Northwestern Coach Pariano Blog

[lauden swain]

Northwestern wrestling head coach Drew Pariano and associate head coach Tim Cysewski will be in London for the final days of the 2012 Summer Olympics, supporting NU graduate Jake Herbert as he competes in the 84 kg freestyle competition. The two are in London from Aug. 8-15 and Pariano will provide a number of blogs leading up to Jake's competition on Aug. 11 and while the coaching staff is in London. Pariano's second entry previews the competition at 84 kg and explains what Jake needs to do to medal.

I believe that the 2012 competition will be unlike any other when it comes to top-level performances. It's not rare to see former World and Olympic Champions wrestle in the first round because FILA rules (the governing body of international wrestling) state that they do not seed the top wrestlers based on past World and Olympic results. For example, Jake will not receive preferential seeding consideration based on his silver medal at the 2009 World Championships. It's what we call a blind draw.

TheMat.com is breaking down each weight class periodically and the 84 kg weight has 19 competitors.

Jake has competed against numerous wrestlers in the qualified field. He went head-to-head with 2009 World Champion Zaurbek Sohkiev (Uzbekistan) and has a win over the most recent World Champion, Sharif Sharifov (Azerbaijan). Ibragim Aldatov (Ukraine), Dato Marsagishvili (Georgia) and Albert Saritov (Russia) are all world medalists and represent a veteran group at 84 kg. Jake will not know his draw until the night before competition.

Unlike the World Championships, each nation must qualify the Olympic weight class through placement at the 2011 World Championships (top 5) or through international events such as the Pan-American Championships. Advancement in each individual bracket is based on winning the best-of-three periods and scoring per period does not carry over; unless there is a fall, which immediately ends the match.

All athletes who make it to the semifinal round are guaranteed a medal match, meaning that those who are defeated in the semi's will wrestle for bronze. Each weight has the gold, silver and two bronze medals up for grabs. Ironically, there are also two fifth-place finishers per weight. You can stay alive in the consolation bracket if the wrestler who defeated you makes it all the way to the gold-medal match. If this happens, you are entered in the repechage; and you have the ability to wrestle back to face one of the semifinal losers for a bronze medal.

Past Entries:

Pariano's Blog No. 1: How It All Began

[Triton College Wrestling]

Lauden,

Will your many world travels be taking you to London this coming week?

TCW

ps - Did we see you riding a bicycle north up Thatcher Ave. at North Ave. sometime back in June?

[Wildcat WC]

I found this on Facebook -

Jake Herbert Watch Party in Evanston, August 11th - 7 a.m.

The Globe at the Hilton-Orrington Hotel (1710 Orrington Ave.) will broadcast Jake Herbert's matches LIVE on Saturday, Aug. 11. We will have the webstream set up to a TV at The Globe and would love for you to join us as we watch Jake go for gold!

The Globe opens at 6:30 a.m. and 84 kg freestyle competition begins at 7 a.m.

[lauden swain]

Originally Posted by Triton College Wrestling

Lauden,

Will your many world travels be taking you to London this coming week?

TCW

ps - Did we see you riding a bicycle north up Thatcher Ave. at North Ave. sometime back in June?

No London, but will be at Junior World Championships - Thailand in September.

Yes probably me on Thatcher. Since too old for running a lot of miles, been logging miles on the bike. I ride to Indiana and back once a week. Get a lot of the same exercise euphoria as running but can't daydream nearly as much because of hazards. :-)

Will probably be at the Orrington to watch Jake Herbert In his quest.

Lauden