A memorial service is to be held this week for an Otterbein University sophomore wrestler who died from injuries sustained in a car accident earlier this month.
Joshua Taylor died Thursday, Jan. 2, according to an online obituary. He was 19 years old.
The accident happened in Licking County, Ohio, according to WBNS and Columbus’ letter. Taylor’s trainer, Brent Rastetter, told WBNS that Taylor was “on his way to work” at the time of the accident.
“Josh enjoyed playing and watching sports, spending time with his friends, especially his girlfriend, and loved being with his family,” the obituary said, adding that he graduated from Lakewood High School in 2023 after an “outstanding” high school career. school wrestler, who achieved more than 100 victories in four years there.
Taylor continued his wrestling career at Otterbein University, where he posted a 13-9 overall collegiate record and was named the “Most Improved Wrestler of 2024,” according to his obituary.
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“This is an announcement no coach wants to make,” Rastetter wrote in a memorial Facebook post announcing the sophomore’s death. “In a heartbreaking start to 2025, we lost our sophomores in wrestling [family] member Josh Taylor was involved in a fatal car accident today. Please keep his parents Melissa and Andy and Josh’s siblings in your thoughts during this very difficult time.”
In an interview with WBNS, the coach said Taylor always “showed a lot of grit when he was out on the mat.” He added, “He wasn’t the best wrestler every time he was out there, but he definitely showed a lot of passion every time he wrestled.”
Taylor’s teammates also mourned his death this week. Otterbein’s teammate Cale Callahan told WBNS he was “shocked” after hearing the news of Taylor’s death. “He had probably one of the best mullets I’ve ever seen when I first met him, so I knew straight away that the guy was a character … really goofy, he was a funny guy, but he was a really good-natured person,” he said Callahan. – He wanted the best for everyone.
The Columbus’ message reported that Taylor’s former high school also held memorial services this week, honoring the school’s former standout athlete.
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Source: HIS Education