MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — The Cliff Keen Wrestling Club’s Jake Herbert claimed the silver medal at 86kg/189 pounds at the 2015 Pan American Games on Saturday (July 18) at Hershey Centre. All six members of the U.S. men’s freestyle team medaled at the Pan Am competition.
Herbert fell to Cuba’s Reineris Salas, 12-7, in a wild, high-scoring 86kg final. Salas, a two-time world silver medalist in 2013 and 2014, converted on three takedowns, including a pair of four-pointers, to build a sizable lead. He held a 5-3 advantage after the first period, scoring a four-point takedown out of a flurry, but Herbert quickly reversed position and earned exposure to narrow the deficit.
Salas hit two double-leg takedowns, including a four-pointer, in the first minute of the of the second period to extend his lead to 11-3 and, after a wild scramble produced no points midway through the frame, was in deep on another late when Herbert checklocked him twice for two sets of exposure points. Herbert was reversed going for another as Salas finished the match on top.
Herbert earned technical falls in both of his preliminary matches, defeating Argentina’s Ricardo Baez, 11-0, in the quarterfinals and Puerto Rico’s Jaime Espinal, 10-0, in the semifinals.
Herbert converted on five takedown opportunities against Espinal, the 2012 Olympic silver medalist, scoring twice in the first period before adding three more takedowns in the second. He finished the match on a blast double with a minute remaining.
CKWC RESULTS
Jake Herbert, 86kg
Quarterfinals – tech. fall Ricardo Baez (Argentina), 11-0
Semifinals – tech. fall Jaime Espinal (Puerto Rico), 10-0
Final – dec. by Reineris Salas (Cuba), 12-7
