Northwestern's Jake Herbert ready to make run at Hodge Trophy, second NCAA title
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by Craig Sesker
In the photo: Jake Herbert looks for points against Germany's Davyd Bichinashvili in the finals of the 2008 Dave Schultz Memorial International. Herbert beat Bichinashvili, who went on to place fifth in the Olympics. Photo by Tech-Fall.com.
If it seems like Jake Herbert has been at Northwestern University forever … well, he has been.
Long-time teammates like fellow national champion Dustin Fox, along with All-Americans Ryan Lang and Mike Tamillow, have completed their eligibility for the Wildcats.
Most of his classmates have graduated and moved on to the business and professional world.
So when the outgoing, fun-loving Herbert was spotted on campus this fall heading to class for the start of his sixth year at Northwestern, fellow students couldn't resist the opportunity to give him some grief.
"They are like, 'What are you still doing here?'" Herbert said with a laugh.
The 23-year-old Herbert has one season of eligibility left after taking an Olympic redshirt during the 2007-08 school year.
He originally redshirted at Northwestern during the 2003-04 school year. He followed by placing third, second and first at the NCAA Championships before being granted an Olympic redshirt last season.
"It's kind of sad that this is finally my senior year," said Herbert, who is just a handful of credits shy of earning his degree in communications studies. "They say college is the best years of your life, and I did my best to extend it to six years. I wish I could go back and be a freshman all over again. I love it here. I've grown so much as a wrestler and a person. It's been great."
To say Herbert enters the 2008-09 season with lofty goals is a huge understatement. He is ranked second nationally at 184 pounds behind returning NCAA champion Mike Pucillo of Ohio State.
"I already told (Iowa's Brent) Metcalf I'm coming after him for the Hodge Trophy this year and he said, 'Bring it,'" Herbert said with a laugh. "I want to dominate. I want to pin everybody I wrestle. And when the college season ends, I'm jumping into freestyle 100 percent. My plan is to win a gold medal at the 2009 World Championships."
During his Olympic redshirt season, Herbert showed signs that his goal of winning a World freestyle title is legitimate.
He won a pair of international events - the Hargobind International in Canada and the Dave Schultz Memorial International. Herbert, who competes internationally for the New York Athletic Club, also placed second in the Sunkist Kids International Open.
Herbert knocked off Germany's Davyd Bichinashvili in the finals of the Schultz event. Bichinashvili placed fifth at the 2008 Olympic Games. Herbert also posted two wins last season over Andy Hrovat, who went on to make the U.S. Olympic Team at 84 kg/185 lbs.
"I learned so much and gained so much experience last year," Herbert said. "You can't put a price on how valuable that Olympic redshirt season was for me. I know I can wrestle with, and beat, anybody in the World."
Even with the fast start, Herbert struggled late in the season. Seeded third at the U.S. Nationals, Herbert won his first match before losing his next two. He fell short of placing in the top eight. He followed by going 1-2 and not placing at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in June.
Two of his freestyle losses last season came to wrestlers - Iowa State's Jake Varner and Michigan's Tyrel Todd - who competed in the 2007-08 college season.
Two weeks after the Olympic Trials, Herbert went to see the doctor.
"I was feeling really tired, and I was just dying in the third period of some of my matches," Herbert said. "I was having trouble breathing and they diagnosed me with asthma."
With the asthma under control, Herbert came back to win a bronze medal at the World University Championships in July. He dropped a controversial, three-period match to Turkey's Muharrem Ersahin before coming back to take third.
"I wrestled fantastic and I felt great at University Worlds - that got me back on track," said Herbert, who also placed third at the 2006 World University Championships. "I feel great right now, better than I've ever felt, going into the college season."
Herbert, who has compiled a sparkling 101-4 record in his college career, returns to the mat this weekend when Northwestern opens its season at the Michigan State Open.
"Jake's working harder than ever," Northwestern coach Tim Cysewski said. "He's definitely a student of the game. He's always looking for an edge and always wanting to get better. He's a great leader. He makes his teammates better because he's always pushing them. He's very involved with our team and very supportive of our wrestlers, from top to bottom. He's like another coach."
