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    Andrew Hipps •

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    40th Annual NWCA All-Star Classic Preview

    The NWCA All-Star Classic, which takes place tonight at 7 p.m. (CST) in Stillwater, Oklahoma, has become the most exciting early season event in college wrestling. Before last season, the event took place at the midpoint of the season (like a traditional all-star event). Since it is considered an exhibition, the All-Star Classic does not count against the wrestler's win-loss records.

    All 20 wrestlers competing have been NCAA All-Americans -- with five of those wrestlers being defending NCAA champions. Two of the match-ups, 141 pounds and heavyweight, will be rematches from last year's NCAA finals. Oklahoma State, the three-time defending NCAA champions, will have the most representation with all four of their defending NCAA champions competing.

    Here is a match-by-match breakdown of the 40th annual All-Star Classic:

    125: Sam Hazewinkel (Oklahoma) vs. Nick Simmons (Michigan State)

    These two wrestlers have opposite builds and opposite wrestling styles -- but similar accolades. Both are two-time All-Americans. Both are returning conference champions in power conferences. Both are U.S. National Team members (Hazwinkel is on the Greco-Roman team, Simmons is on the freestyle team). They were the top two seeds at last year's NCAA Tournament -- and both lost in the semifinals. These two met twice last season and both matches were won by Hazewinkel. Their first meeting was at the NWCA All-Star Classic, where Hazwinkel shutout Simmons, 2-0. Hazewinkel then beat Simmons again in the third-fourth place at the NCAA Tournament, 6-3. Both Simmons and Hazewinkel have tournament titles under their belts this season. Simmons won the Eastern Michigan and Michigan State Opens, while Hazewinkel won the SUNY-Brockport/Oklahoma Gold Classic. Expect to see another tight match.

    RevWrestling.com Prediction: Simmons decision over Hazewinkel

    133: Mack Reiter (Minnesota) vs. Darrell Vasquez (Cal Poly)

    Interestingly enough, like the 125-pound match, these two have opposite wrestling styles, but similar accolades. Both reached the NCAA semifinals as freshmen and placed fourth (Vasquez in 2004, Reiter in 2005). Vasquez, who missed last season because of illness, is extremely slick on his feet with great leg attacks. Reiter, on the other hand, is punishing on the mat and a great pinner. Reiter, though, struggles with wrestlers who are better on their feet than him (which Vasquez is), but often times overcomes it with his aggressiveness, tough mat wrestling, and bottomless oxygen tank. Ironically, Vasquez's former high school teammate, Nathan Morgan of Oklahoma State, defeated Reiter at the Kaufman-Brand Open last season.

    RevWrestling.com Prediction: Vasquez decision over Reiter

    141: Teyon Ware (Oklahoma) vs. Nate Gallick (Iowa State)

    These two wrestlers certainly know each others styles well -- as they have met five times over the past two seasons. Although Gallick leads the all-time series 4-1, Ware won when it mattered most -- in the NCAA finals. Both wrestlers, despite their impressive credentials, have very conservative styles. Both get scrutinized by wrestling fans for not opening up and defeating marginal Division I wrestlers by more points. Ware is the better athlete, but Gallick is the better technician. One takedown might be enough to win this match.

    RevWrestling.com Prediction: Gallick decision over Ware

    149: Zack Esposito (Oklahoma State) vs. Eric Tannenbaum (Michigan)

    You can certainly make a case for Esposito being the best pound-for-pound wrestler in the country. The defending NCAA champion has no glaring weakness. He is quick and explosive on his feet. He can scramble with the best. He's tough on the mat. Plus, he is one of the most entertaining wrestlers in the country to watch. Tannenbaum, who placed fourth at the NCAA Tournament as a freshman, is going to be a great one … likely a future NCAA champion. Esposito defeated Tannenbaum, 7-2, in the NCAA semifinals last March.

