The excitement for the match is unprecedented, which has led many fans to choose and defend their wrestlers. This list is a collection of the top five reasons fans believe Taylor will beat Dake Saturday night in Washington D.C. Don't agree? Come back tomorrow.
1. "Taylor's more comfortable at the weight class"
David Taylor gets his hand raised after an NCAA semifinal victory (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)2. "Dake won't get out from bottom, Taylor will"
Mat wrestling is very important to both Dake and Taylor. Both have been dominant in their ability to keep their opponents down, score quick back points, and get out in a hurry. Dake is especially talented at fighting for mat returns and wrestling through positions on the edge of the mat to ensure he doesn't give up easy points. However, with Taylor he'll have difficulty lifting his taller opponent and face even more trouble should he get into an on the mat scramble for positioning.
From bottom Dake uses the explosive standup made popular by Cornell NCAA champion Jordan Leen. Dake's standup is difficult to stop, but if you were to create a wrestler physically capable of stopping that upward momentum, it would be a lanky wrestler like Taylor who also has the desire to stay on top.
Both positions are a mindset and while both wrestlers believe that they'll get out and/or keep the other down, only one will win the position. That's Taylor.
3. "Dake's win came in freestyle with a move not legal in folkstyle"
Freestyle and folkstyle have become two very different sports. The pushout rule and separation of points by periods have made freestyle more fun to watch, but have lest it as a poor indicator of future outcomes on the folkstyle scene. As always, freestyle also has strict rules on back exposure which severely limited options for Taylor an always funky defensive wrestler.
As for the match details, Dake's big move in the first period would have likely been illegal in a folkstyle match. The second period fall wouldn't have been had it been folkstyle, and it's possible that given time to work on his back Taylor would have found his way to the takedown.
4. "Taylor's scrambles will neutralize Dake's offense"
Taylor is a scrambling machine. Few wrestlers in the past twenty years have been as effective at turning a questionable situation into big points. The Penn State wrestler isn't just hitting roll-through funks, he's finding slight advantages throughout matches -- in situations where other wrestlers simply turn and kick away -- and coming back with big points. Taylor's built to put limbs in new and interesting places, which helps him to exert leverage opponents haven't felt before. The instinct to score points from the scramble is Taylor's calling card and should he use his length to wiggle out of Dake's attack, or even firm up one of his own low leg singles or ankle picks, he'll have a scrambling advantage.
5. "Taylor has better partners and coaches to wrestle with in the room"
David Taylor has a stable of top training partners, which includes coaches Casey Cunningham and Cael Sanderson (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Don't agree with the logic of the fans? Be sure to post below and also check back tomorrow for "Why Dake will beat Taylor."
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