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Iowa State University Athletics
Taylor into National Wrestling Hall of Fame
11.23.2011 | Wrestling
STILLWATER, Okla. - Iowa State two-time NCAA champion heavyweight Chris Taylor will be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame June 1-2, 2012 in Stillwater.
Two World champions, a successful coach and wrestler, and the heaviest athlete in Olympic history will be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum on June 1-2, 2012 in Stillwater.
In addition to Taylor, Distinguished Members selected for the Class of 2012 include Fred Fozzard, Stephen Neal, Greg Strobel and Chris Taylor.
"We are fortunate to have such a rich heritage of wrestling in the United States and the Class of 2012 certainly perpetuates this sport's extraordinary legacy," said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. "I am excited that our Hall of Fame gets to honor such a prestigious and diverse group."
Chris Taylor's stature makes him the biggest athlete in ISU history. Taylor, a 440-plus pound giant, completed his Cyclone career undefeated with an 87-0-1 mark. Seventy of Taylor's wins ended in pins. His victims lasted an average of only 2:14.2 before they were pinned.
Taylor earned national championships in 1972 and 1973, leading ISU to two NCAA team titles. Despite setting the record for most falls in the NCAA Tournament by pinning all five opponents at the 1973 meet, Taylor was not named the meet's Most Outstanding Wrestler. The giant pinned 44 of his 48 opponents that year to set the NCAA record for most pins in a single season.
Taylor added two Big Eight individual crowns to help lead ISU to team titles in 1972 and 1973. He was named Iowa State's and the Big Eight's 1973 Athlete of the Year.
Taylor went on to wrestle internationally for the United States in the 1972 Olympics in Munich. He earned the bronze medal after a highly controversial semifinal loss. Taylor's career mark was 239-10-1.
Taylor, the heaviest competitor in Olympic history, won a bronze medal at the 1972 Olympics in freestyle wrestling. He also competed in the Greco-Roman division the same year. Taylor was an NCAA champion for Iowa State in 1972 and 1973 following his junior college career at Muskegon Community College. He died in 1979.
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