All star classic

[Antitroll2828]

Right around the corner on Nov 1. Hosted by Rutgers this season after being at Penn State since its revival a few years ago. Only guys I’ve seen announced so far are the Rutgers duo with Shawver at 133 and Pinto at 174 . Have any other guys announced they are in? anyone think PSU won’t send a bunch of guys bc they aren’t hosting? 

Edited yesterday at 05:19 PM by Antitroll2828

[Tyler Perry]

2 minutes ago, Antitroll2828 said:

Right around the corner on Nov 1. Hosted by Rutgers this season after being at Penn State since its revival a few years ago. Only guys I’ve seen announced so far are the Rutgers duo with Shawver at 133 and Pinto at 174 . Have any other guys announced they are in? anyone think PSU won’t send a bunch of guys bc they aren’t hosting? 

I didn’t even see those, flo’s been radio silent. 

[Tyler Perry]

Some matches I’d love to see

125: 

Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State) vs Eddie Ventresca (Virginia Tech)

 

Maximo Renteria (Oregon State) vs Marc Anthony McGowan (Princeton)

 

Stevo Poulin (Iowa State) vs Jett Strickenberger (West Virginia)

 

 

133: 

Drake Ayala (Iowa) vs Ryan Crookham (Lehigh)

 

Marcus Blaze (Penn State) vs Ben Davino (Ohio State)

 

Lucas Byrd (Illinois) vs Richard Figueroa (Oklahoma State)

 

 

141: 

Luke Stanich (Lehigh) vs Brock Hardy (Nebraska)

 

Nasir Bailey (Little Rock) vs Anthony Echemendia (Iowa State)

 

Vince Cornella (Cornell) vs Aden Valencia (Stanford)

 

 

149:

Lachlan McNiell (Michigan) vs Ethan Stiles (Ohio State)  

 

Casey Swiderski (Oklahoma State) vs Jacob Frost (Iowa State)

 

Kannon Webster (Illinois) vs Ethan Stiles (Ohio State)

 

 

157:

Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) vs Tyler Kasak (Penn State)

 

Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) vs Meyer Shapiro (Cornell)

 

Tyler Kasak (Penn State) vs Meyer Shapiro (Cornell)

 

 

165:

Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) vs Michael Caliendo (Iowa)

 

Hunter Garvin (Stanford) vs Beau Mantanona (Michigan)

 

Beau Mantanona (Michigan) vs Max Brignola (Lehigh)

 

 

174: 

Levi Haines (Penn State) vs Simon Ruiz (Cornell)

 

Simon Ruiz (Cornell) vs Danny Wask (Navy)

 

Brock Mantanona (Michigan) vs Lorenzo Norman (Stanford)

 

 

184: 

Max McEnelly (Minnesota) vs Angelo Ferrari (Iowa)

 

Aeoden Sinclair (Missouri) vs Jaxon Smith (Maryland)

 

Dylan Fishback (North Carolina State) vs Zack Ryder (Oklahoma State)

 

 

197:

Josh Barr (Penn State) vs Stephen Little (Little Rock) 

 

Joey Novak (Wyoming) vs Mac Stout (Pittsburgh)

 

Justin Rademacher (Oregon State) vs Sonny Sasso (Virginia Tech)

 

 

285:

AJ Ferrari (Nebraska) vs Younger Bastida (Iowa State)

 

Nick Feldman (Ohio State) vs Ben Keuter (Iowa)

 

Cole Mirasola (Penn State) vs Braxton Amos (Wisconsin)

[Antitroll2828]

1 hour ago, Tyler Perry said:

 

Some matches I’d love to see

125: 

Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State) vs Eddie Ventresca (Virginia Tech)

 

Maximo Renteria (Oregon State) vs Marc Anthony McGowan (Princeton)

 

Stevo Poulin (Iowa State) vs Jett Strickenberger (West Virginia)

 

 

133: 

Drake Ayala (Iowa) vs Ryan Crookham (Lehigh)

 

Marcus Blaze (Penn State) vs Ben Davino (Ohio State)

 

Lucas Byrd (Illinois) vs Richard Figueroa (Oklahoma State)

 

 

141: 

Luke Stanich (Lehigh) vs Brock Hardy (Nebraska)

 

Nasir Bailey (Little Rock) vs Anthony Echemendia (Iowa State)

 

