Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

DES MOINES – Another year another, title for Hayden Taylor.

Only this one came with an exclamation point.

A late takedown put the finishing touches on a 7-2 win over second-ranked and previously unbeaten Wyatt Appleseth, put a third consecutive state title on Taylor’s sparkling career resume and a smile on the Solon junior’s face.

“This one feels a lot better, so much more than the last one,” Taylor said. “Last time I was a little bit disappointed and this time I felt like I just wrestled solid. I didn’t give up any positions I just wrestled solid and won the match.”

Taylor (37-0) controlled the match from the outset while completing his second consecutive unbeaten season and pushing his winning streak to 111 consecutive matches.

Top-ranked Taylor scored two of his three takedowns in the final 48 seconds on his way to becoming the 94^th three-time state champion in state history.

It was the final takedown, with 10 seconds left that added the exclamation point that Taylor felt was missing last season in a 5-2 championship match win over Trestin Sales Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont.

“There was like 15 seconds left when I looked and I was like ‘I need to put an exclamation point on this I need to score another one’,” Taylor said. “So, I got my motions going, I scored another one and I think that’s what made me feel the best is when I took him down at the end.”

The 7-2 decision over Appleseth (46-1) capped an impressive state tournament run for Taylor in which he racked up 20 takedowns in three matches including eight in a 20-6 semifinal win over fifth-ranked Allen Catour of Davenport Assumption.

The attacks and takedowns rack up points and grab attention but Taylor is perhaps even more impressive in his ability to shut down opponents’ offense.

Taylor didn’t allow an opponent to score on a two-point move this season (reversal or takedown) while posting the third unbeaten season in Solon history.

“He hasn’t given up a two-point takedown or a reversal all year, not one,” Solon coach TJ Bevans said. “It’s like a pitcher with a no-hitter you don’t talk about it much but he hasn’t given up anything. No one has touched him. That’s how dominant he is.”

Taylor didn’t give an inch against Appleseth on Saturday.

He led 2-0 after scoring the first takedown of the match on a counter of an Appleseth shot with four seconds left in the opening period.

“Workman like is a very good term for him, it might be two years since he’s been scored on, he’s just tough,” Bevans said. “I think this is by far the best opponent we have had in the finals and that makes a difference. He came in 46-0 and has been down here every year so that one was very special.”

Taylor added an escape in the second period to go up 3-0.

That work on bottom is where Taylor says he has improved the most.

“Usually the long and lanky kids can ride me pretty well on top but this year I’ve never gotten ridden out for more than 30 seconds I don’t think,” Taylor said. “That’s where I made my biggest jumps from last season to this season I feel like.”

Taylor then put the exclamation point on his win with two takedowns in the fourth period.

He didn’t allow Appleseth to score until he got a point on an escape with 1:11 left.

“I would say I am a pretty stingy wrestler, I don’t give much,” Taylor said. “It’s something that I can do if I have to or I can open up if I want to.”

With his third title under his belt the attention turns to the big one, the fourth which would put Taylor in elite company.

“It’s the same motivation as it always was because that was always the end goal,” Taylor said of winning a fourth title. “I’m just one step closer that goal and I’m happy.”

Class 2A State Wrestling Tournament

At Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines

Team scores (Top 10; area teams) – 1. West Delaware 150; 2. Osage 96; 3. Independence 81; 4. Crestwood 79; 5. Centerville 51.5; 6. New Hampton/Turkey Valley 48; 7. West Burlington/Notre Dame/Danville 47.5; 8. East Marshall 42.5; 9. Union 40; 10. Webster City 39; 17. Solon 33.5

Championship

160 – Hayden Taylor (Solon) dec. Wyatt Appleseth (Panorama) 7-2

Consolation Semifinal

220 – Connor Murty (East Marshall) dec. Gage Marty (Solon) 6-3

Fifth Place

220 – Treyton Burnikel (Crestwood) pinned Gage Marty (Solon) 6:48 SV-1

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