Taylor, McClendon Named Penn State Athletes Of The Year
After incredible seasons, wrestler David Taylor and women’s volleyball outside hitter Deja McClendon were named Penn State’s athletes of the year today. The duo will be on the ballot for Big Ten Athletes of the Year, usually announced at the end of June.
Taylor’s 2013-14 was absolutely phenomenal, as he brought home his second Hodge Trophy (the Heisman of wrestling, if you will), second NCAA Championship, third Big Ten Wrestler of the Year nod, fourth Academic All-Big Ten nod, and First Team All-American honors, among various other awards. Taylor’s career has ended after he was a part of every National Championship wrestling squad Penn State has had over the last four years, closing his career with an absurd 134-3 record, including a 56-0 mark against Big Ten opponents.
McClendon is also concluding her Penn State career with a laundry list of accolades, including four All-American nods. She was the Freshman of the Year in 2010, and bookmarked her career with championships in 2010 and 2013. She was also a member of the All-Big Ten team in each of her four years here. McClendon finished her Penn State career sixth in kills with 1,631.
Congratulations to the pair of athletes on the honor!
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