Schlatter is coming off the best freshman season in school history after he finished the 2005-06 campaign with a 42-1 overall record on his way to becoming the first Golden Gopher freshman to capture an individual national championship. He earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors after claiming the conference title at 149 pounds. His 42 victories on the season rank as the fourth-most in school history.
Schlatter will face Oklahoma senior Matt Storniolo in the All-Star Classic. Schlatter defeated Storniolo, 5-1, in the semifinals of last year's NCAA Championships. Storniolo ended up finishing fourth to earn All-America status for the second time in his career. A native of State College, Pa., Storniolo transferred to Oklahoma from Penn State prior to his sophomore season. He was the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year in 2004 after reaching the 149-pound final at the Big Ten Championships.
The 2006 NCAA runner-up at 184 pounds, Kish emerged as one of the top wrestlers on the Golden Gopher roster last season. He claimed his first conference crown at the 2006 Big Ten Championships and then put together a remarkable run at the NCAA Tournament, winning each of his first four matches to advance to the finals.
Kish will face Northwestern junior Jake Herbert. Last season, Herbert compiled a 36-1 overall record while competing at 174 pounds. He won the Big Ten title and earned his second All-America honor after finishing second at the NCAA Championships, with his only loss of the season coming in the finals. Kish and Herbert have never faced each other in collegiate competition.
Two other Minnesota wrestlers, defending national champion Cole Konrad (Hwt.) and two-time All-American Mack Reiter (133), were also invited to participate in the All-Star Classic but had to decline due to injury.
Minnesota will take part in the Kaufman-Brand Open this weekend on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Omaha before heading to Albany, N.Y., for the Northeast Duals on Nov. 25. The Golden Gophers will open their dual meet season at Northern Colorado on Friday, Dec. 1.
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