Two-time Champion Taylor Starts Strong in Quest For Third Straight Title
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
DES MOINES – As a two-time state champion with a triple digit winning streak Hayden Taylor is an intimidating matchup for any opponent at the 2A state wrestling tournament.
What makes a potential matchup with Taylor this week go from imposing to down-right scary?
The top-ranked Solon junior is out to prove a point.
“I feel like last year I under-performed at the state tournament,” Taylor said. “This year I have something to prove to everyone that I am a better wrestler than I showed last year and I’m ready to do that.”
Taylor began his point-proving quest on Thursday with an emphatic opening argument in the form of a 20-5, third-period tech fall of River Belger from Burlington Notre Dame at Wells Fargo Arena.
The win was the 109th consecutive victory for Taylor (36-0) who claimed state titles at 126 pounds and 145 pounds the past two seasons sends him to the Class 2A 160-pound quarterfinals on Friday afternoon.
“When you get to where he is at in his career it’s not just about winning anymore, it’s about dominating,” Solon coach TJ Bevans said. “It’s about pushing yourself to a different level than everybody else. He tech falled a guy in the third period and he’s not satisfied and that’s the way I want his attitude to always be.”
That attitude is what makes Taylor tick.
Taylor isn’t focused on just winning a third straight title and becoming the 93rd wrestler in state history with three golds, he wants to make his mark along the way.
Simply put, he wants to dominant.
“I feel like experience definitely helps,” Taylor said. “But it doesn’t matter what experience you have if you go into each match with the same mentality that I’m going to take this guys’ head off and there is nothing he can do about it you will be fine.”
Take Thursday’s opening-round win for example.
Taylor had five takedowns in the first period, the first three of which came in the opening 33 seconds of the match.
He had a reversal and two near fall points in the second period and added another takedown in the third.
Even after that Taylor wasn’t satisfied.
“He looked a little tired and he’ll be the first to admit that wasn’t the best version of him but he’s going to better there is no doubt about that,” Bevans said. “We like where we are at.”
The goal once again is gold, Taylor never takes his eyes off that, but he wants to leave little doubt this season after winning a pair of tight matches last season to close out his second title.
Taylor won 3-2 semifinal decision in ultimate tie breaker and a 5-2 decision in the state title match a year ago.
Taylor will face sixth-ranked Landon Kirby (27-4) of Grinnell in the quarterfinals on Friday.
“I always stay focused just because I know the end goal, what I’ve been training for all year,” Taylor said. “It’s not hard to stay focused because I know what I’m here for and I know what I have to do to get it.”
Class 2A State Wrestling Tournament
At Wells Wargo Arena in Des Moines
Team scores (Top 10; area teams) – 1. West Delaware 36; 2. Independence 18; 3. Davenport Assumption 17; 3. Crestwood 17; 3. Osage 17; 6. Bondurant-Farrar 12; 6. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows 12; 6. Winterset 12; 9. East Marshall 11.5; 10. Camanche 11; 10. Union 11; 35. Solon 5.5
Opening Round (Area Wrestlers)
160 – Hayden Taylor (Solon) tech. fall River Belger (Burlington Notre Dame) 20-5
220 – Gage Marty (Solon) dec. Tino Tamayo (Charles City) 11-6
Friday’s Quarterfinal Matches
160 – No. 1 Hayden Taylor (36-0) Jr., Solon vs. No. 6 Landon Kirby (27-4) Sr., Grinnell
220 – No. 10 Gage Marty (33-8) Jr. Solon vs. No. 3 Crew Howard (45-1) Sr., Clarinda
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