David Taylor commits to Penn State.
State College, Pennsylvania – The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling program, led by head coach Cael Sanderson, received more positive news today when high school All-American David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) committed to Penn State. Many consider Taylor to be the nation’s top wrestling recruit. He signed a financial aid letter today and will join the Nittany Lions for the 2009-10 season.
Taylor had signed a national letter of intent to attend Iowa State, but was released from the NLI earlier this spring when Sanderson moved to Happy Valley to take over the Nittany Lion team. Taylor’s acceptance of the financial aid agreement secures his status as Penn State’s newest Nittany Lion grappler, as athletes can only sign one NLI.
“We’re very pleased to welcome David to Penn State,” Sanderson said. “He is an exceptional young man from an outstanding family, and his addition to our team is fantastic news for all Penn State wrestling fans. David is a unique talent whose character will enable him to flourish at the collegiate level, and we are honored to have him join our program.”
Taylor, the son of David and Kathy Taylor, recently graduated from St. Paris Graham High School in St. Paris, Ohio, where he excelled. The Falcons, under by head coach Jeff Jordan, have won nine consecutive Ohio State Division II state championships and the 2008 DII National Championship. Taylor has had a significant impact on Saint Paris-Graham’s fortunes.
This past year, Taylor received the prestigious Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award. The award is given in honor of the former Olympic and World Champion and is given to the nation’s top wrestler, evaluated on excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, character, citizenship and community service.
In 2009, David was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the Ohio State Wrestling Tournament, and he was also named the Ohio Wrestler of the Year in each of the years he wrestled. Taylor had an incredible 180-2 overall record in four years and won four consecutive Ohio State Championships. As a high school freshman and sophomore, Taylor won the 103-pound title, and as a junior, he won the 112-pound crown. This year, Taylor moved up to 135 pounds for his senior season and rolled to his fourth straight championship.
Taylor is not just an Ohio native, but also a two-time Asics First Team All-American, Beast of the East champion, and four-time Ironman title winner. He is the only wrestler in the tournament’s long and illustrious history to win four championships. He has won three Cadet and two Junior National titles in freestyle and Greco-Roman events. Taylor also competed on the FILA Junior World Team in 2007.
“David Taylor is the kind of athlete that any coach would be proud to work with,” Sanderson continued. “We are pleased to welcome an amazing young man to our program who is as dedicated to academic brilliance and community service as he is to athletic success. He is an impressive individual, and I am convinced that our supporters will enjoy watching David’s career progress.”
Taylor’s off-the-mat accomplishments are equally outstanding as his work with the Falcon wrestlers. He is a 4-H Club member and officer, and he is listed in the top ten in his class, with a 4.0 GPA heading into his last semester at St. Paris-Graham.
Taylor, an Asics All-America first teamer, joins fellow first teamer and Nittany Lion signee Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa.), who was also an Asics All-America first team selection after his title-winning run at Blair Academy last season, and Luke Macchiaroli (Tempe, Ariz.) in this year’s recruiting class.
Penn State Wrestling season tickets for the 2009-10 season are available now. Fans can put a $20 deposit on the best Rec Hall locations by calling 1.800.NITTANY from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Current wrestling season ticket holders are not need to place a new deposit and will just go through the renewal process. Penn State’s wrestling season tickets are entirely reserved in Rec Hall. The specific seat allocations for new commitments will not be accessible until the renewal cycle is completed, but new season ticket commitments made now will be assigned positions based on Nittany Lion Club point totals and the time/date the deposit was received by Penn State Athletics. Season ticket prices for the 2009-10 season will be:
