David Taylor (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)The photo on Twitter speaks volumes.
It shows David Taylor and Kyle Dake standing together and smiling following a recent workout at Penn State.
"Our time is now," Taylor posted with the photo. "We are ready."
Nobody is more ready or more excited to wrestle in Final X than David Taylor.
More than four years after wrestling his final collegiate match at Penn State, Taylor will return to State College for USA Wrestling's Final X competition on Saturday night.
Our time is now. We are ready. pic.twitter.com/btt64cIW8A
�" David Taylor (@magicman_psu) June 7, 2018
"In February of 2014, on Senior Night, I figured that would be my last opportunity to wrestle at Rec Hall," Taylor said. "To have a chance to wrestle in front of my home fans again, I'm very, very excited. I can't wait to step out there on that elevated platform. It's going to be pretty special."
Taylor, 27, is on a special run right now. He's ranked No. 2 in the world in men's freestyle at 86 kilograms. He won the prestigious Ivan Yarygin tournament this year in Russia before destroying the competition to go unbeaten in helping the U.S. win the World Cup. He followed by winning the U.S. Open to earn a spot in the Final X.
Taylor will meet surprise finalist Nick Reenan, a past Cadet and Junior world team member, in Final X. Reenan is just 21 and has three years of college eligibility left at North Carolina State. Reenan advanced to the Final X after winning the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament last month in Rochester, Minn.
Taylor and Reenan will battle in a best-of-three match series with the winner advancing to October's World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
"I know he's talented," Taylor said. "He will be coming at me with a lot of fire and excitement. It's a great opportunity for him. I will just focus on what I do best -- scoring a lot of points and wrestling a fast pace."
Taylor had an outstanding career at Penn State. He won two NCAA titles and was a four-time finalist. He twice earned the Hodge Trophy as the nation's best college wrestler.
Taylor, a past Junior and University world team member, is seeking a spot on his first Senior world team. He placed second at the 2014 and 2017 World Team Trials on the Senior level.
Taylor looked poised to make the world team last year before suffering a heartbreaking setback to Olympic bronze medalist J'den Cox, who went on to win a world bronze medal in Paris.
"Falling short last year was devastating, for sure," he said. "I knew I was prepared to win on the world stage. It was very difficult."
Taylor and Dake, a four-time NCAA champion, have been able to train together this summer with Dake moving into the new weight class of 79 kilograms.
"It's been great training with Kyle," Taylor said. "We grew up training together and then we got away from it because we competed against each other in college and internationally after that. Now that we are in different weight classes, we can train together again.
"It's been nice to wrestle with an opponent with his speed, skill, agility and technique. We are a great fit to train together and I think we've both benefited a lot from doing that. Kyle is wrestling at his best -- he can score from so many situations. I don't think anybody in the world at 79 kilograms can wrestle with him."
David Taylor won the U.S. Open title at 86 kilograms by defeating Richard Perry (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Taylor has adapted well after moving up from 74 kilos to 86 kilos during this cycle.
"When I made the decision in 2016, I was trying to catch up in size and strength," he said. "I've felt great the last two years at this weight class.
"Going up to 86 rejuvenated my wrestling career and my love for the sport. I'm passionate about what I'm doing. I'm really excited for now, tomorrow and every day after that."
Taylor watched online last weekend when the first stage of Final X was held in Lincoln, Neb. That event determined the first four spots on the world team in men's freestyle.
Olympic and world champions Jordan Burroughs and Kyle Snyder won in Lincoln along with world silver medalists Thomas Gilman and James Green.
"It looked like a great production and a great event," Taylor said. "I'm excited to see what they are going to do this weekend.
"Obviously, we've got some great representatives on the team already who are proven performers and medalists. It's an exciting time for wrestling in the U.S."
Taylor also is fired up about the M2 Training Center, which he created to help wrestlers learn and achieve their goals on and off the mat. It is located in Pleasant Gap, Pa., just outside State College.
Taylor's club has attracted a number of top young wrestlers, including some who drive in from as far as an hour away to attend practices. Taylor works with the wrestlers along with three-time NAIA national champion Eric Thompson and past Penn State All-American Mark McKnight.
Among Taylor's wrestlers are two sons of Penn State assistant coach Casey Cunningham.
"Our club is really growing quickly -- we have kids who have improved a lot already," he said. "What we are trying to create is a great wrestling environment. It's really exciting to watch the progress these kids are making. We have a really good group. I have a great support team with Eric and Mark working as coaches. We just moved to a new facility and everything is going really well."
The curriculum, technique and training are based on what Taylor has done in his career. It is geared toward Taylor's aggressive and entertaining style of wrestling where you push the pace and score a large number of points.
"I am really enjoying doing it," he said. "It's been pretty special to be a part of it."
David Taylor after dominating Alexander Gostiev of Azerbaijan at the World Cup (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Taylor said his international career is far from finished.
"I plan on wrestling through the 2024 Olympic cycle," he said. "I have a lot of support that allows me to do this. The Nittany Lion Wrestling Club has been awesome. They really support me and give me an opportunity to compete at this level."
Taylor doesn't have to look far to find quality workout partners.
"I think we have the best training situation in the world at Penn State," he said. "We have great coaches and great workout partners. Plus, we have guys that come in and want to train with us. I'm tested in practice every day. I get challenged all the time."
For Taylor, his time is definitely now.
"I've been preparing for this moment for a long time," he said. "I've had a goal of being a world and Olympic champion since I was 5 years old. I know I'm in position to break through and do that."
Craig Sesker has written about wrestling for more than three decades. He's covered three Olympic Games and is a two-time national wrestling writer of the year.
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now