The 43rd Annual NWCA All-Star Classic is sans premier talent. The several conspicuous absences (Darrion Caldwell of North Carolina State, Kyle Dake of Cornell, Andrew Howe of Wisconsin, and Jordan Burroughs of Nebraska) aren't a result of bad luck, they're intentional exemptions. Unwilling participants in an event that conceived with the fan in mind, has abandoned their desires. The myriad criticisms and questions are harsh but on-point: Why should they risk the injury, or a bad loss? Where is the promise of nationwide promotion? Where is the television coverage? Not all the blame rests on the shoulders of the NWCA. Being head coach is an increasingly high-profile job and many aren’t willing to take the risk of watching their stars stumble in the spotlight. Whatever the combination of reasons, the Classic is lacking its normal horsepower, but many fans, and journalists, are hopeful that in the years to come the event will get an overhaul and some much-needed detailing.
Despite the lack of must-see-TV talent, there are 10 compelling matchups featuring some of the best wrestlers in the nation. Some fans have made the commitment to attend the event in person, while many more will use the great-big powerful Internet to achieve the live feed courtesy of LiveSportsVideo and Takedown Wrestling Media. Wherever you choose to watch, here is a look at the matchups and who is going to leave Sunday with a victory (unofficial, though it may be).
125: No. 3 Zach Sanders (Minnesota) vs. No. 5 Anthony Robles (Arizona State)
Anthony Robles (Photo/Morgan Hennessy)Prediction: Sanders dec. Robles, 6-3
133: No. 1 Andrew Hochstrasser (Boise State) vs. No. 2 Jordan Oliver (Oklahoma State)
A true All-Star matchup! Oliver is coming off an as-expected All-American season for the Cowboys where he had a very public battle keeping his weight in check. Coach Smith made the very odd pronouncement this season that Oliver wasn't only staying at 133pounds, but that his weight management had improved. Most coaches don't address weight loss. Hochstrasser is the oldest man in Division I wrestling, having racked up a redshirt season and LDS mission. He's tough on top and built like a manhole cover so expect him to try and bully the maybe-tired-from-weight-loss Oliver. The latter's speed is a great equalizer and another season with the low single guru has probably allowed for even more technical attacks. Maybe I'm just being hopeful here, but I'm thinking big points.
Prediction: Oliver dec. Hochstrasser, 10-8
141: No. 1 Zack Bailey (Oklahoma) vs. No. 8 Germane Lindsey (Ohio)
Zack Bailey is my choice to win the NCAA title and the Dan Hodge Trophy. He's solid in all positions and with Sammie Henson calling his cell phone more than a Stage 5 clinger ex-girlfriend, he's odds-on to make the NCAA finals. Lindsey is talented and will again be an All-American, but in a matchup with Bailey he's short on experience and practice room competition. Assuming a healthy and motivated Bailey (and why not?), this won't be very close.
Prediction: Bailey wins by fall over Lindsey
149: No. 5 Kevin LeValley (Bucknell) vs. No. 12 Torsten Gillespie (Edinboro)
Who wants to take top? This is my favorite matchup of the night. LeValley is a fearless competitor who placed last season at the NCAA tournament and knocked off several top 10 wrestlers throughout the season. Gillespie, like his older brother Gregor, is a nasty, nasty rider with solid turns. I think this is a pick 'em, so I'm going to choose the favorite.
Prediction: LeValley dec. Gillespie, 3-1
157: No. 1 Adam Hall (Boise State) vs. No. 4 Bubba Jenkins (Arizona State)
Adam Hall (Photo/Tony Rotundo, Tech-Fall.com)Prediction: Hall major dec. Jenkins, 13-4
165: No. 4 Josh Asper (Maryland) vs. No. 6 Shane Onufer (Wyoming)
Asper just spanked Pride of New Jersey, Rutgers' Scott Winston, but will face a much more physical opponent in Onufer. I've loved watching the Wyoming junior progress as a wrestler and he'll be in the hunt for All-American status in 2011, but there's something special about Asper. The Maryland-native Asper has finished all of his matches this season by major or better and majored Onufer last season at NCAAs. I see this match going much the same way.
Prediction: Asper major dec. Onufer, 12-3
174: No. 3 Jordan Blanton (Illinois) vs. No. 6 Nick Amuchastegui (Stanford)
Brain versus brawn. That's likely a recycled sentiment for any match with Amuchastegui (Mooch) but for anyone who has seen the muscles stacked up on Jordan Blanton, it's damn near spot-on. Blanton has the intensity, focus and, coaching to win an NCAA title, and in the tournament I might pick him ... because he seems durable. However, with time to prepare and looking healthy and strong up from 165, Mooch is going to out maneuver Blanton, riding him for several minutes and taking away a hard-fought win.
Prediction: Amuchastegui dec. Blanton, 6-2
184: No. 2 Joe LeBlanc (Wyoming) vs. No. 5 A.J. Kissel (Purdue)
LeBlanc has placed each of the past two years and nothing is stopping him from competing for the NCAA title this season. He's stronger than most anyone (with the notable exception of Kirk Smith) and wrestles with intensity. Kissel is coming off a redshirt season for the Boilermakers and I don't think he'll have a lot of solutions for a very talented Mark Branch prodigy. LeBlanc in a lopsided victory.
Prediction: LeBlanc dec. Kissel, 9-2
197: No. 4 Clayton Foster (Oklahoma State) vs. No. 5 Sonny Yohn (Minnesota)
Sonny Yohn (Photo/Morgan Hennessy)Prediction: Foster dec. Yohn, 7-4
285: No. 2 Jarod Trice (Central Michigan) vs. No. 8 Ryan Flores (American)
I was coaching at Columbia for Ryan Flores' first season and was impressed by his athleticism. He's unorthodox and loves to scramble with the big boys, often finding himself atop a mass of meat with five points in his back pocket. Under the leadership of Mark Cody, I'd expect those impulses to be toned down or directed into a very narrow game plan. Trice is more than a slab of beef. He's got tremendous athleticism and is a proven winner, placing eighth last season. The CMU junior is known to try some throws, playing right into Flores' flare for the dramatic. Want more drama? Flores is from nearby Buchanan High School in Bakersfield. Since I don't want to call the fall, I'll call the high-scoring close decision.
Prediction: Flores dec. Trice, 11-10 (or fall)
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