Ohio’s David Taylor wins the 2009 Dave Schultz High School Excellence National Award
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by NWHOF
STILLWATER, Okla. - David Taylor, a high school senior from Graham High School in St. Paris, Ohio has been selected as the national winner of the 2009 Dave Schultz High School Excellence National Award presented by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum.
The High School Excellence Award is named in honor of Olympic and World Champion Dave Schultz. Each award recipient is evaluated on excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, character, citizenship, and community service.
Taylor was selected from the 49 state winners and five regional winners that were announced two weeks ago.
"I have heard so much about the way Dave Schultz touched everyone's lives in the wrestling community, and to be considered for this great award, let alone win it, is by far the highlight of my high school wrestling career" said Taylor. "Having seen the stone carving in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame over the years, I know he would be proud of my accomplishments and would feel that I too learned "HOW" to wrestle. I will continue to wear a smile and try to be an ambassador to the wrestling community like the incomparable Dave Schultz."
Taylor's high school career record stands at 180-2. He is a four-time state high school champion and in each of the last two years was named Ohio Wrestler of the Year. Taylor was the "Outstanding Wrestler" of the 2009 Ohio State Tournament. He is a Cadet and Junior National Freestyle and Greco-Roman Champion and FILA Junior World Team member. He was also named to the 2008 Asics All-America First Team. He has won championships at the Beast of the East and Ironman high school national tournaments.
His community service activities include being a member and officer of the 4-H Club, where he has won numerous awards including an Ohio State Championship in barrel racing. In addition, he enjoys spending his off-time to "roll around" with youth wrestlers. Taylor is ranked in the top 10 of his graduating class and carries a 4.0 G.P.A. He will be attending Iowa State University next fall.
"The selection committee felt that David combined an impressive balance of excellence in his academic and wrestling credentials while being an active participant in school activities and giving back to his community in the form of community service," said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum.
Taylor will attend Honors Weekend on June 5 and 6 to personally accept the award. Following is a list of previous award winners:
Dave Schultz High School Excellence National Winners
1996 David Kjeldgaard, Lewis Central High School, Council Bluffs, Iowa
1997 Jeff Knupp, Walsh Jesuit High School, Akron, Ohio
1998 Garrett Lowney, Freedom High School, Appelton, Wisconsin and Justin Ruiz, Taylorsville High School, Salt Lake City, Utah
1999 Zach Roberson, Blue Valley North West High School, Overland Park, Kansas
2000 Ben Connell, Lugoff-Elgin High School, Lugoff, South Carolina
2001 Steven Mocco, Blair Academy, Blairstown, New Jersey
2002 Teyon Ware, Edmond North High School, Edmond, Oklahoma
2003 C. P. Schlatter, St. Paul Graham High School, Urbana, Ohio
2004 Coleman Scott, Waynesburg High School, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania
2005 Troy Nickerson, Chenango Forks High School, Chenango Forks, New York
2006 David Craig, Brandon High School, Brandon, Florida
2007 Zachary Sanders, Wabasha-Kellog High School, Wabasha, Minnesota
2008 Jason Chamberlain, Springville High School, Springville, Utah
The High School Excellence Award is named in honor of Olympic and World Champion Dave Schultz. Each award recipient is evaluated on excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, character, citizenship, and community service.
Taylor was selected from the 49 state winners and five regional winners that were announced two weeks ago.
"I have heard so much about the way Dave Schultz touched everyone's lives in the wrestling community, and to be considered for this great award, let alone win it, is by far the highlight of my high school wrestling career" said Taylor. "Having seen the stone carving in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame over the years, I know he would be proud of my accomplishments and would feel that I too learned "HOW" to wrestle. I will continue to wear a smile and try to be an ambassador to the wrestling community like the incomparable Dave Schultz."
Taylor's high school career record stands at 180-2. He is a four-time state high school champion and in each of the last two years was named Ohio Wrestler of the Year. Taylor was the "Outstanding Wrestler" of the 2009 Ohio State Tournament. He is a Cadet and Junior National Freestyle and Greco-Roman Champion and FILA Junior World Team member. He was also named to the 2008 Asics All-America First Team. He has won championships at the Beast of the East and Ironman high school national tournaments.
His community service activities include being a member and officer of the 4-H Club, where he has won numerous awards including an Ohio State Championship in barrel racing. In addition, he enjoys spending his off-time to "roll around" with youth wrestlers. Taylor is ranked in the top 10 of his graduating class and carries a 4.0 G.P.A. He will be attending Iowa State University next fall.
"The selection committee felt that David combined an impressive balance of excellence in his academic and wrestling credentials while being an active participant in school activities and giving back to his community in the form of community service," said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum.
Taylor will attend Honors Weekend on June 5 and 6 to personally accept the award. Following is a list of previous award winners:
Dave Schultz High School Excellence National Winners
1996 David Kjeldgaard, Lewis Central High School, Council Bluffs, Iowa
1997 Jeff Knupp, Walsh Jesuit High School, Akron, Ohio
1998 Garrett Lowney, Freedom High School, Appelton, Wisconsin and Justin Ruiz, Taylorsville High School, Salt Lake City, Utah
1999 Zach Roberson, Blue Valley North West High School, Overland Park, Kansas
2000 Ben Connell, Lugoff-Elgin High School, Lugoff, South Carolina
2001 Steven Mocco, Blair Academy, Blairstown, New Jersey
2002 Teyon Ware, Edmond North High School, Edmond, Oklahoma
2003 C. P. Schlatter, St. Paul Graham High School, Urbana, Ohio
2004 Coleman Scott, Waynesburg High School, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania
2005 Troy Nickerson, Chenango Forks High School, Chenango Forks, New York
2006 David Craig, Brandon High School, Brandon, Florida
2007 Zachary Sanders, Wabasha-Kellog High School, Wabasha, Minnesota
2008 Jason Chamberlain, Springville High School, Springville, Utah
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