Vince Cornella (Cornell) vs Aden Valencia (Stanford)

 

 

149:

Lachlan McNiell (Michigan) vs Ethan Stiles (Ohio State)  

 

Casey Swiderski (Oklahoma State) vs Jacob Frost (Iowa State)

 

Kannon Webster (Illinois) vs Ethan Stiles (Ohio State)

 

 

157:

Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) vs Tyler Kasak (Penn State)

 

Antrell Taylor (Nebraska) vs Meyer Shapiro (Cornell)

 

Tyler Kasak (Penn State) vs Meyer Shapiro (Cornell)

 

 

165:

Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) vs Michael Caliendo (Iowa)

 

Hunter Garvin (Stanford) vs Beau Mantanona (Michigan)

 

Beau Mantanona (Michigan) vs Max Brignola (Lehigh)

 

 

174: 

Levi Haines (Penn State) vs Simon Ruiz (Cornell)

 

Simon Ruiz (Cornell) vs Danny Wask (Navy)

 

Brock Mantanona (Michigan) vs Lorenzo Norman (Stanford)

 

 

184: 

Max McEnelly (Minnesota) vs Angelo Ferrari (Iowa)

 

Aeoden Sinclair (Missouri) vs Jaxon Smith (Maryland)

 

Dylan Fishback (North Carolina State) vs Zack Ryder (Oklahoma State)

 

 

197:

Josh Barr (Penn State) vs Stephen Little (Little Rock) 

 

Joey Novak (Wyoming) vs Mac Stout (Pittsburgh)

 

Justin Rademacher (Oregon State) vs Sonny Sasso (Virginia Tech)

 

 

285:

AJ Ferrari (Nebraska) vs Younger Bastida (Iowa State)

 

Nick Feldman (Ohio State) vs Ben Keuter (Iowa)

 

Cole Mirasola (Penn State) vs Braxton Amos (Wisconsin)

I don’t think anyone would complain about any of those matchups ..I’d love to see Shane Van Ness wrestle in it again , his dad is a Rutgers legend and SVN grew up in the area and always puts on a pretty good show 

[nhs67]

With the given that Shawver and Pinto are at 133/174, it would be safe to assume no further Rutgers guys.

Penn State usually sends a few, but it isn't at home this year.  Michigan typically sends a guy (or three).  Would be cool to see that.

125 - Lilledahl against anyone at 125 in the Top 5.

133 - Would love to see Ayala - Crookham.  Make Crookham earn that shot at the #1 spot by beating last season's #2.  That said, with Shawver being confirmed, I'd like to see him VS Crookham.

141 - I'd like to see Ragusin against either Hardy or Stanich at 141lbs, if Ragusin is actually going 141lbs.  Ragusin against Echemendia would be cool, as well.  Three entirely different styles there.

149 - I'd like to see McNeil against SVN, although I think SVN - Henson makes the most sense.

157 - I want to see Kasak - Taylor again.  Especially since we might not even see Kasak take the mat come B1Gs.

165 - Blaze - Caliendo is the match to make here.

174 - Mantanona - Pinto for me.  Steed - Pinto would also do it for me.

184 - Any two from Focus, Sinclair, McEnelly, Welsh, Ryder, and Mantanona for me.  Any two of them.

197 - Elam - Barr out the gate.  That one's got to do it.

285 - Mirasola - Big Taye

[Antitroll2828]

6 minutes ago, nhs67 said:

With the given that Shawver and Pinto are at 133/174, it would be safe to assume no further Rutgers guys.

Penn State usually sends a few, but it isn't at home this year.  Michigan typically sends a guy (or three).  Would be cool to see that.

125 - Lilledahl against anyone at 125 in the Top 5.

133 - Would love to see Ayala - Crookham.  Make Crookham earn that shot at the #1 spot by beating last season's #2.  That said, with Shawver being confirmed, I'd like to see him VS Crookham.

141 - I'd like to see Ragusin against either Hardy or Stanich at 141lbs, if Ragusin is actually going 141lbs.  Ragusin against Echemendia would be cool, as well.  Three entirely different styles there.

149 - I'd like to see McNeil against SVN, although I think SVN - Henson makes the most sense.

157 - I want to see Kasak - Taylor again.  Especially since we might not even see Kasak take the mat come B1Gs.

165 - Blaze - Caliendo is the match to make here.

