It's been an incredible year for Jake Herbert ... and it's only reached the midpoint of 2009.

Herbert, a graduate of North Allegheny High School, won his second NCAA Division I wrestling title in March and was awarded the Hodge Trophy, collegiate wrestling's equivalant of football's Heisman Trophy. He was also voted to the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic Team after earning a degree in communications at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.

But that's only the beginning.

In April, Herbert won the 84-kilogram [185-pound] weight class at the U.S. Open Freestyle Championships, which took place April 13 at Las Vegas. That earned him an automatic berth in the finals of the World Team Trials, which took place May 31 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Herbert faced former Bloomsburg University wrestler Bryce Hasseman in the best-of-three final at the team trials and came away with the title. The victory earned Herbert a trip to Denmark for the World Team Championships, scheduled for Sept. 21-27.

"This isn't just the result of three months of training, it's years and years and years of hard work," said Herbert, who resumed his freestyle training after the college season. "Everyone out on the mat knows that, but it's hard for people on the outside to see all that goes into winning an event like the World Team Trials. It's just unbelievable."

But that still isn't the whole story.

Earlier this month, Herbert was the 2009 recipient of the prestigious Jesse Owens Athlete of the Year Award, which recognizes him as the top male athlete in all sports in the Big Ten Conference.

"This is such an honor and one that I never really imagined I could win," Herbert said. "It's just great to be able to represent Northwestern wrestling and the entire athletic department so that everybody in the Big Ten and the rest of the country knows the amazing things that go on at this school."

Herbert was one of 11 wrestlers entered in the World Team Trials at 84 kilograms. He sat while Hasseman advanced through the preliminary rounds to earn the other title berth.

"I've been in that position before [having to battle through the preliminary round] and it's very tough to win a best-of-three in the finals when you've been wrestling all day," Herbert said. "That's why it's so important to win the U.S. Open and earn the top seed."

Herbert opened the best-of-three final with a 0-1, 3-2, 1-0 victory, but dropped a 0-1, 1-0, 3-1 decisions in the second match. He clinched the title with a 1-0, 1-1 win in the deciding bout. In freestyle wrestling scoring, each period begins with a score of 0-0 and a wrestler must win two of three periods to win the match.

"This was the fourth time I wrestled in the team trials," Herbert said. "I competed in the World Team Trials in 2005 and 2007, with fifth place as my best finish. I also wrestled in the Olympic Team Trials in 2008 and had a disappointing 1-2 finish. That made me even more determined to win this time."

Herbert, a McCandless resident, finished his college career as Northwestern's leader in winning percentage (.973) and second in career wins with a 149-4 career record. He won 2007 and 2009 NCAA titles at 184 pounds while also becoming Northwestern's first three-time Big Ten champion.

Herbert sat out the 2007-08 collegiate season to prepare for the Olympic Team Trials.

"I really enjoyed my year away from college wrestling," Herbert said. "I did a lot of traveling. I trained in the Ukraine, Belarus, Canada and at the Olympic Training Center. I didn't reach my goal of qualifying for the Olympics, but I did benefit from all the training."

Herbert will spend the next few months splitting his training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and at Northwestern. He will also join the other six members of the USA Freestyle Team in a trip to Azerbaijan for training and competition.

"Azerbaijan is south of Russia, north of Iran, East of Armenia, and West of the Caspian Sea," Herbert said. "We're leaving July 5 and will be there until July 20. I'm not worried about spending time in that part of the world, because wrestling is a national pastime for them. They treat wrestlers like we treat football and baseball players in the United States. My mom is more worried than I am."

Herbert can't wait for his trip to Denmark for the World Championships.

"My mom, dad, and grandma will be joining me in Denmark," Herbert said. "I expect nothing less than to win the gold. You don't train to place or to just make the team.

"I have wrestled in thousands of tournaments and won hundreds of them. This is another tournament to win. I am ready. I don't feel anybody will be able to take this from me."