My ballot (at this point) for InterMat Wrestler of the Year

As we head into the final two months of the college wrestling season, there is much talk about who is the best college wrestler in the nation this season. The college wrestler who is deemed the best after the NCAA Division I Championships conclude in St. Louis will be named the InterMat Wrestler of the Year by InterMat and/or be presented the Dan Hodge Trophy by WIN Magazine.

In the case of Rev Wrestler of the Year award, RevWrestling.com writers and executives vote with no preset criteria. Each RevWrestling.com voter is asked to interpret "best college wrestler" as he sees fit. Each voter is asked to select five wrestlers and rank them in order. The votes are then tallied. WIN Magazine, on the other hand, awards the Dan Hodge Trophy based on preset criteria that takes into account a wrestler's record, number of pins, dominance on the mat, past credentials, quality of competition, sportsmanship/citizenship, and heart.

Ever since the Rev Wrestler of the Year started in 2006, the winners of the award have matched the winners of the Dan Hodge Trophy. In 2006 and 2007, Ben Askren of Missouri took home both awards. Last season, Brent Metcalf of Iowa won both awards.

Will the same wrestler win both awards this season? That remains to be seen. There is still a lot of wrestling left this season. But since I'll be casting my vote for Rev Wrestler of the Year in two months, I'll share with you what my ballot would look like if the season ended today.

5. Jared Rosholt (Oklahoma State)

Jared Rosholt (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)

While many believe the heavyweight division this season in college wrestling is one of the weakest in recent memory, Rosholt, who placed fourth at the NCAAs last season, has clearly separated himself from the rest of the pack. He's 24-0 this season and has scored bonus points in 15 of those matches. Rosholt defeated No. 2-ranked Mark Ellis of Missouri, 4-1, on November 16. Rosholt and Ellis will likely meet again on February 7 when the Cowboys host the Tigers on February 7. Oklahoma State has produced 10 NCAA heavyweight champions in its storied history, which is more than any other program. Can Rosholt become Oklahoma State's 11th NCAA heavyweight champion? We shall see.

4. Jake Varner (Iowa State)
I have to admit, I'm one of those people who had grown frustrated watching Varner win narrowly over inferior opponents the last few seasons. No, not because I'm an Iowa State alum (which I am) … but because Varner has been more than capable of getting bonus points in his several of his matches, but didn't seem very interested in putting a lot of points on the scoreboard. Clearly something has changed with Varner this season. Maybe he was cutting too much weight at 184 and the move up to 197 is giving him more energy. Or maybe his coach, Cael Sanderson, who used to light up college scoreboards on a regular basis, has instilled a new attitude in Varner. He's 18-1 this season and has scored bonus points in 16 of his 19 matches. His lone loss came to Dallas Herbst of Wisconsin, 2-1, at the Midlands. Herbst has proven to be a tough matchup for Varner as he has not only beaten him this season, but wrestled him to a 4-0 loss in November 21.

3. Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska)

Jordan Burroughs

Burroughs, who moved up from 149 to 157, has had a phenomenal season wrestling in the toughest weight class in the country. He's 19-0 this season. He has wins this season over NCAA champions Dustin Schlatter of Minnesota and Jordan Leen of Cornell. In addition to those victories, he has beaten All-Americans J.P. O'Connor of Harvard, Dan Vallimont of Penn State, and Cyler Sanderson of Iowa State. He has yet to face Gregor Gillespie of Edinboro or Mike Poeta of Illinois, but clearly Burroughs has proven that he at least belongs in the discussion for Rev Wrestler of the Year at this point in the season.

2. Brent Metcalf (Iowa)
The Hawkeye junior, who won the Rev Wrestler of the Year award last season, has been … well … Brent Metcalf this season. He has dominated his competition. If Metcalf's technical fall victory over North Carolina State's Darrion Caldwell, the only wrestler who has beaten him in his college career, at the NWCA All-Star Classic, didn't impress you, then his season statistics should. 21-0. Eight pins. Seven technical falls. Three major decisions. Three decisions. Interestingly, aside from his victories over No. 3 Caldwell and No. 5 Kyle Ruschell of Wisconsin, Metcalf has yet to face a wrestler ranked in the top 10. If he's able to dominate top 10 opponents, like he did all of last season, he'll be one of the frontrunners. If it weren't for the No. 1 guy my ballot (see below), Metcalf would be a no-brainer pick for the top spot.

1. Jake Herbert (Northwestern)

Jake Herbert (Photo/Tech-Fall.com)

Herbert, a 2007 NCAA champion who took an Olympic redshirt last season, has been a monster this season competing at 184. He's 18-0 with 11 pins, two technical falls, three major decisions, a decision, and a forfeit. At the Midlands, on his home mat, Herbert needed only 1:15 to pin No. 5 Doug Umbehauer of Rider. Herbert then crushed No. 3 Phil Keddy of Iowa, 15-1, in the finals of the Midlands. He decked No. 13 Vince Jones of Nebraska in 4:47 at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals. Herbert has yet to face defending NCAA champion Mike Pucillo of Ohio State this season. Herbert won 11-5 over Pucillo in their only college meeting, which took place in February of 2007. Since Northwestern and Ohio State do not dual each other this season, the two won't square off against each other until the postseason.

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