Scheels Athlete of the Week: Solon Sophomore Taylor Off to Strong Start
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
SOLON – A lot can change for a high school wrestler in the span of one season.
Just look at Solon sophomore Hayden Taylor.
A year ago Taylor was an unranked freshman entering his first season as a varsity wrestler.
Fast forward a little more than 12 months and Taylor is one of the top wrestlers in the state. A defending state champion ranked number one in Class 2A.
That’s a lot of change but what sticks out to Solon head coach Blake Williams is what hasn’t changed at all from last season – Hayden Taylor.
“It’s no different than it was a year ago for him, I think really its business as usual and that’s what you like about it,” Williams said. “I think in any sport if you look back at what you have done in the past that’s not a good thing, you need to be looking forward and I think right now he’s looking ahead one match at a time. Ever since day one he’s been in here and he’s been working hard just like he did last year so really is no difference from last year.”
It would be easy for Taylor to reflect on his debut season when he became the first freshman state champion in Solon history win the 2A 126-pound title.
That’s just not how Taylor thinks.
“I just have to remember that last year is gone and this is a new year,” Taylor said. “I haven’t proved anything to myself yet so I have to keep working hard in the room and it will come.”
Taylor is already off to a stellar start as a sophomore.
He is 7-0 after going 6-0 at the two-day Cliff Keen Independence Invitational last weekend on his way to the 145-pound title.
Taylor defeated Kendall Norfleet of Marian Catholic (Illinois) 3-1 in sudden victory in the semifinals before earning a 7-2 decision over 3A fourth-ranked Sam Kallem of Ankeny in the title match.
“He’s not content,” Williams said. “Nobody can take away what he did but he’s not satisfied just doing that he obviously wants to do it again.”
A year-round wrestler Taylor spent the summer working on his craft.
After posting a 51-2 record last season that concluded with a dominant state tournament Taylor returned this season more polished for his sophomore season.
“I feel like I’m a totally different wrestler than I was last,” Taylor said. “My goal this year is to get a lot faster on the finishes and not let people slow me down.”
Taylor understands the game has changed this season.
Last year he was the challenger this season he is a defending champion.
Taylor isn’t interested in the spotlight and relishes the underdog role but understands what comes with being a defending state champion.
“I honestly don’t like being in the spotlight, I’m fine being the underdog,” Taylor said. “But knowing that people are gunning for you that just gets me excited too. I’m just going to go out and give it everything I have every time.”
There is one area where Taylor admits he has changed and that’s his role as a leader in the Solon wresting room.
As a freshman last season Taylor deferred to some of the upperclassmen.
This year he is focused on joining senior teammates like Zeb Gnida and Jax Flynn as teams leaders.
“I feel like if I set an example or working hard other people will follow that,” Taylor said. “If they aren’t following it I’ll let them know that they aren’t working up to our expectations. We want to raise the level of everyone in the room and it helps a lot to have experienced guys in the room to help with that.”
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