Taylor, Port and Sheptock Fight For Wrestling’s Highest Honor

Heading into the 2014 NCAA Championships, there are three undefeated wrestlers, who are considered leading candidates to capture the 2014 WIN Magazine/Culture House Dan Hodge Trophy, presented by ASICS.

The following is an alphabetical listing of this trio, including how many pins, technical fall and major decision they’ve earned.

Mitchell Port, Junior, Edinboro, 141 pounds

Record: 26-0; Pins: 11; TF: 2; MD: 5

The 2013 NCAA national runner-up is coming off an Eastern Wrestling League championship in Cleveland, Ohio, where he recorded a pair of major decisions, including a 12-2 victory over Lock Haven’s Dan Neff in the final. The highlight of his season was winning the Midlands, Dec. 30, when he won five bouts, including two by fall and two by major decisions.

Jimmy Sheptock, Senior, Maryland, 184 pounds

Record: 28-0; Pins: 6; TF: 5; MD: 6

After finishing sixth last year, the Terp is coming off an Atlantic Coast Conference Championship where he defeated Pitt’s Max Thomusseit, 3-1, in the championship bout. Among his biggest victories this season was a 5-3 decision against Cornell’s Gabe Dean on Dec. 1.

David Taylor, Senior, Penn State, 165 pounds

Record: 29-0; Pins: 13, TF 8; MD: 7

The three-time NCAA finalist, 2012 champion and Hodge Trophy winner has scored bonus points in all but one of his 29 victories this season. The Nittany Lion recently recorded his 50^th career pin at the Big Ten Championships in Madison, Wisc., where he won a fourth championship. Among his other big moments this season was a Southern Scuffle championship where he scored a major decision against No. 2-ranked Tyler Caldwell of Oklahoma State.