2014 Dan Hodge Trophy Release

April 1, 2014 For immediate release: Penn States David Taylor wins 2014 WIN/C.H.
Dan Hodge Trophy presented by ASICS For only the third time in the 20-year history of the Dan Hodge Trophy, college wrestlings top award will go to same individual more than once in a career. Penn States David Taylor dominated the official ballots in the same way he did opponents on the mat, winning 38 of the 43 official votes from the Hodge Trophy Voting Committee. Taylor joins his coach and three-time winner Cael Sanderson (2000-2002) and Missouris Ben Askren (2006-07) as the only multiple-time winners in the two-decade history of the award, given annually to the most dominant college wrestler. He also won the Hodge in 2012. The award, named after Oklahomas three-time (1955-57) NCAA champion Dan Hodge, will be presented to Taylor at the teams banquet on Saturday, April 26. The voting committee named Taylor (165 pounds) the 2014 Hodge winner over a pair of outstanding three-time NCAA champs in Ohio States junior Logan Stieber (141) and senior teammate Ed Ruth (184). Another finalist was Oklahoma States two -time champ Chris Perry (174), who defeated former NCAA champ Andrew Howe of Oklahoma two times in the last month of the season for the title in what many thought was the toughest weight class. The fifth finalist for this years Hodge was Oklahoma State sophomore Alex Dieringe r who won his first national title at 157. Dieringers only loss on the year was a January dual -meet loss to 2013 champion Derek St. John of Iowa, 2-1. Dieringer ended up fifth in the final Hodge point standings. For the year, he had 12 pins, 5 technical falls and two majors. But when the dust settled on a wild year of college wrestling in which Stieber, Ruth and Perry all suffered one loss the undefeated Taylor (34-0) was the only one left standing with a resume of dominance. The final seven first-place votes for this years 2014 WIN Magazine/C.H. Dan Hodge winner, presented by ASICS, were spread apart between Stieber (three), Ruth (two) and Perry (two). The Buckeye received one first-place vote from the committee which is made up of former Hodge winners, select members of the national wrestling media, representatives of national wrestling organizations and retired college coaches from different regions of the country. Stieber, who will look to become only the fourth four-time NCAA champ in Division I history next year, also won the two official votes which come from the composite on-line poll from WINs website the week following the NCAA Championships. Approximately 50 percent of the 17,500 fans chose Stieber. Taylor came in second. Taylors senior-season numbers were outstanding. The Nittany Lion, who with teammate Ed Ruth helped lead their team to a fourth straight NCAA title, had only two of 34 matches end without seeing him win bonus points. Taylor pinned 16 opponents, put up eight technical falls and had eight major decisions. Only NCAA runner-up Tyler Caldwell of Oklahoma State kept a match within seven points of Taylor, once in February (5-2) in the teams dual in State College and in the NCAA finals (6 -0). Taylor said his goal in college was the same as it always has been in his storied youth and high school career: domination. If I had to pick what people remembered of me, its that every time I stepped on the mat I tried to dominate the guys I wrestled, said the former four -time Ohio state champ from St. Paris Graham High School who added weight to his frame growing from a 135-pound prep senior to a 165-pound college senior in five years and points to his attacks. I think Ed Ruth and myself we were the start of that change in the guard in wrestling, Taylor said. We started to change the sport, to go out and score points. I dont want to be remembered as the guy who won twice or lost twice (in the NCAA finals in 2011 and 13), but as one of the most dominating wrestlers
in the history of college wrestling. In Taylors career, the Nittany Lion finished 134 -3 with 50 pins, 42 technical falls and 29 major decisions. The way you compete is bigger than if you won or lost, Sanderson said. This kid has a passion for wrestling and was an entertainer and was trying to score points the whole seven minutes. He wouldnt be a two -time Hodge winner if he didnt wrestle to dominate. And you wouldnt have that amount of success unless you competed the way David did and that was fearle ssly. Mike Chapman, founder of the Hodge Trophy, agreed. For pure wrestling talent, I have seen only five or six wrestlers over the past 50 years who could match David Taylor, Chapman said. He was a constant-motion machine and wrestled with an enthusiasm that delighted fans of not only Penn State but from other colleges, as well. If everyone competed like David Taylor, wrestling would be one of the most popular sports in America. His graduation leaves a big hole on the college scene but we can all look forward to seeing him turn his vast talents to freestyle. Coming into the 2013-2014 season, it appeared it could be one of the tightest Hodge races in history with Stieber putting together an extremely dominating sophomore campaign. The only wrestler who kept the Buckeye from scoring bonus points was Penn States Zain Retherford. Stieber, whose only loss came to the Nittany Lion in December, won by a pair of decisions in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments. Similarly, Ruths junior season last year was worthy of a Hodge Trophy too if it hadnt happened during Cornell senior Kyle Dakes historic season which ended with the 2013 Hodge Trophy. Ruth was 34 1 this winter with 11 pins and nine technical falls as he won his third straight NCAA title himself. His only loss came against Cornells Gabe Dean in the Southern Scuffle finals. Ruth avenged that loss to Dean in the NCAA semifinals. Like many great athletes, Taylor made putting on offensive exhibitions and getting pins look so effortless, some in the wrestling community simply came to expect it. Sanderson, also known for his dominance in winning four titles and going undefeated at Iowa State, said hes going to miss his team leader because of that very perspective on competing. Were going miss him as a program and miss having him compete in Rec Hall, and fans are going to miss him. But its about appreciating the time you had with him, Sanderson said. I really appreciate all the support Ive had in my career, Taylor said. Sometimes it was difficult always having the target on your back, but it drove me to do what I did. After I won my fourth Big Ten title, everyone got up and applauded, including the Iowa fans. That meant a lot to me, and I just want to thank everybody. I just appreciate all the support Ive been given over the years.
Hodge Trophy Voting Breakdown

The following is a breakdown of the voting from the 43 ballots from members of the Dan Hodge Trophy Voting Committee plus the two official votes from the composite fan poll which was on WINs website from March 26-28 (approximately 17,500 fans voted, over 50% voted for Stieber). Voting committee members include all past Hodge winners, select national wrestling media, reps from national wrestling organizations and retired college coaches from different regions of the country. A first-place vote is worth four points, second place three points, third place two points and fourth place one point. Wrestler, School 1.) David Taylor, Penn State 2.) Logan Stieber Ohio State Points 167 107 Votes 45 44 1st 38 3 2nd 6 18 3rd 0 18 4th 1 5
3.) Ed Ruth, Penn State 4.) Chris Perry, Oklahoma State 5.) Alex Dieringer, Oklahoma State 6.) Jesse Delgado, Illinois 7.) Tony Ramos, Iowa 8.) Nick Gwiazdowski, NC State
102 47 20 2 1 1
42 32 15 1 1 1
2 2 0 0 0 0
18 2 1 0 0 0
18 5 3 1 0 0
4 23 11 0 1 1

2014 Dan Hodge Trophy Release

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April 1, 2014 For immediate release: Penn States David Taylor wins 2014 WIN/C.H.

Hodge Trophy Voting Breakdown

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