By Pat Costilow

While looking over seeding criteria for the 15th annual Walsh Ironman, the question should not be what David Taylor has done in his career but, rather, what hasn’t he done?

            The 135-pound senior for St. Paris (Ohio) Graham High School has won three state titles, five titles at the USA Wrestling Nationals (three in freestyle, two in Greco-Roman), a Beast of the East title, owns wins over a virtual who’s who of the best lightweights in the country for the last three years, and, perhaps most impressively, three Walsh Ironman titles; breaking a record held by wrestlers like Cory Cooperman, Kurt Backes and Harry Lester.

            It had seemed like such a daunting task; to wrestle 20 matches against some of the best prep wrestlers in the United States and never taste defeat.

            Ironically, the young man to accomplish this feat is perhaps the visually least daunting of all the aforementioned names.

            Taylor came to this tournament as a freshman in 2005 looking like he belonged in a middle school tournament and weighing 95 pounds soaking wet. He had lost the weekend before in his first high school tournament, and would face that wrestler, Ben Sergent (a Junior National Freestyle champion and current Central Michigan Chippewa), again that weekend. Taylor would go on to win a rematch with Sergent in the semifinals and win the tournament and called it the biggest win of his career

            “I didn’t think I could win the tournament,” Taylor said. “I had just lost the weekend before. That really jumpstarted me in my career, coming back and winning that match. It jumpstarted me and gave me confidence that I could compete with these guys.”

            Three years later, Taylor stands nearly six feet. His career record is 137-2 (through the 2008 Ironman). He has led his Graham Falcons to the state title every year he has been in high school, as well as the 2008 mythical national title. In his 20 matches at the Ironman, he has registered five wins by decision, three by major decision, eight by technical fall and four by pin; an astounding performance when taking into account that he wrestled in very deep, talented weights each year.

            This year was no exception and even a wrestler the caliber of Taylor would not find the road to his historic fourth title as smooth as some would imagine.

            Much of the talk of the off-season surrounding Taylor was regarding weight.

            As a sophomore, he grew into the 103-pound weight class and dominated; and last year moved to 112. Over the summer, however, there were reports that Taylor had hit a big growth spurt and rumors abounded as to what weight he would end up.

            At this year’s Ironman at Walsh Jesuit High School, Taylor looked like an older brother of the David Taylor who won his third state title last March. He had grown into a full, lanky 135-pounder, with the frame to fill out to several weight classes higher with time.

            The overriding question was whether or not the lanky Taylor would be able to handle the sheer power of those at his new weight, many of whom stood between him and his fourth Ironman title.

            “I am nervous just because 135 is a pretty deep weight, it’s pretty tough,” Taylor said. “Every season I have gone into the Ironman —and whatever weight I have been at —  people say that is the toughest weight. I like that challenge. I am really looking forward to wrestling these guys who have always been a couple of weights above me. Some of them have been three weights bigger than me in the past. I am really excited to challenge myself with this new level of competition.”

            The weight featured three nationally-ranked wrestlers besides Taylor, and several others with extensive credentials. It would, however, be a sophomore with zero state tournament experience under his belt who would put the scare into Taylor.

            Ian Miller of Oak Harbor, Ohio, seemed to have bad luck. After a very strong start to his high school career, including wins over several of the state’s best wrestlers at his weight, he was injured late in the season and forced to miss the state series.

            Fast forward to Dec. 5, the sophomore then drew the daunting Taylor in the first round of the 2008 Ironman. Miller, however, did not seem fazed. While trailing 2-1 very early on in the match, Miller caught a shooting Taylor in a headlock and threw him to his back. The unthinkable was happening. There was Taylor on his back and extremely close to being flat. Miller tried to work the headlock, twice putting Taylor nearly flat on the mat before the experienced senior was able to escape, now trailing 5-3. After chipping away with an escape and a takedown, Taylor clung to a 6-5 lead after two periods.

            With a one-point lead, Taylor chose neutral to begin the third period. Miller then shocked the full gymnasium at Walsh Jesuit and took down the overwhelming favorite again. Miller led the top collegiate recruit in the country, 7-6, in the third period.

            Taylor gained control moments later and reversed Miller to take an 8-7 lead. After a stalling call that tied the match at eight with under a minute to go, Taylor let Miller escape and gave him a 9-8 lead with time ticking off the clock. Taylor then showed why he has been labeled by some as one of the best to ever come out of wrestling rich Ohio. Under pressure, he took Miller down to his back for five points and a 13-9 lead and rode out the remaining time to win by that margin.

            The next morning, a quarterfinal match loomed against defending Ohio state champion Zach Hancock. Taylor’s 12-0 major decision victory propelled him into a semifinal match-up with his most skilled opponent yet: Virginia’s three-time state champion Andrew Williams, who had registered pins in each of his first two matches and beaten excellent St. Edward junior Anthony Salupo in the quarters.

            The anticipated bout turned out to be a blowout. After lots of good action, Taylor scored a single in the match’s first 40 seconds and eventually led 17-3 before he put Williams to his back again and kept him there, registering the fall at 4:44 with an arm bar and half nelson.

            After a performance like that, the finals match, the last match of a great night of wrestling, seemed like merely a formality. Taylor was too good, the moment too big for a letdown. Taylor scored five takedowns and two sets of back points against the excellent North Allegheny senior Joe Waltko en route to a 16-3 major decision victory.

             The standing-room only crowd first erupted in applause, then calmed to the type of slow, standing ovation which can only be described as a genuine show of appreciation for the Iowa State-bound Taylor who just won his final Ironman.

            As well-known Ohio wrestling pundit Dan Ransick said, “Watching Taylor wrestle is like watching Rembrandt paint. He makes it like an art.”

            All it needs is a frame.