MADISON, Wis. — The Cliff Keen Wrestling Club’s Jake Herbert swept the best-of-three finals at 86 kg/189 pounds, defeating 2014 World Team member Ed Ruth by a combined score of 23-5, at the U.S. World Team Trials freestyle on Saturday evening (June 13) at the Alliant Energy Center. With the finals sweep, Herbert makes his third U.S. world team and reclaims the nation’s top spot three years after his 2012 London Games.
“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs and I’ve had some surgeries after the Olympics,” Herbert said. “You only have a short window to win the Olympics and I wanted to take advantage of this last opportunity.”
Herbert previously made World Teams in 2009 and 2010 before making the 2012 Olympic Team. He had been away from competition since the London Olympics before returning to competition this season.
Herbert had beaten Ruth 13-11 en route to winning the U.S. Open last month in Las Vegas. He was just 4-4 this season before the Open.
“Ed is very talented and I wanted to wrestle him here,” Herbert said. “I’m a little bit bigger and stronger than him, and I came out and wrestled aggressively and got to his legs. I was surprised how easy I scored on him.”
Champions at the Trials advance to September’s World Championships in Las Vegas.
CKWC RESULTS
Jake Herbert, 86kg
Jake Herbert def. Ed Ruth (Sunkist Kids), 2 matches to 0
Herbert won by tech. fall over Ruth, 13-3
Herbert dec. Ruth, 10-2
