UNIVERSITY PARK, PA — david taylor He opened M2 Training Center in 2017, and on the first day of practice he noticed a curly-haired middle schooler named Levi.
There was something different about this kid, Taylor recalled. He was tougher than the others. His technique wasn't great, but he didn't give up.
Most importantly, he never missed practice. Until now.
“I looked it up and found out he was driving two and a half hours each way and coming to practice every time,” Taylor said. “There was something different about him. Not all wrestlers fight like that. People wrestle, but some just quit and give up.”
That kid is Levi Hayneshe has since become a star, being a Penn State champion, a member of the Cadet World Team, and now a two-time All-American and 2024 NCAA Champion at Penn State.
Of course, Taylor himself won two NCAA titles at Penn State. He also won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, as part of USA Wrestling's revived men's freestyle program, and also won his three world championships.
Both Taylor and Haynes this weekend. US Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling, begins Friday at the Bryce Jordan Center. Taylor is the favorite to win at 86kg, while Haynes is considered a dark horse at 74kg.
“I don't know if I ever imagined that the Olympic Trials would be held here at Penn State,” Haynes said Thursday. “Having the opportunity to do it right here in our backyard is very special.”
The dynamic between Haynes and Taylor, a coach and his star pupil competing in the same high-profile wrestling tournament, perhaps means that a new wave of young wrestlers will be ready to challenge the older stars at this year's trials. This is probably the best example of what it is.
Haynes, 19, will have to overcome the following weight. jordan burrowssix-time world champion and 2012 Olympic gold medalist. Kyle Dake, four-time NCAA champion, four-time world champion, and 2020 Olympic bronze medalist.and Jason Nolf, three-time NCAA champion. Haynes is excited about the challenge.
“It's pretty special to play against them,” Haynes said. “I was able to compete against some of the legends of this sport and I am forever grateful for the opportunity.
“These older players have been around longer, so it's a great opportunity for us younger players to interact with players from generations past. It's special.”
Taylor, 33, has already reached the Trials' best-of-three final as a returning world champion, but he must fend off younger challengers to remain on this year's team. For athletes in the 86kg class, aaron brooks and carter starocciboth four-time NCAA champions from Penn State; Connor Mirasolaa new Nittany Lion employee.
“When I have a passion to be the best and you have a passion to be the best, you will do what you have to do to be at the top of your game,” Taylor said. “We have to come every day ready to go. Our young people are what's going to push us.”
There were years when young prospects were chosen to make the U.S. Olympic team, surpassing veterans.
In 2016, Kyle SnideWin the Return of the Olympic Gold Medal Winner jake burner Upon joining the team, he won a gold medal in Rio de Janeiro and became the youngest Olympic champion in American wrestling history.
Haynes dreams of one day winning an Olympic gold medal herself, and this weekend is her first chance to position herself for that goal. He plans to utilize all the skills and knowledge he's gleaned from Taylor over the years when he takes to the mat on Friday.
“Dave is the man,” Haynes said. “When I first met him, I didn't know much about wrestling. I just knew how to work hard. Dave taught me how to wrestle. I didn't have much equipment before. I am forever grateful to Dave for my wrestling career.
“I've been recreating a lot of stuff. Dave has taught me a lot more about wrestling than I ever thought possible. He's knowledgeable. I've been trying to incorporate his way of thinking. , and it really helped me grow. I'm grateful to him for that.”
So far, that has made Haynes one of the top prospects in college wrestling, possibly on the short list to compete for future senior-level world and Olympic teams, but his longtime coach has no I'm not surprised.
“He's the kind of guy that makes people want to quit wrestling,” Taylor said. “He's not fun to wrestle. He's relentless. And the great thing about Levi is he's only 19 years old. In another world, he might still be in high school. Instead, He's a sophomore in college competing against the best players in the world.
“He's a generational talent. I wish I had the opportunity to coach a player like that in my life, and I was lucky that he was one of the first kids we coached. He keeps getting better.”
Fans who wish to attend the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in person can purchase all-session tickets and single-session tickets through Ticketmaster.
For those who can't get tickets, all the action at the Bryce Jordan Center will be broadcast by the NBC property on April 19th and 20th. Friday and Saturday night sessions will air on USA Network. NBC's streaming platform Peacock will host a live stream of each mat during the competition.
Complete brackets and live results for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials will be hosted on Trackwrestling.com.Fans can also follow @usawrestling and #wrestlingtrial24 Updates will be made regularly on various social media platforms throughout the event.
For complete coverage of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, visit our event hub.
2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Wrestling | April 19-20, Bryce Jordan Center, State College, Pennsylvania
Event schedule
10 a.m. ET – Challenge Tournament Qualifiers, Quarterfinals, and Repechage
6:30 PM ET – Challenge Tournament Semi-Finals, Finals
10 a.m. ET – Championship Series Round 1 (all weight classes), Championship Series Round 2 (GR 60-67-77 kg, MFS 57-65 kg), Challenge Tournament Repechage, True Game 3 (if necessary)
6:30 PM ET – Championship Series Round 2, Championship Series Round 3 (if required)
