Frank Mattiace (Photo/Penn Sports Information)PHILADELPHIA -- The University of Pennsylvania will be represented by a pair of senior wrestlers at the 52nd NWCA All-Star Classic at Princeton's Jadwin Gymnasium on Sunday as May Bethea and Frank Mattiace have been selected to compete.
A big welcome to Frank Mattiace, @PennWrestling who will replace Kollin Moore at the #AllStarClassic this Sunday.
— NWCA (@nwcawrestling) November 2, 2017
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Mattiace will wrestle Virginia Tech's Jared Haught in the main card at 197 pounds while Bethea will compete in a showcase match at 165 pounds against Lehigh's Gordon Wolf.
"This is a tremendous honor for our program, and for Frank and May," said head coach Roger Reina. "They are outstanding representatives of the proud tradition and legacy of Penn Wrestling and are deserving of their place on the national stage. I am excited that they will help kick off the collegiate wrestling season and set the tone for our journey as a team this year."
Mattiace enters 2017-18 ranked No. 14 at 197 pounds. The 2017 EIWA champion at 197 pounds, Mattiace went 2-2 at his first NCAA Championships. His opponent, Jared Haught, is a two-time NCAA All-American who finished fourth at 197 pounds in 2017 after claiming the 2017 ACC championship. This will be the first-ever meeting between Mattiace and Haught.
Bethea is wrestling up at 165 this weekend after three previous years at 157 pounds -- including a pair of NCAA Championships qualifying seasons. Last year, Bethea advanced to the round of 12 at NCAAs for his highest finish at the national tournament. Bethea is ranked No. 20 at 157 pounds entering the season, while Wolf is unranked at 165. A NCAA qualifier at 157 pounds in 2016, Wolf competed at 165 last year for the Mountain Hawks. Bethea and Wolf have not met previously as collegiate wrestlers.
Mattiace and Bethea are the first Quakers to compete at the NWCA All-Star Classic since Lorenzo Thomas and C.J. Cobb in 2014 when the marquee event was held in The Palestra.
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