March 31, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's Jake Herbert has already reached rarefied air in wrestling since becoming a repeat NCAA champion, four-time All-American, three-time Big Ten titlist and bronze medal winner at the World University Games. On Tuesday, Herbert became the 13th individual to assume the title of Hodge Trophy recipient after taking home college wrestling's equivalent of the Heisman Trophy.
The award, created in 1995 and named in honor of Danny Hodge, Oklahoma State's three-time NCAA champion in the mid-1950s, is given annually to the wrestler who ranks highest in seven key criteria: overall record, number of pins, dominance, past credentials, quality of competition, sportsmanship and heart. It is presented by WIN Magazine and the Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum, in Waterloo, Iowa.
"The Hodge is something I've had my eye on my whole career and it's just a great honor to be able say I achieved it," said Herbert, who went 34-0 in his senior season to extend his collegiate winning streak to 66 matches. "To be recognized not just at my weight class but out of all weight classes takes years of work and practice and now I can say it all paid off. It's great to share this with my family, coaches and teammates."
"Two things really impress me about Jake," said WIN publisher Bryan Van Kley. "First, he really goes out every match to put a lot of points on the scoreboard or get a pin. That's what most fans want to see. When you take into consideration that he's doing that at 184, that's impressive. He's a very worthy recipient of the award."
Herbert's aggressive style of wrestling this season was evident right from the start when he pinned Michigan's Hunter Collins in 14 seconds in his first match back at NU after his Olympic redshirt year in 2007-08. It was the first of 15 pins he collected to go along with nine major decisions and four tech falls on the year.
His offensive mindset also was on display throughout his postseason runs to Big Ten and NCAA titles. At the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, Herbert continually went after his opponent right from the opening whistle, scoring his first takedown in the first 15 seconds of each of his five matches on his way to the title.
Herbert is a native of Wexford, Pa., where he was a three-time Pennsylvania state champion wrestling for North Allegheny High School. He finished his college career as Northwestern's leader in winning percentage (.973) and second in career wins with a 149-4 career record.
In addition, his four-year varsity winning percentage of .971 (135-4) ranks fifth among all collegiate wrestlers since the 1974-75 season.
"Jake has been the face of Northwestern wrestling for the last five years," said Tim Cysewski, Northwestern head coach. "He heads the list of guys that have made a mark on our program.
Herbert is just the fourth representative from the Big Ten to take home the award, following Penn State's Kerry McCoy in 1997 and a pair of Iowa Hawkeyes in Mark Ironside (1998) and Brent Metcalf (2008). Two wrestlers--Iowa State's Cael Sanderson (2000-02) and Missouri's Ben Askren (2006-07)--won multiple Hodge Trophies in their careers.
Herbert officially will receive the trophy at Northwestern's annual team banquet on Saturday, April 18.
Past Hodge Trophy Recipients
2008 Brent Metcalf--Iowa
2007 Ben Askren--Missouri
2006 Ben Askren--Missouri
2005 Steve Mocco--Oklahoma State
2004 Emmett Willson--Montana St.-Northern
2003 Eric Larkin--Arizona State
2002 Cael Sanderson--Iowa State
2001 Cael Sanderson--Iowa State
Nick Ackerman--Simpson College
2000 Cael Sanderson--Iowa State
1999 Stephen Neal--Cal State-Bakersfield
1998 Mark Ironside--Iowa
1997 Kerry McCoy--Penn State
1996 Les Gutches--Oregon State
1995 T.J. Jaworsky--North Carolina