Jan. 3, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) has been named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for the week ending Jan. 2, 2012. The honor is the first for the Nittany Lion sophomore.
Taylor, the 2011 Big Ten Wrestler of the Year and Big Ten Rookie of the Year, got the nod for a 5-0 run to the 165 pound Southern Scuffle title. Taylor posted three pins, a tech fall and a major and improved to 14-0 on the year. He majored #20 Kyle Blevins of Appalachian State in the semifinals before pinning Big Ten rival Cody Yohn, ranked #10, at the 2:34 mark in the championship finals. Taylor was named the 2012 Southern Scuffle Most Outstanding Wrestler and was one of four Penn State individual champions.
The Nittany Lions rolled past No. 3 Minnesota to claim the team crown with 191.5 points to Minnesota's 177.0. Taylor, an All-American national and national finalist as a freshman last year, is now 52-1 for his career. The honor is the second for Penn State as junior Bryan Pearsall (Lititz, Pa.) won on Dec. 20.
Taylor and the rest of the Nittany Lions return to dual meet action this coming Sunday with a 2 p.m. dual against Michigan State. The road Big Ten battle will take part place in Battle Creek's Kellog Center. Penn State's next home dual is on Sunday, Jan. 22, when Iowa invades Rec Hall for a 2 p.m. dual that is already sold out. The Nittany Lions then host Ohio State on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 2 p.m. Fans can purchase a limited number of `standing room only' tickets for the Ohio State dual by calling 814-865-5555. Tickets are priced at $8 for adults and $5 for youth (18 and under) and can be purchased from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day or in person at the Bryce Jordan Center box office. A maximum of four tickets may be purchased per person.
The full season slate of live dual meet and tournament action will air locally on WRSC AM (1390 AM) with Friday evening duals being simulcast on WRSC FM (103.1 FM). Lock Haven's WBPZ (1230 AM) will also carry the entire season live, WIEZ (670 AM) in Huntingdon/Lewistown carries all Sunday events and further affiliates may be added soon. The regular season schedule of radio broadcasts will be streamed live at www.GoPSUsports.com as part of Penn State's All-Access package, which will also feature live video streams of many home events. Ticket information is accessed easily online at www.GoPSUsports.com/tickets/m-wrestl-tickets.html . Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at www.twitter.com/pennstatepat and on Penn State Wrestling's facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling. The 2011-12 Penn State Wrestling season is presented by The Family Clothesline.