July 12, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Nittany Lion wrestler David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio/Nittany Lion WC) had an outstanding day at the 2013 World University Games in Kazan, Russia. The three-time All-American and '12 NCAA National Champion claimed the Bronze Medal at the event. Three of head coach Cael Sanderson's Nittany Lions competed at the event as Taylor was joined by All-American's Nico Megaludis and Ed Ruth.
Taylor won a bronze medal at 74 kg in men's freestyle on the second day of the World University Games. A2013 U.S. Open runner-up, the Nittany Lion senior won in his bronze-medal match against two-time Asian Senior bronze medalist Gombodorj Dorjvaanchig of Mongolia, 10-3.
He opened with a victory over Zurabi Erbotsonashvili, Georgia, 4-1, then scored an 8-0 technical fall over Apostolos Taskoudis of Greece. In the quarterfinals, he was defeated by 2009 and 2010 World champion Denis Tsargush of Russia, by technical fall, 0-8. When Tsargush, who was third at the 2012 Olympics, qualified for the finals, Taylor was drawn back into the repechage rounds.
Taylor earned his spot in the bronze-medal match with a pin over Reza Afzalipaemami of Iran in 6:00 in the first repechage match. Taylor was a 2012 NCAA champion and three-time NCAA finalist for Penn State. He was eighth in the 2007 Junior World Championships while still in high school in Ohio.
Two-time All-American Nico Megaludis (Murrysville, Pa/Nittany Lion WC) went 1-1 at 55kg. He opened the tournament with a 6-5 win over Yasar Aliyev of Azerbaijan, a two-time Bronze Medalist in both senior and junior worlds. He then fell to Iran's Yaser Heidargholinez, who is ranked No. 10 worldwide, to end his run in Russia.
Three-time All-American and two-time NCAA Champion Ed Ruth (Harrisburg, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) went 0-1 at 84kg, losing Iran's Mohammed Mohammadian. When the Iranian lost in the next round, Ruth was knocked out of the tournament.
WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES
At Kazan, Russia
Penn State Agate:
David Taylor
WIN Zurabi Erbotsonashvili (Georgia), 4-1
WIN Apostolos Taskoudis (Greece), tech. fall, 8-0
LOSS Denis Tsargush (Russia), tech. fall, 0-8
WIN Reza Afzalipaemami (Iran), pin, 6:00
WIN Gombodorj Dorjvaanchig (Mongolia), 10-3
Nico Megaludis
WIN Yasar Aliyev (Azerbaijan), 6-5
LOSS Yaser Heidargholineshad (Iran), 0-6
Ed Ruth
LOSS Mohammad Mohammadian (Iran), tech fall, 0-7