By Kyle Klingman, W.I.N. Staff Writer

The match between top-seeded Ben Askren and second-seeded Jake Herbert during the 2006 NCAA finals at 174 pounds was the most highly-anticipated match-up of the year. Neither had faced each other during the regular season and there were several people who predicted that the then-sophomore from Northwestern would beat the junior from Missouri.

The result of that match, however, was not what many expected. From the beginning, Herbert went after Askren and, in typical fashion, Askren won with his scrambling ability. The final score of 14-2 certainly wasn’t an indication of how good Herbert was.

This year Herbert opted to wrestle up a weight at 184 pounds and the Wildcat junior entered the tournament as the top seed with a perfect 27-0 record and had won matches over the No. 2, 3 and 4 seeds during the regular season. Entering his match against Iowa State’s Jake Varner for the 184-pound NCAA title, Herbert had won four matches by a major decision in the tournament in Auburn Hills, Mich.

But his finals opponent was a familiar foe. The last time the two had met was at the 2005 freestyle FILA Junior World Team Trials. Varner won consecutive matches in the best-of-three series, including a five-point throw by Varner.

“That was part of my revenge,” said Herbert of the two losses to Varner. “He’s a tough kid, he’s a good kid and he has Cael Sanderson in the room. I knew he was going to be hard to beat.”

Just minutes prior to his finals match, the Wexford, Pa., native was loose and talkative though. Known for his outgoing and bubbly personality, Herbert was providing expert commentary on the 174-pound match between Ben Askren and Keith Gavin of Pittsburgh.

Eventually, it was Herbert’s turn in The Palace of Auburn Hills, and the junior won a 6-1 decision on two takedowns, an escape and riding time. Herbert won the coveted NCAA title that had eluded him the past two seasons.

“This (win) is never going to erase (the Askren) loss,” said Herbert. “I can never be a three-time national champion. All I can look forward to is keeping my streak alive and going undefeated and winning it again next year for the Wildcats.

“My freshman year, I lost one match (to Stanford’s Imad Kharbush at the 2005 NCAA tournament) and came back and got third. Last year, I had my streak going into the finals and kind of blew it there. This year I just kept everything going from the first match of the season to the last match, just controlling the pace. I only gave up three takedowns the entire year and one of my goals was to go through the whole year without giving up an offensive point.”

Now that his first NCAA title is secure, Herbert will face a difficult decision on what to do next year. After his NCAA final, Herbert ran some wind sprints and performed some drills to prepare himself for the freestyle portion of the U.S. Nationals, April 4-7, in Las Vegas. His wrestling aspirations include World and Olympic medals.

“I have to focus on the U.S. Open,” said Herbert. “I have to make my name. I have a lot of tough competition for making the World Team this year and that’s the next thing on my plate.”

However, his aspiration of making an Olympic team may take the Wildcat junior away from collegiate competition next season. There is a good chance that Herbert will take an Olympic redshirt in 2008 and finish his final year of collegiate wrestling competition in 2009.

Either way, Jake Herbert is ready to be the next big thing in wrestling. Now that Ben Askren and Johny Hendricks are gone, Herbert wants the role of college wrestling’s top dog.

“I like the attention but people don’t seem to hype me up too much,” said Herbert.

That, too, can change.

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