David Taylor, Olympic gold medalist, is all geared up to start his role as a head coach. Amid shifts from competitive wrestling to coaching, and then coming back on the mat, Taylor is the talk of the town. Now, it seems he is all set to focus on coaching new talents.

In a recent media interaction in Stillwater, Taylor dropped some surprising insights into his coaching journey, mentioning his recent bronze at the Senior World Championship and the hurdles he’s faced shifting from wrestler to mentor. But he also hinted at big things for a star Oklahoma State wrestler set to compete in the 125-pound division this season. Who is this rising talent, and can Taylor’s leadership give him the edge?

Who is the OSU star in the 125-pound category for the season opener?

While talking about the 125-pound weight category, David Taylor ensures that Troy Spratley will be the OSU star of this season, calling him a “Little Spark Plug.” Reflecting on Troy, the head coach states, “I think it’s great to have that type of personality at (125 pounds). They’re kicking off your team, and it’s a guy that people rally around.” Taylor praised the Redshirt Sophomore and showed his trust in him to win the upcoming matches, and if anything, Troy’s previous records just stand as proof to his praises.

Troy won the Pennsylvania prep state title as a freshman and a finalist at the Junior World Team trials in 2022. Spratley faced Richard Figueroa of Arizona State and won with a 13-5 major decision. Troy also took down one of the top 10 wrestlers, Noah Surtin, with a final decision of 4-1 in the February 4 match, just this year. The Redshirt freshman has now defeated several ranked opponents and boasts of eight total victories. But it’s not just his wrestling spirit alone that makes the likes of Taylor gush over this kid.

In the words of David Taylor, Troy “just wrestles with a high pace, and he’s got a lot of great energy. He can score in all positions, so I’m just excited.” Such remarks hint that the 23-8 record holder will do wonders with his high-pace wrestling. After setting a record of 17-4 and winning 10 duals with his techniques and strategies, Spratley earned the title of top Big 12 wrestler of the week.

David Taylor, as the head coach for the team, sees the challenges ahead for Troy as stepping stones to propel him towards success with a major headstart. “He’s going to have a pretty challenging start to the season with some good competition. I think he’s definitely looking forward to that, and we’re looking forward to him getting to start off strong in these dual meets.” Well, Troy definitely has proven his mettle by defeating top wrestlers like Max Gallagher and Cooper Flynn in the NCAA quarterfinals in 2023-24 and also recorded the fastest win of his career against Conrad Hendrickson in the Bedlam dual.

In the upcoming matches, with the most recent one scheduled for November against Utah Valley’s Bridger Ricks, the series will continue with wrestlers like Maximo Renteria, Jore Volk of Wyoming, Antonio Lorenzo of Oklahoma, and Arizona State’s Richard Figueroa, among others. The impressive records of Troy suggest that he is well-prepared to meet Taylor’s expectations, making him a key player as OSU’s season unfolds. Now, what has Taylor got in the folds for him to make Spratley one of his star students?

David Taylor’s coaching techniques could propel Spratley in the upcoming season

Taylor has high expectations from Troy as he steps into the NCAA season in the 125-pound division, but the challenges lying ahead will decide how he fares. If anything, Troy’s new coach’s techniques will only help him hone his strength more than ever before. Taylor’s techniques like step outside reach ankle pick, ankle pick to snap down go behind, redirect tilt, back fall cradle, transition from tilt to legs, break down drill, deep tight waist tilt,  short time tilt, and many others will definitely help Spratley leave his opponent behind.

Well, David Taylor might have joined as a head coach earlier this year, but the fire to win is still intact in him, and it led Taylor to win the recent World Championship with a bronze medal. Taylor will surely do wonders, not only on the mat but also in a role of coaching. With his training boasting of the power moves learned from the talented coach Cal Sanderson, Taylor stands as an inspiration for the aspiring wrestlers. Now, as far as Taylor’s achievements on the mat are concerned, his career began with his winning the US National University title in the freestyle category in 2010.

From there, he never looked back, setting a record of 180-2 along with an NCAA record with a score of 134-3, becoming a four-time state champion. And the list goes on for how many times Taylor defeated his opponents with his technical prowess. That very prowess that he will instill in Spratley and all of his other students to ensure their wins.

Troy Spratley’s determination with David Taylor’s technique and strategies will help him overcome any challenges Spratley comes across. Troy will be facing tough competition on the mat in the upcoming season. The question remains: will David Taylor’s expectations be fulfilled as he is rooting for the next NCAA season as a head coach?