Drawing by Samuel M. Corey
Reports are out now that David Taylor has been granted a release from Iowa State. That may not seem like that big of a deal to some. Until you realize that not only was he the top recruit for ISU, but he was a four-time Ohio state champion in high school and winner of the Dave Schultz award. That’s the equivalent of the Hodge Trophy in college wrestling, or the Heisman Trophy in college football; only the best of the very best get it. Taylor was released on Tuesday and “The recruiting process begins again,” Taylor said.
The effects of the news that rocked the college wrestling world a few weeks ago are already beginning to be felt. It’ll be interesting to see how it will be felt in the next couple of months and especially when the season actually starts.
Before he signed with Iowa, he was considering Ohio State and Oklahoma State. He now says all schools are open, but chances are, his target is Penn State. Why else would he leave the #2 program in the nation other than for the #1 coach in the nation? In his own words: “I am going to take some time to evaluate all of my options. I’m pretty sure I will visit Penn State and Ohio State.”
With the recruiting base that is available to Cael, it will be interesting to see what happens in the future, especially with next season’s recruits and team. ”Pennsylvania is one of the best, if not the best, states for wrestling in the country,” Pat Santoro, Lehigh head coach said. ”So it’s fitting to bring a big name into Penn State. A Cael Sanderson is a big name in wrestling, and a lot of kids will look at Penn State. But ultimately, not everybody can go to Penn State.” Cael himself said in his introductory Press Conference “Pennsylvania has the best high school wrestling in the country,” Sanderson said at his introductory press conference. ”Second to Utah, I guess. [Sanderson wrestled in Northern Utah] This is wrestling country. The potential here is very interesting to me.”
The move is being felt in other areas as well. For Penn state, it’s being felt in a positive light, for sure. Sanderson is on the job at Penn State, using the multi-million dollar facilities, a recruiting base that’s second to none and his good name to turn the program into the wrestling’s elite. With that 1-2-3 takedown combo, it should be one of the easier things that Cael has done in his wrestling career. If you don’t think so, you probably don’t know much about what he’s done for wrestling and ISU as a coach, athlete and a person. Do a Google search on him and you’ll see that forming a nationally ranked team should be easier than being the only person to go undefeated four years in NCAA history, winning the national title each year.
As for the multi-million dollar facilities… just check out the official site for the Nittany Lion wrestlers, complete with a slideshow of the facilities. It has a recently expanded wrestling room to be able to lay down “four-plus mats.” Chem ‘em out
So like Coach Santoro said, “…a lot of kids will look at Penn State. But ultimately, not everybody can go to Penn State.’ But we know everyone will want to now who’s going to make the cut on this team and who’ll be left behind…
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