At around noon last Sunday in Rolling Meadows, as preachers finished their sermons and Super Bowl parties were getting started, 20 of the best college wrestlers in the country were warming up inside a small gymnasium.
“And for Northwestern,” the announcer started, his voice getting louder, “an all-American, undefeated at 24 and 0, number two in the nation, sophomore Jake Herbert!” Herbert stepped forward, looked Reynolds in the eye and shook his hand, then turned and low-fived two teammates.
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
Northwestern senior Daniel Quintela lost the 133 match, while Herbert jumped rope. Team score: 6-3, Northwestern. With Velez still running, sixth-ranked Ryan Lang–another promising sophomore and a four-time Ohio state champion–hung on to win the 141 match 2-1, giving Northwestern a six-point lead. During the 149 match Herbert got his left hand wrapped (he’s wrestled with a knuckle injury most of the season) and Velez puked into a trash can. Freshman backup Marty Gould wrestled courageously, losing by a point, making the score 9-6, Northwestern.
In the second period, with the score 6-2, Herbert added reversals. Reynolds seemed sluggish and the crowd grew agitated, shouting “Stall! Stall!” Between periods, with the score 10-4, Pariano motioned Herbert over. “We’re breaking him,” he said. Herbert responded between breaths, “He’s not broken yet.”
At 197 senior Matt Delguyd, ranked 12th and the only Big Ten title winner on the team, narrowly lost to Illinois’ 8th-ranked Tyrone Byrd, evening the score at 16 with one match to go. The last time a Northwestern meet was this close this late was last season’s dual against Iowa, when Herbert sparked a comeback that led to the Wildcats’ first victory over the Hawkeyes in 37 years.
