Jason Tsirtsis defeated Josh Kindig in the NCAA finals (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine)MANHEIM, Pa. -- The NWCA All-Star Classic has historically been an event where potential NCAA championship previews take place. In 2014, the 149-pound matchup won't be just a preview, it'll be an NCAA finals rematch as Northwestern's Jason Tsirtsis will take on Oklahoma State's Josh Kindig.
Tsirtsis and Kindig is the latest matchup released by the National Wrestling Coaches Association for the 2014 NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the United States Marine Corps and the Wrestlers in Business Network hosted by Penn and WIBN-Philadelphia on November 1 at the Palestra on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania.
Tsirtsis, a sophomore from Crown Point, Indiana, went 32-3 last season defeated Kindig 3-1 in sudden victory to win the Division I title last season in Oklahoma City. It'll be the second time the two have met during their college career.
As a freshman, Tsirtsis came into last year's NCAA Division I championships as the No. 5 seed and defeated four eventual All-Americans, including defending champion Kendric Maple of Oklahoma,, en route to the title.
Kindig was a surprise finalist, emerging from the bottom bracket and the No. 11 seed to make the finals. From Blue Mountain, Pennsylvania, knocked off No. 6 Jake Suefolhn of Nebraska, No. 14 Scott Sakaguchi of Oregon State and No. 15 Mitch Minotti of Lehigh to make the finals.
Kindig went 24-9 last season after redshirting in 2012-13. He's a three-time NCAA qualifier and his career mark stands at 65-29.
"The fact we're starting off the season with a rematch of last year's final is remarkable,” said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "The matchup between Jason Tsirtsis and Josh Kindig isn't just a showcase of what's to come, it's a chance to see two of the top young wrestlers in the sport get reacquainted with a high-level, championship quality match.”
Oklahoma State has put wrestlers in the event more than any other wrestling program. Cowboy wrestlers have appeared individually in the All-Star Classic 85 total times with an overall record of 42-37. Oklahoma State has appeared in 38 of the 48 previous events, but this will be the first time since 2011 the orange and black will compete. In 2011, Jordan Oliver and Jamal Parks won matches in Tempe, Arizona.
Northwestern first appeared in the event in 1968 when Russ Schnieder competed at 160 pounds in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Overall, Wildcat wrestlers have appeared 14 times with a 5-9 overall record. Jason Welch was the last Wildcat to win a match at the All-Star Classic, beating American's Ganbayar Sanjaa 8-5 at 157 pounds in Tempe, Arizona in 2011. Tsirtsis will join teammate Mike McMullan in this year's event.
To purchase tickets to the event, click here for the Penn Athletic Ticket Office.
The event will be streamed live by the NWCA's live streaming partner Flowrestling. Fox College Sports will air the event on television via tape-delay no less than 10 times during the season, starting two weeks after the event has completed. These broadcasts are paid for by Rothschild, a leading global financial advisory based in New York City with offices in Washington, Los Angeles and Houston.
Hibiclens and Resilite will again support the event as associate sponsors. The Rothman Institute and the United Association (UA) Group will also make 1,500 tickets available for local students (K-12) throughout southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland.
"Hibiclens and Resilite have long supported the NWCA and its events,” said Moyer. "We're pleased to have two true wrestling companies on board again. The donation of 1,500 tickets by Rothman and the UA Group will help us expand the reach of college wrestling to the local wrestling community.”
Follow on Social Media!
For more information on the All-Star Classic, visit www.theallstarclassic.com and follow the NWCA on Facebook and Twitter. Fans can join the discussion with the #NWCAClassic hashtag. Fans should keep an eye on the discussion as there will be contests and interactive discussions about the event via Twitter and Facebook!
Competing wrestlers will be eligible for the Outstanding Wrestler Award, presented by the Wrestlers in Business Network - Atlanta Chapter.
Announced Matchups:
125: Nahshon Garrett, Jr. (Cornell) vs. Joey Dance, So. (Virginia Tech)
133: A.J. Schopp, Sr. (Edinboro) vs. Mason Beckman, Jr. (Lehigh)
141:
149: Jason Tsirtsis, So. (Northwestern) vs. Josh Kindig, Jr. (Oklahoma State)
157: James Green, Sr. (Nebraska) vs. Ian Miller, Jr. (Kent State)
165:
174:
184: Gabe Dean, So. (Cornell) vs. Jack Dechow, So. (Old Dominion)
197:
285: Nick Gwiazdowski, Jr. (N.C. State) vs. Mike McMullan, Sr. (Northwestern)
Showcase matchups to be Announced
About the NWCA
Founded in 1928, the NWCA strives to promote and provide leadership for the advancement of amateur wrestling, primarily at the scholastic and collegiate levels. The association is headquartered in Manheim Pa. The three core competencies are coaching development, student-wrestler welfare, and promotion/advocacy. The NWCA has 10,000 members and educational programs that serve 230,000 students each year. www.nwcaonline.com NWCA on Facebook | NWCA on Twitter
About the University of Pennsylvania
Established in 1740, the University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League research university located in Philadelphia. Incorporated as The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn is one of 14 founding members of the Association of American Universities and is one of the nine original Colonial Colleges. The school was founded by Ben Franklin. Penn is ranked among the top research universities in the world.
About Wrestlers in Business/Wrestlers in Business Philadelphia
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
Wrestlers in Business Philadelphia is a newly formed group who will kick-off their Chapter events with a Social Event in September followed by All-Star Classic. A 14-member Board has been elected led by President Anthony Stagliano and he is joined by distinguished names in the wrestling and business community including four members who have long ties to the University of Pennsylvania; Roger Reina who is playing a prominent role in the promotion of the All-Star Classic, Gary Baker, Andy Matter and Chris Hanlon. www.wrestlersinbusiness.org/chapters/philadelphia-pa
About the United States Marine Corps
On November 10, 1775, the Marine Corps was established by the Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Since then, the Marine Corps, through service on land, in air, and at sea, have acquitted themselves with the greatest distinction, winning new honors on each occasion until the term "Marine” has come to signify all that is highest in military efficiency and soldierly virtue. Whether facing our nation's foes or conducting humanitarian relief and disaster recovery operations at home or abroad, today's Marine Corps stands ready to continue in the same proud tradition of faithful service to the United States. For more information, visit www.Marines.com.
About Rothman Institute
Rothman Institute is a private orthopaedic practice dedicated to providing communities with high-quality, compassionate, and affordable musculoskeletal care that is grounded in evidence-based medicine, the results of which will exceed expectations. Rothman Institute orthopaedists treat patients at 20 locations in the Philadelphia-region, including orthopaedic urgent care clinics in Marlton, NJ and Limerick, PA. With experts in orthopaedic sub-specialties including spine, hip and knee, foot and ankle, shoulder and elbow, hand and wrist, sports medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, orthopaedic oncology and trauma, the Rothman Institute is internationally recognized for excellence in clinical treatment methods, research, education and technology. Consistently recognized as national and regional "Top Docs,” the Rothman Institute is proud to be official team physicians for several professional, college and high school teams. For more information about the Rothman Institute please call 1-800-321-9999 or visit www.RothmanInstitute.com.
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