They'll meet to kick off the season at the 50th annual Hire Heroes NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the Wrestlers in Business Network on November 1 in Atlanta, Ga. The All-Star Classic is also sponsored by Raymond James and will be held at Georgia Tech's McCamish Pavilion at 5 p.m.
Virginia Tech's Zach Epperly and Oklahoma State's Kyle Crutchmer navigated through a senior-laded weight class a year ago and the two are now contenders for this year's NCAA championship.
Epperly, a sophomore, placed seventh, while Crutchmer, a junior, finished fifth. The two did not meet last season.
For Virginia Tech, Epperly is the third wrestler from the program in the event, a school record. Oklahoma State, with a long tradition of competing in the event, has seen its wrestlers compete in the event a record 87 times coming into this season.
"Oklahoma State wrestlers have been a fixture in the event since its inception in 1967. When you think about some of the all-time greats who have competed from Oklahoma State, it's clear the program has always supported the event and it's fitting in our golden anniversary, we have one of wrestling's most-storied programs competing again in the All-Star Classic," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer.
"Virginia Tech has made a significant jump under coach Kevin Dresser and with three Hokies in the mix, it will also add a bit of southern flavor to the event in Atlanta," added Moyer.
Kyle Crutchmer (Photo/Rob Preston)Epperly came in seeded seventh and was knocked into the consolation bracket by eventual champion Matt Brown of Penn State with a 2-1 quarterfinal loss. Epperly pinned Butler, a wrestler who'd defeated him three previous times, to earn All-American honors. He would defeat North Dakota State's Kurtis Julson for seventh place.
Cowboy wrestlers are 43-38-6 all-time in the All-Star Classic, winning five of the last six matches they've wrestled. Virginia Tech is still looking for its first win in the event and will have three cracks at it as Nick Brascetta (157) and Ty Walz (285) are also competing.
Announced #NWCAClassic50 Matchups
125:
133:
141:
149:
157: Isaiah Martinez, So. (Illinois) vs. Nick Brascetta, Sr. (Virginia Tech)
165:
174: Kyle Crutchmer, Jr. (Oklahoma State) vs. Zach Epperly, So. (Virginia Tech)
184: Nathaniel Brown, Sr. (Lehigh) vs. Vic Avery, Sr. (Edinboro)
197:
285: Adam Coon, Jr. (Michigan) vs. Ty Walz, Jr. (Virginia Tech)
WHAT: 50th Annual Hire Heroes NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the Wrestlers in Business Network Atlanta Chapter
WHEN: Sunday, November 1, 2015, 5 p.m. Eastern
WHERE: Hank McCamish Pavilion, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Ga.
TICKETS: VIP/Social $125, Premium Floor $100, Premium $50, Reserved $25-$35; General Admission $10-$20; Student Rate $15
PURCHASE ONLINE: Click here
TV/LIVE STREAMING: ESPNU (Find ESPNU on your cable or satellite provider)
EVENT WEBSITE: http://www.theallstarclassic.com
About the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA)
The NWCA brings the wrestling coaching community together to advance the sport and ensure that current and future generations have the opportunity to engage in a safe and educationally based wrestling experience. This is primarily done by strengthening existing programs, creating new programs, and providing coaches with progressive educational opportunities.
About Wrestlers in Business Network (WIBN)
The Group Wrestlers in Business is a non-profit organization that strives to unite the thousands of wrestlers that have retired from the sport and are now in their respective careers. It started as a networking group on LinkedIn. Since then, the group has evolved into a more prominent, member-focused organization that cares about supporting current & former wrestlers and the sport. Their mission is to establish a community of wrestlers who commonly share in the interest of helping each other in business and in life, while supporting and strengthening the sport that made us who we are today. www.wrestlersinbusiness.org
About ESPNU
The 24-hour college sports television network airs more than 650 live events annually. ESPNU is available nationwide in approximately 73 million households.
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