in the Division of Excellence
Mike Nakielski
Iron Ridge, Wisconsin
142 Black Duck
North American Champion Bird
First Place in the Division of Excellence
Fred Barilla
Carle Place, New York
147 Pheasant
National Champions
National Champion Turkey
Highest Score in the Open Division
Elmer W. Stoltzfus
Ronksa, Pennsylvania
220 Turkey
National Champion Open-Mouth Whitetail Deer
Highest Score in the Open Division
Vince Spellane
Saltsburg, Pennsylvania
107 Whitetail Deer
National Champion Closed-Mouth Whitetail Deer
Highest Score in the Open Division
Justin Clemmer
Pitman, Pennsylvania
197 Whitetail Deer
National Champion Gamehead
Highest Score in the Open Division
Owen Eldred
Blanchard, Michigan
136 Sika Deer
National Champion Large Mammal
Highest Score in the Open Division
Kent Stryker
New Alexandria, Pennsylvania
157 Wolf
National Champion Small Mammal
Highest Score in the Open Division
Heather Miller
Halifax, Pennsylvania
163 Raccoon
National Champion Warmwater Fish Reproduction
Highest Score in the Open Division
Jamie Cameron
Bolivar, Pennsylvania
151 Bluegill
National Champion Coldwater Fish Reproduction
Highest Score in the Open Division
Sam Stelitano
Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania
117 Nautilus
National Champion Coldwater Fish Skin Mount
Highest Score in the Open Division
Timothy Gorenchan
Escanaba, Michigan
176 Pink Salmon
National Champion Waterfowl
Highest Score in the Open Division
Eric Perry
Gold Hill, North Carolina
202 Mallard Hen
National Champion Bird
Highest Score in the Open Division
Eric Perry
Gold Hill, North Carolina
201 Pheasant
Other Awards
Judges’ Best of Show Collective Artists Division
Highest Scoring Entry by More Than One Artist
Matt Zimmerman & Shane Zimmerman
Denver, Pennsylvania
112 Western Diamondback Rattlesnake
Van Dyke’s Award
Most Creativity Mammal, Gamehead or Whitetail Entry
Brian Hendricks
Scottville, Michigan
224 Coyote
Al and Evelyn Holmes Best Habitat Award
Outstanding Habitat Display
Vince Spellane
Saltsburg, Pennsylvania
107 Whitetail Deer
Taxidermists’ Choice Best Whitetail Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
Tommy Hall
Indian Trail, North Carolina
103 Whitetail Deer
Taxidermists’ Choice Best Life-size Mammal Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
Kent Stryker
New Alexandria, Pennsylvania
157 Marco Polo Sheep
Taxidermists’ Choice Best Fish Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
Timothy Gorenchan
Escanaba, Michigan
176 Pink Salmon
Taxidermists’ Choice Best Fish Award
Sponsored by McKenzie Taxidermy Supply
Eric Perry
Gold Hill, North Carolina
200 Harlequin
Judges’ Best of Show Taxidermy Sculpture
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
Brian Hendricks
Scottville, Michigan
225 Bobcat
People’s Choice Original Art
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
Stephen Rogers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
189 Vintage Taxidermy Shop
People’s Choice Award
The Charley Haynes Memorial Award
Kent Stryker
New Alexandria, Pennsylvania
156 Wolf and Marco Polo
Horizon Children’s Award
Judges’ Best of Show Children’s Division
Luke Confer
Aaronsburg, Pennsylvania
222 Gray Fox
People's Choice Taxidermy Sculpture
Sponsored by the National Taxidermists Association
Brian Hendricks
Scottville, Michigan
225 Bobcat