FEATURE: Northwestern Wildcats are winning with core group of talented wrestlers

Some successful college wrestling teams are built upon balance in the lineup. Others rely on a star wrestler or two that carry the load.

Then there are teams that are winners because of a strong, core group of motivated and talented individuals. That might best describe the Northwestern Univ. Wildcats.

At the NCAA Championships this year. Northwestern had four athletes in the quarterfinals and entered the Friday morning session tied in ninth place. All four of the quarterfinalists are juniors, and have improved together as a group, pushing each other

This core group features (by seed): No. 1 Ryan Lang of N. Royalton, Ohio at 141 pounds, No. 1 Jake Herbert of Wexford, Pa. at 184 pounds, No. 3 Mike Tamillow of Oak Park, Ill. at 197 pounds and No. 4 Dustin Fox of Galion, Ohio at 285 pounds. Herbert was a NCAA runner-up last year at 174 pounds and Lang placed fourth at the NCAA meet.

"Wrestling-wise, we try to feed off each other," said Lang of his group of talented teammates. "We give each other input on technique and training. Everybody has wrestled everybody by the time we get in college. When I was a kid, I actually wrestled Jake Herbert. It is also great to have a good influence, in lifestyles and choices. It isn't just wrestling, it is an all around thing. We have a good relationship with each other and with our coaches."

Head coach Tim Cysewski has been working with these athletes since they decided to attend Northwestern, and he has seen them grow as athletes and bond as a team.

"They are a tight group. They are about the same age. They had successful high school and international careers. It is not unusual for them to succeed. That is a major part of the process of getting better," said Cysewski.

Northwestern had three individual Big Ten champions this year, with Lang, Herbert and Tamillow, the first time since 1931. Six Wildcats qualified for the NCAA Championships, and placed sixth in the final standings.

"Our goal here is to place higher than we did at the Big Ten. There we had three champions and were sixth as a team. We want three or four champions here, and to place higher than the sixth we had at Big Tens," said Herbert.

The quarterfinal round would be very important for Northwestern to meet Herbert's lofty goal.

The round started out very strong for Wildcats. Lang faced unseeded freshman Darrion Caldwell of NC State and got involved in a wide-open match. Caldwell took down Lang a few times with some active and aggressive wrestling, jumping to an 8-3 lead in the first period. Unfazed, Lang locked up a move from the feet, rolled Caldwell through and scored a stunning pin, to the roar of an appreciative crowd.

"If it is a high scoring match, you have to score more points," said Lang. "Even if it is a low scoring match, you have to get more than the opponent. I knew I had a full six minutes. That is a long time. I knew I had to go after him."

Lang described the move he used, something that he has seen others do and constantly practices for times that he might need it.

"It's my favorite wrestling move," said Lang. "There are a lot of names for it. Jeff Eckloff out in Pennsylvania used it a lot. In the NCAA finals a few years ago, Rohn was losing and he hit it. It's a rollthrough, a cement mixer. I kind of call it a reverse. I practice it every day. I even have my little brother Troy using it."

Lang, who has an outgoing personality and wrestles with flair, can tie his coaches up in knots with matches like that. Cysewski says that Lang keeps him young, but also makes him older.

"If he doesn't destroy himself out there, he will be fine," said Cysewski. "We went toe to toe, which is fine because we can do that. It is one of those things. During his career, he has been a wide open guy. In the last year, he has toned it down a little bit and got it under control. He lost control a little bit that match. We got behind a bit. We have a strong kick so I knew he would be alright. Then he used that move which he likes. When he does use it, it works."

Lang will face unseeded Don Fisch of Rider in the semifinals on Friday night.

After Lang's match, the Wildcats had a little break in the quarterfinals until the higher weights. Northwestern has a strong set up upperweights, running Herbert, Tamillow and Fox out on the mat right after each other. This "Murderer's Row" of big men are one of the reasons Northwestern has established itself as a national power in recent years.

Herbert credits his teammates, as well as his coaches for helping him get better in the room. Included in that group is assistant coach Bill Scherr, a 1985 World champion and 1988 Olympic bronze medalist, who helps train the bigger athletes.

"He works with me, Fox, Tamillow and (Nick) Hayes," said Herbert. "He has taken us under his wing."

Scherr has praise for the big men in Northwestern's room, admitting that they "beat him up" a few times each week.

"All three are good athletes," said Scherr. "In Jake Herbert, you have a real special kid. He has so much to offer. I am letting them beat me up a few times a week. They have gotten better through the season. Fox has come along and Tamillow is still improving.

Herbert faced No. 9 Christian Sinnott of Central Michigan in his quarterfinal bout. Scoring two takedowns in the first period, Herbert methodically took Sinnott apart in the match, getting takedowns in every period for an 11-1 victory.

"It feels good," said Herbert after the win. "I won't be satisfied without those last two victories. He is a tough wrestler. This was a good match for me to have today. But I need to get more backpoints out there. To get a national title, it helps to score backpoints."

The Wildcats suffered two setbacks in the next few weights. Tamillow had seemed to secure victory over No. 11 Chris Weidman of Hofstra, with an 8-7 lead, plus the riding time advantage late in the final period. But with about seven seconds left, Weidman took down Tamillow, and eliminated the riding time, to upset Tamillow, 9-8.

Fox had a similar situation in his quarterfinals bout against No. 5 Ty Watterson of Oregon State. Watterson scored a takedown with seconds left in the bout to earn a 3-1 win over Fox.

Cysewski was disappointed with the last-second losses in the last two weights, and brings only Lang and Herbert into the semifinals. However, he is also hopeful that Tamillow and Fox fight back for key team points in the wrestleback rounds.

"We will see. This will be a good test," said Cysewski about Tamillow and Fox. "Mike (Tamillow) had it won. He could only lose if lightning struck and it happened. He can either feel sorry for himself, or he can finish it out strong."

Northwestern still has a chance for two individual champions if Lang and Herbert hold their seed and win their next two matches. Northwestern has never had two individual champions the same year, and has won six NCAA titles during its program's history. This would be a great finish for the team, regardless of the final position in the standings.

"He has been No. 1 all year, and has been wrestling well all year," said Cysewski about Lang. "He has a lot of skills out there and has matured. He improves steadily, and the maturity has helped there. He has learned to control his wrestling.

Cysewski also has praise for Herbert, and compares him favorably with all the athletes he has ever coached.

"He is the most focused kid I've coached," said Cysewski. "He has a plan and he works hard at it. He is a well rounded wrestler. He knows what it is that he wants to do, and he goes out and does it. He sets goals for each period of every match. He consistently knows what he needs to do, and then executes it."

These Wildcats have proven that wrestling is both an individual and a team sport.