—Photo courtesy of Grand View Athletics Fort Dodge graduate Carson Taylor will wrestle for a NAIA national championship on Saturday for Grand View.

WICHITA, Kan. — In Carson Taylor’s eyes it was just another match.

But, what a match it was for the Grand View senior.

The Fort Dodge graduate will make a return to the national finals after a year-long hiatus.

Taylor (26-2) will wrestle for the 141 pound national title, after a gutsy performance in the semifinals.

“I’m excited to wrestle in the finals,” Taylor said. “It’s still just the next match.

“I’m going to treat it like any other match and just wrestle seven minutes hard.”

After a scoreless first period against Oklahoma City’s fifth seed Cade Manion, a raucous second period ensued.

“In the first period we were both just kind of feeling each other out,” Taylor said. “He did a good job of slowing down my offense and keeping it close.”

At the 1:15 mark Manion, who was on top, looked to get two near fall points, but Grand View head coach Nick Mitchell threw out the challenge brick.

After the referees discussed the move for about two minutes, they overturned the call, rewarding Taylor with a penalty point and taking away the near fall.

The Dodger graduate, who is tied for 15th on the all-time win list with 121 victories, escaped and then earned another penalty point on what looked like an elbow.

“That second period was crazy with the challenge brick and the call going my way,” Taylor said. “Either way my coaches were telling me it was OK.

“I love it when it’s tough and I believed it — I was ready for anything.”

Taylor led 3-0 heading into the third period. Manion escaped with 1:19 left to cut the lead to 3-1. Taylor seeled the deal with a late takedown for the 6-1 victory.

“In the final period I knew I had to stay on my offense because I knew he was going to be trying to score,” Taylor said. “That’s when I kept wrestling and scored on one of his shots.”

After finishing third last season, Taylor was a runner up in 2023. He was fourth as a red-shirt freshman and third in his freshman season (COVID).

With his 11-0 major decision over No. 8 seed Thomas Williams of St. Thomas, Taylor became a five-time All-American.

Taylor will face three seed Evan Potter of Southern Oregon in the finals.

Grand View leads the team race with 176.5 points. Life (125) is second and Southeastern (107) is third.

The Parade of All-Americans will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the championship finals set for 7 p.m.