June 10, 2008

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's Jake Herbert will find out his Olympic fate this weekend at the United States Olympic Team Trials held June 13-15 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Herbert -- one of 12 entries at 185 lbs. -- must win six matches in one day to qualify.

"This is the biggest weekend of my wrestling career," Herbert said. "I took the year off with hopes of earning an Olympic berth."

Mo Lawal is the favorite at 185 pounds, as he has earned an automatic berth in the finals. The other 11 will compete in a single-elimination bracket to determine who will face Lawal in a best-of-three final.

Herbert is seeded eighth and opens against ninth-seeded Chris Pendleton. If he advances, he would face top-seeded Andy Hrovat, who was a member of the 2006 U.S. Team at the World Championships. Draws are subject to change, and should Herbert move up in seeds, he would face Michigan wrestler Tyrel Todd.

The Wildcat would need to win four matches in the morning session and then beat Lawal in a best-of-three final. With his place in the finals secured, Lawal will have the enormous advantage of weighing in before the event and will have all day to prepare for his finals opponent.

Herbert qualified for the Olympic Team Trials by winning his weight class at the University National Freestyle Championships in April. He was also named Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.

Herbert also competed in the U.S. Nationals, which took place in Las Vegas, April 23-26, but did not place.

Herbert rebounded with a title at the University World Team Trials in Colorado Springs, May 23-24. The title earns him a berth in the World University Championships in Thessaloniki, Greece, from July 9-13.

For more information, visit the www.themat.com.