    RevWrestling.com Prediction: Esposito decision over Tannenbaum

    157: Alex Tirapelle (Illinois) vs. Joe Johnston (Iowa)

    Tirapelle, a two-time All-American, had the most disappointing performance of his career at last year's NCAA Tournament, where he failed to place as the No. 1 seed. Johnston, on the other hand, had the most impressive performance of his career at last year's NCAA Tournament, where he finished as the national runner-up -- coming through as the No. 8 seed. These two Big Ten foes met three times last season. Tirapelle won the first two meetings (9-5 and 7-5), but Johnston came back to upset Tirapelle in the NCAA quarterfinals, 6-5, on his way to the finals. These two have opposite builds. Tirapelle is long and lanky, whereas Johnston is short and stocky. If Tirapelle wrestles like he should, and conditioning doesn't play much of a factor, he should come out on top.

    RevWrestling.com Prediction: Tirapelle decision over Johnston

    165: Johny Hendricks (Oklahoma State) vs. Matt Nagel (Minnesota)

    Most wrestling fans across the country would much rather see Troy Letters of Lehigh or Ryan Churella of Michigan battle Hendricks, the defending NCAA champion. But both Letters and Churella opted not to compete. Regardless, Nagel, a returning All-American for Minnesota, is still a formidable opponent who is certainly capable of wrestling with Hendricks. In fact, he proved that last December when he lost a 5-3 decision in overtime to Hendricks. Nagel has good defense, wrestles a conservative style, and doesn't take a lot of risks. Hendricks is the better technician and should win this match, but he's had letdowns in the past (losses to John Sioredas of Tennessee-Chattanooga and Jacob Klein of Nebraska last season), so an upset loss here certainly isn't out of the question.

    RevWrestling.com Prediction: Hendricks decision over Nagel

    174: Jake Herbert (Northwestern) vs. Jacob Klein (Nebraska)

    Herbert had a phenomenal freshman campaign for the Wildcats. He reeled off 22-straight victories to begin the season, won a Midlands crown, finished runner-up at the Big Tens, and placed third at the NCAA's. Klein, a 2004 All-American, is moving up weight class for his senior season to test the waters at 174 pounds. Both Herbert and Klein have looked strong in the early part of this season. Herbert won the Michigan State Open in convincing fashion, while Klein dominated Ben Gilliland of Boise State, 17-5, in his 174-pound debut on Friday night. Most matches that Klein wrestles against top opponents are close, and this match should be no exception.

    RevWrestling.com Prediction: Herbert decision over Klein

    184: Paul Bradley (Iowa) vs. Pete Friedl (Illinois)

    Bradley, a two-time All-American, is a wrestler who relies much more on his strength than his technical skills. Friedl, who is moving up from 174 pounds, is the polar opposite. He's very technically sound and doesn't rely on strength. Friedl has stated that his biggest asset as wrestler is his technical knowledge. If Friedl can get his offense rolling, Bradley won't be able to keep up.

    RevWrestling.com Prediction: Friedl decision over Bradley

    197: Jake Rosholt (Oklahoma State) vs. Joel Flaggert (Oklahoma)

    Rosholt will be vying for his third NCAA this season. The Idaho native doesn't receive the fanfare of teammates Esposito or Mocco -- partly due to the fact that he has been known to drop a few matches prior to the NCAA Tournament. But Rosholt is a big-match wrestler. When the spotlight is on, he is at his best. Last season, Flaggert lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but battled all the way back to become an All-American by placing fourth. Rosholt dominated Flaggert in their only meeting last season -- coming away with a 14-4 major decision.

    RevWrestling.com Prediction: Rosholt major decision over Flaggert

    Hwt: Steve Mocco (Oklahoma State) vs. Cole Konrad (Minnesota)

    These two probably know each other's styles better than they know their own styles. Mocco and Konrad met three times last season -- and all three matches were won by Mocco in overtime. The two met again at the World Team Trials last June in Ames, Iowa, where Mocco won another barnburner. There's no question that Konrad is every bit as skilled as Mocco, but he has come up just short in every meeting. In May, Konrad defeated former World champion Alexis Rodriguez of Cuba to win a Pan American Games gold medal, which should give him added confidence this season.

    RevWrestling.com Prediction: Konrad decision over Mocco

    LiveSportsVideo.com will web cast the NWCA 40th Annual All-Star Classic presented by the United States Marine Corps. To order the event, click here.
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