Herbert Makes Epic Return at US Senior Open as PA Earns 6 Medals

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Since making the 2012 United States Olympic Team former PIAA State Champion Jake Herbert (North Allegheny) has been mulling his future. The 2x NCAA National Champion contemplated a career in MMA, returning to the Senior Freestyle circuit, or packing it all in to utilize his Northwestern education in the professional business world.

After the London Games Herbert underwent shoulder surgery and spent time recovering while he pondered his next move. In October 2014 Jake Herbert officially returned to the mats appearing in the Intercontinental Cup in Khasavyurt, Russia. It was the first time Herbert competed since the 2012 London Olympics and he finished with a (2-2) record placing fifth. In January 2015 Herbert appeared in two additional International Senior Freestyle events. The first was in Krasnoyarsk, Russia at the Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix where he went (1-1) at 86 kg. The next week Herbert competed in the Grand Prix of Paris where he again had a (1-1) record.

The next competition Herbert found himself in was the Flo Premier League V event in March 2015. There Jake took on fellow Pennsylvania native Ed Ruth (Susquehanna Township) a former 3x NCAA National Champion for Penn State. After the first period Herbert was in control of Ruth (6-2) and continued it into the second period going up (8-2). That’s when Ed Ruth, a World Team member, stunned the crowd with a wild scramble that ended up with Herbert on his back and Ruth picking up a fall.

Despite the defeat Herbert was still clearly in the mix at 86 kg and his training continued. Then came the ASICS U.S. Open which would be the biggest test for Herbert before the World Team Trials this summer. Despite having won the US Open three times in his career Herbert entered 86 kg. seeded sixth. In the first round Herbert earned a fall over Matt Atwood in (1:29) before meeting 2015 NCAA Runner-up and Pennsylvania native Nathaniel Brown (Lewisburg Area). Herbert defeated the Lehigh redshirt junior (3-1) and advanced into the quarterfinals. In the quarters Jake faced the fifth seed Richard Perry and continued on with a fall in (4:29). The win set up a showdown with #1 seed Ed Ruth in the Championship semifinals.

As expected the match was a wild one. Herbert stormed out to a (13-4) lead controlling Ruth’s offensive pressure. Ruth was himself able to come back in the final period picking up seven unanswered points but Herbert hung on to win (13-11). The win placed sixth seed Herbert into the Championship finals against yet another Pennsylvania wrestler and former World Team member Keith Gavin (Lackawanna Trail). The two have competed numerous times in the past and are good friends off the mat. Gavin, a NCAA National Champion for Pittsburgh, has been the front runner at 86 kg for the last two years winning the U.S.Open in 2013 and 2014. Herbert ended his sensational weekend with a (5-2) decision over Gavin in the finals. Herbert hit a four point move in the first period and grinned out the rest of the match to capture his fourth career U.S. Open Championship and his first since 2011.

Next for the 30 year old Herbert is the World Team Trials on June 12-14 in Madison, Wisconsin. With the U.S. Open Championship Jake is now automatically in the World Team Trial finals wrestle off where he will meet the World Team Trial challenge winner.

Herbert’s former 2012 Olympian teammate and Olympic Bronze Medalist Coleman Scott (Waynesburg Central) won six straight matches in the consolation round to finish in third place at 61 kg. Scott was seeded #1 but was upset in the second round by Ali Naser of California (6-4). It was a tough test for Scott having lost early and coming all the way back to place third.

Fellow Oklahoma State Cowboy alumni Jordan Oliver (Easton Area) was unable to get past his Iowa rival Brent Metcalf falling (2-1) in the Championship finals. Oliver matched his highest finish at the U.S. Open in 2013 by finishing as the runner-up and did come away with an impressive win over former U.S. Open Champion Kellen Russell (Michigan) in the semifinals (4-3).

Ed Ruth bounced back from the defeat to Herbert and finished in third place with relative ease. The fourth Pennsylvania medalist at 86 kg. was Nathaniel Brown (Lewisburg Area) who finished in eighth place.

 

Mens FS – FS 57 KG
1st Place – Anthony Ramos of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
2nd Place – Andrew Hochstrasser of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
3rd Place – Nick Simmons of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
4th Place – Joe Colon of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
5th Place – Matt McDonough of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
6th Place – Dan Mitcheff of NYAC
7th Place – Tyler Graff of NYAC
8th Place – Angel Escobedo of NYAC
1st Place Match – Anthony Ramos (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) won by decision over Andrew Hochstrasser (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) (Dec 7-3)
3rd Place Match – Nick Simmons (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Joe Colon (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) (TF 10-0)
5th Place Match – Matt McDonough (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) won by fall over Dan Mitcheff (NYAC) (Fall 0:00)
7th Place Match – Tyler Graff (NYAC) won by injury default over Angel Escobedo (NYAC) (Inj. 0:00)

 

Mens FS – FS 61 KG
1st Place – Reece Humphrey of NYAC
2nd Place – Kendric Maple of NYAC
3rd Place – Coleman Scott of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
4th Place – Daniel Dennis of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
5th Place – Jon Morrison of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
6th Place – Alan Waters of Missouri Wrestling Foundation
7th Place – Darrius Little of Wolfpack Wrestling Club
8th Place – Kyle Hutter of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club

 

1st Place Match – Reece Humphrey (NYAC) won by decision over Kendric Maple (NYAC) (Dec 7-6)
3rd Place Match – Coleman Scott (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Daniel Dennis (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) (TF 11-1)
5th Place Match – Jon Morrison (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Alan Waters (Missouri Wrestling Foundation) (TF 11-0)
7th Place Match – Darrius Little (Wolfpack Wrestling Club) won by decision over Kyle Hutter (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) (Dec 6-3)

