June 5, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State Nittany Lion wrestler David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) was named a First Team Capital One Academic All-American with the announcement of the Division I At-Large teams. Women's swimmer Gabi Shishkoff (Franklin, Mass.) was named to the third team in voting done by the College Sports Information Directors of American (CoSIDA).
NCAA Champion and Hodge Trophy winner David Taylor (St. Paris, Ohio) is the Nittany Lion wrestling team's second straight first team selection. Matt Brown (West Valley City, Utah) was a first team honoree last year. Taylor was one of four Nittany Lions recently honored by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) as a first team National All-Academic selection as well. He ended his senior season with a 34-0 record, including 16 pins, eight tech falls and eight majors. The Nittany Lion was the 2014 NCAA Champion and Most Outstanding Wrestler at nationals this year. He became Penn State's first-ever four-time Big Ten Champion and led Penn State to its fourth straight National and Big Ten Championships this past March.
Taylor ended one of collegiate wrestling's most storied careers with a 134-3 overall record, as a four time Big Ten Champion, four-time Big Ten Wrestler of the Year, four-time NCAA finalist, two-time NCAA Champion and two-time Hodge Trophy Winner (among other accolades). Academically, this year's Capital One Academic All-America honor is added to his four straight National All-Academic awards from the NWCA and four straight Big Ten All-Academic honors.
Senior Shishkoff capped off a sensational four-year career as a Nittany Lion in the 2013-14 season. The senior earned two honorable mention All-America honors at the NCAA Championships for her performances in the 400 IM and the 800 freestyle relay. With her performance in the 400 IM, Shishkoff set a school record with a time of 4:06.85. In the classroom, the senior graduated with a degree in psychology, posting a nearly perfect GPA of 3.97.
The at-large team for the Capital One Academic All-America® program includes the sports of fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis, water polo for both men and women; and bowling, rowing and field hockey for women; and volleyball and wrestling for men. Taylor and Shishkoff are Penn State's third and fourth CoSIDA Academic All-Americans this year, joining first team honorees John Urschel (Williamsville, N.Y.) and Katie Slay (Raleigh, N.C.), who was the women's volleyball Academic All-American of the Year. Penn State's 186 all-time Academic All-America selections all-time in all sports ranks No. 3 among NCAA Division I institutions.