Dec. 8, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) -- Maryland 197-pound All-America senior Hudson Taylor has claimed his second Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestler of the Week honor of the 2009-10 season after a weekend in which he defeated three fellow nationally ranked wrestlers and became the program’s all-time leader in career victories and pins.

Taylor set the school record for career pins by picking up four to bring his collegiate total to 72. The senior helped the seventh-ranked Terps to a 41-0 ACC season-opening victory over North Carolina on Friday by pinning No. 11 Dennis Drury, which brought Taylor’s career pin total to 69, tying him with Jake Stork for most in school history.

Taylor broke the record on Sunday in the Penn State Open. The third-ranked wrestler in the country went 5-0 to claim the title at 197 pounds, winning three matches by pin and two matches over ranked opponents. Taylor’s record is now 17-0 on the season, with 13 of those victories coming by pin. Taylor’s wins in the Penn State open included an 11-5 decision over No. 19 Matthew Wilps of Pittsburgh and a pin of Virginia’s 15th-ranked Brent Jones, the ACC’s defending champion in the 197-pound weight class and the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the 2009 ACC Championships.

Hudson also set the Maryland career wins record with his stellar two days of work. The Pennington, N.J., native now has 140, beating the previous mark of 139 set by Brandon York (1998-2002), who was a four-time ACC Champion as well as a four-time NCAA qualifier.

Maryland plays host to Pennsylvania on Friday in the only dual action involving ACC teams this week as the schedule becomes lighter due to exam breaks. No. 18 Virginia will be the next team to resume action Dec. 19, when it makes a Saturday road swing to UNC Greensboro and Appalachian State.