David Taylor was able to win another big name for his new program.
Former two-time NCAA champion and Olympian Roman Bravo-Young will join Oklahoma State’s regional training center, Cowboy RTC, the club and Bravo-Young announced Saturday night. Fresh off his Olympic debut, Bravo-Young will train alongside the OSU wrestlers in Stillwater. It is currently unknown if Bravo-Young will join the coaching staff.
Something new. pic.twitter.com/G3RnGXIRUK
— Roman Bravo-Young (@RomanBravoYoung) 18 August 2024
Taylor said at his introductory press conference that he wanted to put emphasis on the Cowboys’ RTC program, and the addition of a big name like Bravo-Young proves that wasn’t just talk. Daton Fix is also expected to play a role in Cowboy RTC.
“The RTC is a foundation,” Taylor said. “Our very first order of business is to keep Daton Fix at the RTC. We’re excited about Daton. I’m really excited to help him – our staff Jimmy (Kennedy) and Thomas (Gilman) – and his goals. We sat down and talked about what that might look like for him and how we can surround him with people who can help him do that.”
“As we continue to grow the RTC, it will be selected with the right group of people. If our athletes finish and have the same ambitions to become world champions and Olympic champions, then they will have a path and a place to do so.”
Bravo-Young just competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, representing Mexico in the 57-kilogram class. Before his international career, Bravo-Young was a two-time NCAA champion in the 133-pound class for Penn State, Taylor’s alma mater. He actually defeated Fix in the 2021 NCAA final. Bravo-Young was also an NCAA runner-up in 2023, won three Big Ten titles and was a four-time All-American after finishing eighth as a freshman. In his college career, he was 100-10.
Taylor has revamped OSU’s coaching staff since taking over in May, replacing John Smith. Taylor brought in Jimmy Kennedy as associate head coach, Thomas Gilman as assistant and Bryan Pearsall as recruiting coordinator. He also retained Tyler Caldwell from the previous staff as an assistant and kept Zoheir El Ouraqe on the Cowboy RTC staff.
