Ty Walz takes a shot on Kyle Snyder in the NCAA semifinals (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)MANHEIM, Pa. -- Cleveland native Ty Walz of Virginia Tech has agreed to face Wisconsin All-American Connor Medbery at 285 pounds in 51st annual NWCA All-Star Classic on November 5 at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center.
The event, presented by The Brewer-Garrett Company and hosted by the Wrestlers in Business Network, has served as the major kick-off event for the wrestling season since becoming and early-season event. In 2012, the event moved to the first weekend of the major college wrestling calendar and has been a fixture ever since.
Walz, a graduate of nearby St. Edward High School in Lakewood, is a rising senior whose fourth-place finish at 285 pounds last season helped the Hokies to a program-best fourth-place finish at the NCAA Division I Championships in New York City. A two-time All-American, Walz was an Ohio state champion at St. Edward, one of the top high school wrestling programs in the nation.
Medbery, a native of Loveland, Colo., is a three-time NCAA qualifier and a returning All-American. He finished fourth at 285 pounds in 2015 but redshirted last season to try to make the U.S. Olympic wrestling team in freestyle wrestling. While he didn't make the team, he did travel to Rio de Janeiro as the training partner for two-time Olympian Tervel Dlagnev. A graduate of Loveland High School, Medbery won three Colorado 5A state championships, finishing his last three seasons with a combined 125-0 record.
The two have only met once on the college mats, a 2-1 Medbery win in the third-place match at the 2014 Midlands.
"These two wrestlers are big and powerful and exciting to watch," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "Last year, we saw Ty Walz move like a little guy and score some quick takedowns, but also powerful ones. Connor Medbery has been one of the most active upperweights since he was a champion high school wrestler. This should be a fun match for the fans in Cleveland to enjoy, although I think most of the crowd will likely be pulling for their local boy."
This will be Walz's second-straight appearance at the All-Star Classic and the fourth straight year Virginia Tech has been represented in the event. Walz topped Michigan's Adam Coon 9-3 in last year's event in Atlanta. The Hokies are 2-4 in the event all-time with both wins coming last year -- Walz and teammate Zach Epperly.
Wisconsin last appeared in the All-Star Classic in November of 2008 and it also came at heavyweight and it also occurred in Ohio. Oklahoma State's Jared Rosholt topped Wisconsin's Kyle Massey 8-4 in Columbus on the campus of the Ohio State University.
Badger wrestlers are 11-12-1 all-time in the event with the last victory coming during the 2000-2001 season when Donny Pritzlaff defeated Iowa State's Joe Heskett 3-2 in the tiebreaker at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa.
2016 NWCA All-Star Classic Presented by The Brewer-Garrett Company
Hosted by the Wrestlers in Business Network
November 5, 2016 - Wolstein Center, Cleveland State University
Time: Showcase Matches 6 p.m.; Main Event 7 p.m.
Tickets: $15 GA, $100 Preferred Seating/Social. Group options available.
Tickets available at www.goallstarclassic.com or Wolstein Center Box Office ( 844-407-2279) or Northeast Ohio Discount Drug Marts.
Streaming: Trackwrestling.com
Announced Matchups
125:
133:
141:
149:
157:
165:
174:
184:
197:
285: Ty Walz, Sr. (Virginia Tech) vs. Connor Medbery, Sr. (Wisconsin)
About the National Wrestling Coaches Association
The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with a primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The membership embraces all people interested in amateur wrestling. The three core competencies of the NWCA are: coaching development, student-athlete welfare, and the promotion of wrestling.
About Wrestlers in Business Network (WIBN)
Wrestlers in Business Network is a registered 501 C-3 that strives to unite the thousands of wrestlers that have graduated from the sport and are now in their respective careers. Our mission is to build a community that serves as a platform to connect our members and facilitate business and job opportunities across the nation by leveraging a talent rich pipeline of wrestling alumni, with the ultimate byproduct of increasing reinvestment back to the sport.
www.wrestlersinbusiness.org
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