The time was right for David Taylor.
As was the location.
The former two-time national champion and two-time Hodge Trophy winner claimed two consecutive wins over Wolfpack Wrestling Club’s Nick Reenan Saturday night to claim a spot on the U.S. World Team at 86 kilograms, the first of his career.
Taylor had previously been thwarted in his attempts to make the team, falling to World and Olympic champ Jordan Burroughs, Olympic bronze medalist J’den Cox and longtime nemesis Kyle Dake along the way.
This time, there would be no losing.
In front of a raucous crowd at Rec Hall, Taylor dispatched of Reenan without too much difficulty.