174 - Mantanona - Pinto for me.  Steed - Pinto would also do it for me.

184 - Any two from Focus, Sinclair, McEnelly, Welsh, Ryder, and Mantanona for me.  Any two of them.

197 - Elam - Barr out the gate.  That one's got to do it.

285 - Mirasola - Big Taye

Welsh Ryder would be a good way to kick off the season .Norman vs pinto would be fun ,both pretty open styles and Norman is also a Nj guy that grew up a stones throw away from Rutgers 

[nhs67]

6 minutes ago, Antitroll2828 said:

Welsh Ryder would be a good way to kick off the season .Norman vs pinto would be fun ,both pretty open styles and Norman is also a Nj guy that grew up a stones throw away from Rutgers 

That's a good call.  I just think a lot of Norman's luster is gone, from when he beat Griffith at CKLV two seasons ago now.

That said, I believe every one of his losses last season was a one takedown match.  You take the 21-6 record and flip half of those, and he is very high seed and making a deep run.

I'd watch it.

[charmon55]

Just for fun, here are my predictions: 

125: Robinson vs. Lilledahl 

133: Shawver vs. Fugitt

141: Mendez vs. Stanich

149: SVN vs. Henson

157: Cardenas vs. Zerban

165: Garvin vs. Blaze

174: Pinto vs. Steed

184: McEnelly vs. Welsh 

197: Barr vs. Novak

285: Trumble vs. Ghadiali

[HokieDave87]

Eddie V vs. Lilledahl

Stanich vs. Hardy

Henson vs. Henson (jk SVN obviously)

Garvin vs Messenbrink

[ebpsu]

Most of Penn State's team will be in Serbia at U23's the week prior, so I can't see most of them participating - Davis and SVN are the only two realistic possibilities.

[Antitroll2828]

4 hours ago, nhs67 said:

That's a good call.  I just think a lot of Norman's luster is gone, from when he beat Griffith at CKLV two seasons ago now.

That said, I believe every one of his losses last season was a one takedown match.  You take the 21-6 record and flip half of those, and he is very high seed and making a deep run.

I'd watch it.

Norman was 18-1 with 12 bonus wins going into the final dual of the season then he dropped match against UNC ,then he was top at ACCs and his season fell off a cliff from that point on . For 3 months he looked like a legit top 4 guy and had a bad 2 weeks at the worst time 

[nhs67]

20 minutes ago, Antitroll2828 said:

Norman was 18-1 with 12 bonus wins going into the final dual of the season then he dropped match against UNC ,then he was top at ACCs and his season fell off a cliff from that point on . For 3 months he looked like a legit top 4 guy and had a bad 2 weeks at the worst time 

See what I mean about luster lost?  He wrapped the bed when it mattered.

I jest.  I realized how nice of a season he had while writing that previous post.  I don't think the target for the ASC is 0x AA, though.

[Gantry]

I remember he had Hamiti in big trouble in their match and foolishly took bottom in the 3rd to lose by rideout. 

[grapevine]

Norman was injured late in the 2025 season and never really recover from his injury.

[RandolphTJones]

I think Ferrari wouldn't mind the big stage and making is HVY debut 

[flyingcement]

125: Vincent Robinson vs Eddie Ventresca
133: Ryan Crookham vs Lucas Byrd
141: Brock Hardy vs Luke Stanich
149: Caleb Henson vs Shayne Van Ness
157: Antrell Taylor vs Jackson Arrington
165: Mikey Caliendo vs Joey Blaze
174: Beau Mantanona vs Brock Mantanona (intrasquad scrimmage among brothers at the all star! come on!)
184: Rocco Walsh vs Zach Ryder
197: Yonger Bastida vs Braxton Amos

[nhs67]

I think a Focus - Amos match at HWT would be cool to see.

[Antitroll2828]

5 minutes ago, nhs67 said:

I think a Focus - Amos match at HWT would be cool to see.

4 years ago sure but who the heck knows what Amos will look like , he hasn’t wrestled a Folkstyle match since 2023 and I say this as a huge Amos fan I hope he’s a world champ one day and I push aside my dislike of bono and will root for him to win Heavyweight this year but his results were mixed even in 2023 , AJ has lost 2 matches his entire career 

[funnyfletcher]

I saw on twitter that Jaxon Smith will be there

[BruceyB]

23 hours ago, HokieDave87 said:

Eddie V vs. Lilledahl

Not to be mean to ol' Eddie, but in an event that it supposed to showcase our sport's top college wrestlers, I'd rather not watch Eddie V try to take Lilledahl to OT.

