Jake Herbert Wins Silver Medal At Pan-Am Games

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Olympian and Pennsylvania’s very own Jake Herbert earned his second career Pan-American Medal on Saturday night in Toronto.

Four years ago at the 2011 Pan-Am Games Herbert won a gold medal at 84 kg. and later represented Team USA at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Herbert’s return to National and International competition in 2015 has been nothing short of amazing. After winning the U.S. Open and the World Team Trials Herbert again made strides on Saturday advancing into the Pan-Am Games gold medal match.

The 30 year old veteran defeated 19 year old Ricardo Baez of Argentina by great superiority racking up 9 unanswered points in the first period. After scoring on a takedown to start the second Herbert closed out the quarterfinal match 11-0. In the semifinals Herbert faced 2012 Olympic Silver Medalist Jamie Espinal of Puerto Rico. The two did not meet three years ago in London but Herbert got some revenge for the controversial calls he suffered at the 2012 Olympic Games. Again Herbert jumped out ahead ending the first period up (4-0). In the second period Jake continued the pressure picking up 6 more points to win by great superiority (10-0) over the Olympic Silver Medalist.

Herbert’s semifinal victory placed him into his second straight Pan-American Games finals where he would face familiar foe Reineris Salas of Cuba. The two met five years ago at the 2010 World Championships in Russia with Salas defeating Herbert. More recently Salas and Herbert battled in Times Square at the Beat The Streets May 2015 Salsa in the Square. There Salas again downed Herbert (8-4). Entering the Pan-American Games Salas was ranked #3 in the World by UWW’s most recent rankings while Herbert was unranked. In the Pan-Am Finals at 86 kg the 28 year old Cuban again countered Herbert’s attacks and came out on top (12-7) over the American.

In the first period Salas earned a push out point then hit a standing arm throw to earn 4 points. Herbert countered the throw earning himself 3 points. Entering the second period Salas held a (5-3) lead but the Cuban got his offense going quickly. Salas again scored a 4 point move and hit a blast double to add to his total. Herbert never stopped attacking but it was Salas who came out on top (12-7) to earn the Pan-Am Gold Medal.

Despite not reaching his goal of Gold – Herbert showed he is not only getting back to form but he is contending with the World’s best.

You don’t win silver you lose gold. 46 days till I get another shot at winning gold.

— Jake Herbert (@Jakeherbert84) July 19, 2015

Jake Herbert will be looking to improve on his 2009 World Silver Medal in September at the 2015 UWW World Championship in Las Vegas.

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