 

Mens FS – FS 65 KG
1st Place – Brent Metcalf of NYAC
2nd Place – Jordan Oliver of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
3rd Place – Kellen Russell of NYAC
4th Place – Logan Stieber of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
5th Place – Frank Molinaro of NLWC
6th Place – Jason Chamberlain of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
7th Place – Jayson Ness of Minnesota Storm
8th Place – Robbie Mathers of Sunkist
1st Place Match – Brent Metcalf (NYAC) won by decision over Jordan Oliver (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) (Dec 2-1)
3rd Place Match – Kellen Russell (NYAC) won by tech fall over Logan Stieber (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) (TF 12-2)
5th Place Match – Frank Molinaro (NLWC) won by decision over Jason Chamberlain (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) (Dec 4-1)
7th Place Match – Jayson Ness (Minnesota Storm) won by tech fall over Robbie Mathers (Sunkist) (TF 10-0)

 

Mens FS – FS 70 KG
1st Place – Nick Marable of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
2nd Place – Dustin Schlatter of Minnesota Storm
3rd Place – James Green of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
4th Place – Kevin LeValley of Minnesota Storm
5th Place – Derek St. John of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
6th Place – Moza Fay of Army (WCAP)
7th Place – Adam Hall of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
8th Place – Vladyslav Dombrovskiy of Army (WCAP)
1st Place Match – Nick Marable (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by decision over Dustin Schlatter (Minnesota Storm) (Dec 4-2)
3rd Place Match – James Green (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Kevin LeValley (Minnesota Storm) (TF 13-0)
5th Place Match – Derek St. John (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) won by decision over Moza Fay (Army (WCAP)) (Dec 11-6)
7th Place Match – Adam Hall (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) won by decision over Vladyslav Dombrovskiy (Army (WCAP)) (Dec 7-2)

 

Mens FS – FS 74 KG
1st Place – David Taylor of NLWC
2nd Place – Andrew Howe of NYAC
3rd Place – Anthony Valencia of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
4th Place – Tyler Caldwell of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
5th Place – Colton Sponseller of NYAC
6th Place – Quinton Godley of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
7th Place – Nestor Taffur of Princeton Amateur Wrestling So
8th Place – Dan Vallimont of NYAC
1st Place Match – David Taylor (NLWC) won by decision over Andrew Howe (NYAC) (Dec 2-0)
3rd Place Match – Anthony Valencia (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Tyler Caldwell (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) (TF 10-0)
5th Place Match – Colton Sponseller (NYAC) won by decision over Quinton Godley (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) (Dec 6-1)
7th Place Match – Nestor Taffur (Princeton Amateur Wrestling So) won by injury default over Dan Vallimont (NYAC) (Inj. 0:00)

 

Mens FS – FS 86 KG
1st Place – Jake Herbert of NYAC
2nd Place – Keith Gavin of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
3rd Place – Edward Ruth of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
4th Place – Deron Winn of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
5th Place – Jon Reader of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
6th Place – Ryan Loder of Panther Wrestling Club RTC
7th Place – Richard Perry of NYAC
8th Place – Nathaniel Brown of Lehigh Valley Athletic Club
1st Place Match – Jake Herbert (NYAC) won by decision over Keith Gavin (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) (Dec 5-2)
3rd Place Match – Edward Ruth (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Deron Winn (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) (TF 12-2)
5th Place Match – Jon Reader (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Ryan Loder (Panther Wrestling Club RTC) (TF 10-0)
7th Place Match – Richard Perry (NYAC) won by decision over Nathaniel Brown (Lehigh Valley Athletic Club) (Dec 10-9)

 

Mens FS – FS 97 KG
1st Place – Kyle Snyder of Titan Mercury/Ohio RTC
2nd Place – Jacob Varner of NLWC
3rd Place – Jd Bergman of NYAC
4th Place – J`den Cox of Missouri Wrestling Foundation
5th Place – Cayle Byers of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
6th Place – Wynn Michalak of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
7th Place – Enock Francois of NYAC
8th Place – Micah Burak of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
1st Place Match – Kyle Snyder (Titan Mercury/Ohio RTC) won by decision over Jacob Varner (NLWC) (Dec 2-1)
3rd Place Match – Jd Bergman (NYAC) won by injury default over J`den Cox (Missouri Wrestling Foundation) (Inj. 0:00)
5th Place Match – Cayle Byers (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) won by decision over Wynn Michalak (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) (Dec 5-4)
7th Place Match – Enock Francois (NYAC) won by decision over Micah Burak (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) (Dec 4-1)

 

Mens FS – FS 125 KG
1st Place – Tervel Dlagnev of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
2nd Place – Zach Rey of Lehigh Valley Athletic Club
3rd Place – Dom Bradley of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club
4th Place – Nick Gwiazdowski of NYAC
5th Place – Tyrell Fortune of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
6th Place – Chadwick Hanke of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club
7th Place – Eric Thompson of NLWC
8th Place – Anthony Nelson of Minnesota Storm
1st Place Match – Tervel Dlagnev (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by decision over Zach Rey (Lehigh Valley Athletic Club) (Dec 3-1)
3rd Place Match – Dom Bradley (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by forfeit over Nick Gwiazdowski (NYAC) (FF)
5th Place Match – Tyrell Fortune (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) won by decision over Chadwick Hanke (Titan Mercury Wrestling Club) (Dec 4-1)
7th Place Match – Eric Thompson (NLWC) won by injury default over Anthony Nelson (Minnesota Storm) (Inj. 0:00

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