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Penn State Wrestling: Creating the Dream Team

By Chris Snyder

STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 13: The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team is introduced before a match against the Lock Haven Bald Eagles on November 13, 2015 at Recreation Hall on the campus of Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania. Penn State won 50-0. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - NOVEMBER 13: The Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team is introduced before a match against the Lock Haven Bald Eagles on November 13, 2015 at Recreation Hall on the campus of Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania. Penn State won 50-0. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /
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ST. LOUIS, MO – MARCH 17: David Taylor of the Penn State Nittany Lions gets his hand raised after winning the 165 pound championship during the NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 17, 2012 at the ScottTrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO – MARCH 17: David Taylor of the Penn State Nittany Lions gets his hand raised after winning the 165 pound championship during the NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 17, 2012 at the ScottTrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

165

David Taylor

Years: 2011-2014
Record: 134-3
Conf. Titles: 4
NCAA Titles: 2

For any other powerhouse wrestling program in the country, what Andy Matter did in his brief three year career would easily place him on their respective dream team. But unfortunately for him, David Taylor also wrested at 165.

And Taylor wasn’t just great, he’s perhaps the best wrestler in Penn State history.

The only glaring issue people may have with this pick are the two NCAA Titles next to Taylor’s name, because Andy Matter also won two NCAA titles.

But, in the case of David Taylor, numbers and records don’t tell the whole story.

Taylor took his perfect 38-0 record into the 2011 NCAA finals against former teammate Bubba Jenkins of Arizona State. And I doubt anyone was particularly surprised when the veteran Jenkins took Taylor to the mat and pinned him. Freshman make freshman mistakes regardless of how talented they are. Well, unless their name is Cael Sanderson.

So, what does Taylor do next? He mows down the collegiate 165 wrestling field in 2012 en route to a 32-0 record with 15 falls, nine technical falls, six major decisions, his second B1G Title, and first NCAA Title.

Oh, and he also took home the 2012 Dan Hodge Trophy. No big deal.

There were definitely a couple of bumps in the road in Taylor’s 2013 junior season. But people have to remember what caused those bumps. It was the human wrecking ball known as Kyle Dake. And he was trying to win four straight NCAA Titles in four different weight classes for his career. Unfortunately for Taylor, Dake was in his class in 2013.

In both the regular season and in the finals of the 2013 NCAA Championships, Taylor lost a combined 6-8 to Dake, who just so happens to be one of the best wrestlers in the world at his weight class.

David then rebounded his senior season to go another perfect 34-0, with 16 falls, eight technical falls, eight major decisions, his fourth straight B1G Title, his second NCAA Title, and his second Dan Hodge Trophy.

To put Taylor’s career in perspective. The record of the wrestlers from his 3 combined losses totaled a record of 370-29.

Wow.

Honorable Mention (in order)

Andy Matter

Years: 1970-1972
Record: 58-2
Conf. Titles: 3
NCAA Titles: 2

Vincenzo Joseph

Years: 2017-2020
Record: 89-9
Conf. Titles: 0 (finished runner-up three times)
NCAA Titles: 2

Howard Johnston

Years: 1933-1935
Record: 24-5
Conf. Titles: 2
NCAA Titles: 1 – First NCAA Individual Championship for Penn State

Joe Lemyre

Years: 1951-1953
Record: 39-9-1
Conf. Titles: 1
NCAA Titles: 1

Jerry Villecco

Years: 1973-1976
Record: 71-13-1
Conf. Titles: 2
NCAA Titles: 0 (finished 4th twice)

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