[Griff the BullRam]

17 hours ago, grapevine said:

Norman was injured late in the 2025 season and never really recover from his injury.

Norman had O'Toole on the ropes in the round of 16 at NCAAs. Keegan had to get two third period takedowns to beat him. No doubt the guy has the skill and talent, and he was injured during this? Damn, he's freaking tough

[BruceyB]

2025 NWCA All-Star Classic Men’s Matchups

125: #4 Eddie Ventresca, Virginia Tech vs #5 Sheldon Seymour, Lehigh

133: #1 Lucas Byrd, Illinois vs #7 Dylan Shawver, Rutgers

141: #1 Jesse Mendez, Ohio State vs #7 Anthony Echemendia

149: #3 Lachlan McNeil, Michigan vs #5 Casey Swiderski, Oklahoma State

157: #4 Daniel Cardenas, Stanford vs #5 Ty Watters, Virginia Tech

165: #4 Hunter Garvin, Stanford vs #7 Max Brignola, Lehigh

174: #3 Simon Ruiz, Cornell vs #8 Lenny Pinto, Rutgers

184: #4 Jaxon Smith, Maryland vs #7 Zack Ryder, Oklahoma State

197: #3 Joey Novak, Wyoming vs #4 Stephen Little, Little Rock

285: #3 Yonger Bastida, Iowa State vs #4 Taye Ghadiali, Michigan

141: D2 Khyvon Grace, West Liberty vs D3 Mark Samuel, Roanoke

Just released by flo.

[Wrestleknownothing]

I wouldn't mind seeing Shayne Van Ness wrestle all ten weights.

There is a nut job on the Rutgers Rivals board who claims to be a former AA and big time insider for the program. He makes outrageous claims that never happen. And when they fail to happen he disappears for a while before coming back with a different user name.

One of his favorite themes is that SVN is a traitor.

I would like to see this guy's head explode.

[Antitroll2828]

9 minutes ago, BruceyB said:

2025 NWCA All-Star Classic Men’s Matchups

125: #4 Eddie Ventresca, Virginia Tech vs #5 Sheldon Seymour, Lehigh

133: #1 Lucas Byrd, Illinois vs #7 Dylan Shawver, Rutgers

141: #1 Jesse Mendez, Ohio State vs #7 Anthony Echemendia

149: #3 Lachlan McNeil, Michigan vs #5 Casey Swiderski, Oklahoma State

157: #4 Daniel Cardenas, Stanford vs #5 Ty Watters, Virginia Tech

165: #4 Hunter Garvin, Stanford vs #7 Max Brignola, Lehigh

174: #3 Simon Ruiz, Cornell vs #8 Lenny Pinto, Rutgers

184: #4 Jaxon Smith, Maryland vs #7 Zack Ryder, Oklahoma State

197: #3 Joey Novak, Wyoming vs #4 Stephen Little, Little Rock

285: #3 Yonger Bastida, Iowa State vs #4 Taye Ghadiali, Michigan

141: D2 Khyvon Grace, West Liberty vs D3 Mark Samuel, Roanoke

Just released by flo.

Wow No penn state that’s super weak on them 

[BruceyB]

Highlight matches for me:

141: Interested to see how the match goes in neutral and how Echemendia looks back down at 141. Ech is so good on his feet.

149: Extremely interested to see where Swiderski ranks at 149 right now. Lachlan is a great measuring stick. If Swiderski gets the win here, I think he could be in the contender category.

157: Cardenas and Watters should be fun. It's so hard for me to get last year's SVN match out of my mind when thinking of Watters. A win over Cardenas here would help a lot with that issue.

184: Jaxon Smith vs Zack Ryder. It's interesting that a RS Freshman is in the "All-Star" considering you can't be an All-Star if you haven't competed, but regardless this will be a good test to see where Ryder ranks in the loaded 184 class this year.

285: I hope so badly that Bastida (as well as the rest of the cyclones) stays healthy this year and gets one last shot at NCAAs. I'll be curious to see how he looks, as well as Taye after spending time at Michigan.