David Taylor pictured at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team

Trials. Photo: Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com.

David Taylor (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) has been selected as TheMat.com Athlete of the Week on July 11, 2016.The Magic Man picked up his second-straight gold medal at the Grand Prix of Spain on Saturday, his first international gold at 86 kg.Taylor picked up four victories in Madrid on his road to gold, including two wins over athletes qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games.He opened with a 6-2 win over Iranian Vahid Shahmohammadizad and a 10-3 decision over two-time U.S. Junior World Team member Zahid Valencia to make the semifinals.Taylor then ousted Olympian Orgodol Uitumen of Mongolia, 14-7. Uitumen won the Asian Olympic Games Qualifier and finished in second place at the Asian Championships this year. He landed in eighth place at the 2015 World Championships.In the finals, Taylor won a tight bout over 2013 World bronze medalist and 2016 Olympian Istvan Vereb of Hungary, 8-6.In addition to his two Grand Prix of Spain gold medals, Taylor also owns international gold from the 2015 Stepan Sargsyan Tournament and a bronze from the 2013 World University Games.Taylor finished in third place at the 86 kg U.S. Olympic Team Trials held in Iowa City, Iowa last April. He also holds a second place finish at the U.S. World Team Trials in 2014 and two third place finishes in 2013 and 2015, all at 74 kg.Wrestling collegiately for Penn State, Taylor racked up two individual NCAA titles, two Dan Hodge Trophies, four NCAA finals appearances, four Big Ten titles and four NCAA team titles under the guidance of head coach Cael Sanderson.He was a four-time Ohio state champion for high school powerhouse St. Paris Graham, a four-time Fargo champion and was named the Dave Schultz Award winner as the nation’s top high school wrestler.Each week USA Wrestling will select an Athlete of the Week based upon performance within wrestling for that week. The selection committee will consider any level of wrestling, from youth programs through the Senior level.To nominate a wrestler for USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week please send the athlete’s name, wrestling program and weekly and career accomplishments to Richard Immel at rimmel@usawrestling.org.