Twenty All-Americans will be wrestling, including five defending national champions. Two weight classes will have a rematch of the 2005 national title match. Host Oklahoma State will be represented by its four returning champions. Oklahoma will send three wrestlers to Stillwater to compete in the event as well.
Oklahoma's two-time All-American Sam Hazewinkel will meet Michigan State's Nick Simmons. This is a rematch of the consolation final that Hazewinkel won at the 2005 NCAA Championships. Hazewinkel defeated Simmons, 2-0, in last year¹s All-Star Classic.
In a rematch of last year¹s national title match at 141, two-time national champion Teyon Ware of Oklahoma will meet Big 12 rival and two-time Big 12 champion Nate Gallick of Iowa State.
OSU¹s defending national champion at 149, Zack Esposito, will square off with Hofstra¹s three-time All-American Jon Masa. Esposito defeated Masa four times last season, including the national quarterfinals. Masa went on to finish third in the tournament. Masa is the only wrestler not represented by the Big Ten or the Big 12.
Johny Hendricks is the second Cowboy to take the mat. Hendricks, a two-time All American and defending national champion at 165, will face Michigan¹s Ryan Churella in a rematch of last year¹s national semifinal.
It will be Bedlam at 197 when OSU¹s two-time national champion Jake Rosholt will meet OU¹s Joel Flaggert. Rosholt won his second national title last season, while Flaggert went on to earn his first All-America honor with a fourth-place finish. Rosholt won their only meeting last season with a major decision in a dual back in December.
Steve Mocco will be the last Oklahoma State wrestler to trot out onto the mat when he faces Minnesota's Cole Konrad in a rematch of last year¹s national title match. Mocco beat Konrad three times last season, all in overtime.
At 133, there will be rematch of the consolation finals when Wisconsin¹s Tom Clum meets Minnesota¹s Mack Reiter. Clum defeated Reiter for third-place last season and both wrestlers will be making their first appearance in the NWCA All-Star Classic.
Returning national runner-up Joe Johnston of Iowa will meet Illinois¹ two-time All-American Alex Tirapelle. Johnston defeated Tirapelle, two-time Big Ten champion, in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. Tirapelle is the only wrestler in the classic who did not place in the 2005 NCAA Tournament.
Two more Iowa Hawkeyes will be wrestling at consecutive weights. Stillwater native Mark Perry will take the mat at 174. Perry, 2005 national runner-up at 165, will face Northwestern¹s Jake Herbert. Herbert is coming off of a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships.
Paul Bradley will be the third Hawkeye to take the mat when he faces Illinois' Pete Friedl. Bradley finished fifth at the 2005 NCAA Championships, while Friedl is bumping up a weight after he finished fourth at 174.
Central Oklahoma¹s Josh Leadingfox will take on three-time national champion Les Sigman of Nebraska-Omaha in the NWCA All-Star Classic¹s traditional exhibition match. The honorary coaches for the event are OSU¹s own John Smith, Northwestern¹s Tim Czyewski, Dana College¹s Steve Costanzo and Labette Community College¹s Joe Renfro.
40th Annual NWCA All-Star Classic Presented by the Unites States Marine Corps
Gallagher-Iba Arena -- Stillwater, Okla. November 21, 2005
125- Sam Hazewinkel (Oklahoma) vs. Nick Simmons (Michigan State)
133- Tom Clum (Wisconsin) vs. Mack Reiter (Minnesota)
141- Teyon Ware (Oklahoma) vs. Nate Gallick (Iowa State)
149- Zack Esposito (Oklahoma State) vs. Jon Masa (Hofstra)
157- Joe Johnston (Iowa) vs Alex Tirapelle (Illinois)
165- Johny Hendricks (Oklahoma State) vs. Ryan Churella (Michigan)
174- Mark Perry (Iowa) vs. Jake Herbert (Northwestern)
184- Paul Bradley (Iowa) vs. Pete Friedl (Illinois)
197- Jake Rosholt (Oklahoma State) vs. Joel Flaggert (Oklahoma)
285- Steve Mocco (Oklahoma State) vs. Cole Konrad (Minnesota)
Exhibition:
285: Josh Leadingfox (Central Oklahoma) vs. TBA
Note: Lineup is subject to change.
2004 Results:
At Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
125 Sam Hazewinkel (Oklahoma) Defeated Nick Simmons (Michigan State), 2-0
133 Mark Jayne (Illinois) Defeated Sam Hiatt (Northern Illinois), 3-1
141 Teyon Ware (Oklahoma) Defeated Cory Cooperman (Lehigh), 2-1 OT
149 Zack Esposito (Oklahoma State) Defeated Dustin Manotti (Cornell), 8-3
157 Jake Percival (Ohio University) Defeated Ryan Bertin (Michigan), 11-7
165 Troy Letters (Lehigh) Defeated David Bolyard (Central Michigan), 3-2
174 Chris Pendleton (Oklahoma State) Defeated Ben Askren (Missouri), 6-3
184 Greg Jones (West Virginia) Defeated Paul Bradley (Iowa), 3-2
197 J.D. Bergman (Ohio State) Defeated Scott Barker (Oregon), 8-3
285 Steve Mocco (Oklahoma State) Defeated Cole Konrad (Minnesota), 2-1 OT
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