Fulp-Allen, Mocco and Herbert delivers strong performances for the NYAC to win titles at Dave Schultz Memorial International

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Jake Herbert took an Olympic redshirt for one main reason.

He wants to win an Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling.

Herbert proved he is serious about his lofty aspirations, knocking off 2007 World seventh-place finisher Davyd Bichinashvili of Germany in the finals of the Dave Schultz Memorial International.

Herbert, a 2007 NCAA champion for Northwestern who is taking an Olympic redshirt this season, outlasted Bichinashvili 7-0, 1-4, 4-3 in the finals at 84 kg/185 lbs. on Sunday night at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

“It was a big win,” Herbert said. “(Bichinashvili) beat a lot of tough guys. There were a lot of good Americans in this weight and I was glad to come out on top. Really, it’s more training for the Olympics. That’s more important than just getting this win.”

Herbert (Wexford, Pa./New York AC) won an action-packed third period that featured a pair of wild scrambles in a physical bout. A final sequence of the match was reviewed on videotape, but Herbert maintained his 4-3 edge to claim the win.

“I stepped it up mentally after I kind of let down in the second period,” Herbert said. “I was getting a little tired but so was he. I just tried to stay aggressive.”

Steve Mocco (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) capped a dominating performance in freestyle by dismantling Markus Hamann of Germany 1-0, 5-1 in the finals at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Mocco was named Outstanding Wrestler in freestyle.

Mocco was in Hamann’s face from start to finish and wore his opponent down with an aggressive attack. Mocco is looking to make the Olympic Team this year after being runner-up the last three years at the U.S. World Team Trials.

American Sara Fulp-Allen (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) won a loaded women’s freestyle class at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., coming from behind to score a third-period pin over Clarissa Chun in the finals. Fulp-Allen was named Outstanding Wrestler in women’s freestyle.

“It was definitely an exciting day,” Fulp-Allen said. “I took a peek at the brackets, and I felt I had a good draw. I had to wrestle the Polish girl and I had wrestled her in practice a few times. I felt confident. I knew I had to be patient. When I won that, and after Stephanie (Murata) lost, I felt I could win it all.”