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������ý���� has received a $500,000 leadership gift from former All-American wrestler Tim Morrison ’83 and his family that will be used to more than double the size of the current wrestling training facility. The gift, the largest in the program’s history, was made in honor of former ������ý���� Wrestling Head Coach Gary Taylor '82, who died Sept. 14.

To underscore the honor, the Morrison family has asked that the facility be named the Gary Taylor Wrestling Center.

“Gary Taylor recruited me to wrestle in 1979, and later my three sons,” says Morrison. “He instilled us with inspiration and motivation. He was a true mentor to me and my family. During the time we spent with Gary, we got to see his devotion to ������ý���� wrestling and, most importantly, his devotion to the individuals that he coached. It is our honor to make our gift in tribute to Gary and all he has done for my family and for ������ý����.” 

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The renovation of the wrestling facility will build on Taylor’s 39-year legacy at ������ý����. Taylor led his teams to 442 dual victories, 14 conference championships and mentored 15 different wrestlers to 17 All-America honors.

The wrestling center’s expansion will provide student-athletes with a larger practice area, a strength and cardio section and an enhanced team locker room.

“Thanks to the incredible support of the Morrisons, the team will now enjoy the benefits of a much larger, and much improved, training facility,” says Athletic Director Don Harnum. “It will greatly enhance the experience of our student-athletes and speak volumes to recruits of the program.”

The expansion will assume the space now occupied by the University’s Strength and Conditioning Center. A new Strength and Conditioning Center, that benefits more than 400 student-athletes, will be built behind Alumni Gym.