Penn State wrestlers prepare to compete in USA Olympic Wrestling trials

University Park, PA (WJAC) — The USA Wrestling Olympic trials begin this weekend.

On Friday and Saturday, dozens of Olympic wrestling hopefuls will compete at the Bryce Jordan Center with a chance to go to Paris on the line.

Seventeen former and current Penn State wrestlers will have the chance to become an Olympian.

David Taylor, a Tokyo Olympic gold medalist spoke about the trials being in Happy Valley.

"This is the mecca of wrestling and we're excited to compete. I think there are pros and cons to competing in your hometown but the Olympic trials, the Olympic years, that movement is inspiring. It's inspiring to a lot of people. It's inspiring to us competitors. It's the pinnacle. But it's inspiring to the community. They're very excited about what's to come. It's good for our economy; having people come in and be here and be involved in this community. There's a mystique to Penn State, like how the heck do they win so much?"

Taylor, 33, is now at the point where his students are competing alongside him.

This year's NCAA champion at 157 pounds, Levi Haines, thanked Taylor for his influence on him.

"I’m forever indebted to Dave in my wrestling career. And he's also showed me not just about wrestling but kind of how to conduct myself as a person as well."

On Friday, Haines will compete in a bracket with a good chance of running into other Nittany Lions.

Saturday's final matches will be a best of three series between finalists to determine who gets to go to Paris and represent the United States this summer.

ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ6OlvLPA0milmqyZpLuiuIysp6iqpKh8sbHNp2SsrJGpsm680Z6nmqqVqHqpu9KtZK6rkWK8rcXMqaCcZaensrTAy6KloGWkp7aiuNJmqqmnoqnAbrzAq6CsZaOprrWxjJympaSVnLJurtGymp5lmqS%2Fpa3NZpqepqSav26t06GjnqyVqA%3D%3D