The closest thing Michigan City senior David Taylor gets to a day off is at a Saturday wrestling meet.
Because during weekday practices, the 132-pounder hardly gets to catch his breath for the Wolves.
“He kind of gets beat up during the week,” Michigan City coach Roy Richards said. “We make it a team-wide mission. As soon as one guy is tired, they’ll get tagged out and another guy goes in.”
But this rigorous practice schedule has paid off in Taylor’s final season at Michigan City.
He improved his record to 25-3 by winning the 132-pound title at Saturday’s Duneland Athletic Conference Meet, the first from the program to accomplish that feat in at least seven years, according to his coaches.
And after his victory, Taylor pointed to those intense practices as the reason for his first-place finish.
“It’s a lot of heavier, stronger guys, too,” he said. “So, I have to work in a lot of different situations. Lately, we’ve had a lot more kids in the room and the practices are starting to pick up.”
Taylor also said the stamina built up at practice was crucial Saturday. In the title match, Taylor trailed Merrillville sophomore Jacob Maldonado 4-2 late in the third period before earning an escape and a takedown in the final minute for a 5-4 win.
Taylor had been in those situations before, though — at practice.
“Whenever I’m in a match and I get tired,” he said. “I just think that I’ve already gone through this in practice and I know exactly what to do.”
And that championship match wasn’t the only time Taylor needed to call upon those experiences.
“He had three matches (Saturday), and they all went into the third period,” Richards said. “That shows you the constant competition we’re giving him and the pressure we’re putting on him. He’s responding in practice and it showed at the meet.”
Taylor’s victory wasn’t just a personal celebration, either. With classmate Oscar Potts finishing as a runner-up at 285, the Wolves had reason to walk out of Portage’s gym with heads held high.
“We had all of our kids in this atmosphere and they got to see Taylor win a DAC title,” Richards said. “That’s only going to make us better. We’re excited.”
And Taylor hoped his victory would motivate his younger teammates to follow the same trail he’s already blazed.
“I hope it sets an example for them,” Taylor said. “To know that they have to work hard to achieve their goals.”
Dave Melton is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Top 5
With last week’s rankings in parentheses.
1. Portage (1)
2. Chesterton (2)
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3. Merrillville (4)
4. Crown Point (3)
5. Hobart (5)
Wrestler of the Week: Munster senior Caleb Thomas improved his record to 21-3 after placing first at 220 pounds in Saturday’s Northwest Crossroads Conference Meet.