Herbert's chief competition at the collegiate level this year will be Pucillo, the Ohio State junior who won the NCAA title in 2008. Herbert beat Pucillo 11-5 in their only career meeting, which came during the 2006-07 season.
"Pucillo's a tough kid," Herbert said. "He's very smart and very tactical, and he keeps things close. He obviously had a great NCAA tournament last year and he had an amazing season. I look forward to wrestling him again."
Some wrestling observers have questioned why Herbert would start the season ranked second. Herbert has not lost a collegiate match since falling to Missouri's Ben Askren in the 2006 NCAA finals.
"I really don't care where they put me - that's their opinion and that's rankings," he said. "All I really care about is what happens at the NCAA tournament. That's all that matters anyway."
Herbert's impact on the Northwestern campus in suburban Chicago has extended well beyond the wrestling mat.
"Jake's definitely been the face of Northwestern wrestling, but he's been a great asset to the whole athletic department," Cysewski said. "He's not a football player or a basketball player, but he's the best role model for the athletic program here. He supports the other athletic programs and he's like the Pied Piper where he gets people to follow him. Northwestern had a big soccer game against Ohio State, and Jake had all the wrestlers out there and our guys were all painted up for the game. It was fantastic. And then when we wrestled at home, a bunch of the soccer players reciprocated and came over to support Jake and the wrestling team."
Herbert, from Wexford, Pa., is among a group of talented young freestyle wrestlers in the U.S. Many of those wrestlers will be in contention to make the 2009 U.S. World Team.
"We're not that far away from being one of the top teams in the World again," he said. "We've got some real good young wrestlers in the U.S. - guys like Brent Metcalf - who are very hungry. We have the desire to be the best in the World."
His college coach believes Herbert can reach that level.
"Jake can definitely win a gold medal at the World and Olympic level if he stays focused, stays healthy and continues to improve. I know he can do it," Cysewski said. "He's one of those rare guys - he says he's going to do something and then he goes out and does it. His potential is unbelievable. He has the right attitude and the right work ethic to win the Olympics. I have no doubt about that.
If it seems like Jake Herbert has been at Northwestern University forever … well, he has been.
Long-time teammates like fellow national champion Dustin Fox, along with All-Americans Ryan Lang and Mike Tamillow, have completed their eligibility for the Wildcats.
Most of his classmates have graduated and moved on to the business and professional world.
So when the outgoing, fun-loving Herbert was spotted on campus this fall heading to class for the start of his sixth year at Northwestern, fellow students couldn't resist the opportunity to give him some grief.
"They are like, 'What are you still doing here?'" Herbert said with a laugh.
The 23-year-old Herbert has one season of eligibility left after taking an Olympic redshirt during the 2007-08 school year.
He originally redshirted at Northwestern during the 2003-04 school year. He followed by placing third, second and first at the NCAA Championships before being granted an Olympic redshirt last season.
"It's kind of sad that this is finally my senior year," said Herbert, who is just a handful of credits shy of earning his degree in communications studies. "They say college is the best years of your life, and I did my best to extend it to six years. I wish I could go back and be a freshman all over again. I love it here. I've grown so much as a wrestler and a person. It's been great."
To say Herbert enters the 2008-09 season with lofty goals is a huge understatement. He is ranked second nationally at 184 pounds behind returning NCAA champion Mike Pucillo of Ohio State.
"I already told (Iowa's Brent) Metcalf I'm coming after him for the Hodge Trophy this year and he said, 'Bring it,'" Herbert said with a laugh. "I want to dominate. I want to pin everybody I wrestle. And when the college season ends, I'm jumping into freestyle 100 percent. My plan is to win a gold medal at the 2009 World Championships."
During his Olympic redshirt season, Herbert showed signs that his goal of winning a World freestyle title is legitimate.
He won a pair of international events - the Hargobind International in Canada and the Dave Schultz Memorial International. Herbert, who competes internationally for the New York Athletic Club, also placed second in the Sunkist Kids International Open.
Herbert knocked off Germany's Davyd Bichinashvili in the finals of the Schultz event. Bichinashvili placed fifth at the 2008 Olympic Games. Herbert also posted two wins last season over Andy Hrovat, who went on to make the U.S. Olympic Team at 84 kg/185 lbs.
"I learned so much and gained so much experience last year," Herbert said. "You can't put a price on how valuable that Olympic redshirt season was for me. I know I can wrestle with, and beat, anybody in the World."
Even with the fast start, Herbert struggled late in the season. Seeded third at the U.S. Nationals, Herbert won his first match before losing his next two. He fell short of placing in the top eight. He followed by going 1-2 and not placing at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in June.
Two of his freestyle losses last season came to wrestlers - Iowa State's Jake Varner and Michigan's Tyrel Todd - who competed in the 2007-08 college season.
Two weeks after the Olympic Trials, Herbert went to see the doctor.
"I was feeling really tired, and I was just dying in the third period of some of my matches," Herbert said. "I was having trouble breathing and they diagnosed me with asthma."
With the asthma under control, Herbert came back to win a bronze medal at the World University Championships in July. He dropped a controversial, three-period match to Turkey's Muharrem Ersahin before coming back to take third.
"I wrestled fantastic and I felt great at University Worlds - that got me back on track," said Herbert, who also placed third at the 2006 World University Championships. "I feel great right now, better than I've ever felt, going into the college season."
Herbert, who has compiled a sparkling 101-4 record in his college career, returns to the mat this weekend when Northwestern opens its season at the Michigan State Open.
"Jake's working harder than ever," Northwestern coach Tim Cysewski said. "He's definitely a student of the game. He's always looking for an edge and always wanting to get better. He's a great leader. He makes his teammates better because he's always pushing them. He's very involved with our team and very supportive of our wrestlers, from top to bottom. He's like another coach."
Herbert's chief competition at the collegiate level this year will be Pucillo, the Ohio State junior who won the NCAA title in 2008. Herbert beat Pucillo 11-5 in their only career meeting, which came during the 2006-07 season.
"Pucillo's a tough kid," Herbert said. "He's very smart and very tactical, and he keeps things close. He obviously had a great NCAA tournament last year and he had an amazing season. I look forward to wrestling him again."
Some wrestling observers have questioned why Herbert would start the season ranked second. Herbert has not lost a collegiate match since falling to Missouri's Ben Askren in the 2006 NCAA finals.
"I really don't care where they put me - that's their opinion and that's rankings," he said. "All I really care about is what happens at the NCAA tournament. That's all that matters anyway."
Herbert's impact on the Northwestern campus in suburban Chicago has extended well beyond the wrestling mat.
"Jake's definitely been the face of Northwestern wrestling, but he's been a great asset to the whole athletic department," Cysewski said. "He's not a football player or a basketball player, but he's the best role model for the athletic program here. He supports the other athletic programs and he's like the Pied Piper where he gets people to follow him. Northwestern had a big soccer game against Ohio State, and Jake had all the wrestlers out there and our guys were all painted up for the game. It was fantastic. And then when we wrestled at home, a bunch of the soccer players reciprocated and came over to support Jake and the wrestling team."
Herbert, from Wexford, Pa., is among a group of talented young freestyle wrestlers in the U.S. Many of those wrestlers will be in contention to make the 2009 U.S. World Team.
"We're not that far away from being one of the top teams in the World again," he said. "We've got some real good young wrestlers in the U.S. - guys like Brent Metcalf - who are very hungry. We have the desire to be the best in the World."
His college coach believes Herbert can reach that level.
"Jake can definitely win a gold medal at the World and Olympic level if he stays focused, stays healthy and continues to improve. I know he can do it," Cysewski said. "He's one of those rare guys - he says he's going to do something and then he goes out and does it. His potential is unbelievable. He has the right attitude and the right work ethic to win the Olympics. I have no doubt about that.
