The NWCA All-Star Classic, presented by the U.S. Marine Corps, is an annual tradition featuring challenge matches between top college wrestlers, and will be hosted at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. Exhibition matches will begin at 6:45 p.m., with the college bouts to follow at 7:00 p.m.
Snyder is currently a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete, and is returning home to the region where he developed into the nation's top high school star. Snyder is currently a senior in high school and is attending school in Colorado Springs, Colo. He will not participate in the high school folkstyle season this year, focusing entirely on freestyle wrestling. Snyder has committed to attend Ohio State University.
Snyder was named the ASICS High School Wrestler of the Year after his junior season at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Maryland, where he is a three-time National Prep School champion. He won both the FILA Junior National Championships and FILA Junior World Team Trials this spring in freestyle. In 2012, he was the Greco-Roman champion and freestyle bronze-medalist at the ASICS/Vaughan Junior Nationals. In 2011, he was the freestyle champion and Greco-Roman champion at the ASICS/Vaughan Cadet Nationals.
"I am very excited. It is an awesome event. I went to it last year, and really enjoyed seeing Kyle Dake wrestle David Taylor and the other matches. I was hoping to wrestle in the event in college. I will get to wrestle there a year earlier and in my hometown. Pretty much my whole family with be there to watch me wrestle," said Snyder.
Snyder is looking forward to getting back on the mat, after his amazing achievement this summer, when he won the FILA Junior World Championships (for athletes 17-20 years old) at the age of 17 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He has been training daily at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
"Everything has been great. I took a 15 day break after the Junior World Championships. I have been training hard ever since. Coaches Brandon Slay and Bill Zadick have been running practice, and I have been getting better. I am wrestling guys like Dustin Kilgore and Garrett Ryan, getting better in the positions I need to work on and finetuning areas that I have had past success," said Snyder.
Narlidis competed at the 2013 Junior World Championships in freestyle for Canada in the same weight class as Snyder, placing 14th in the standings. Narlidis was third in the 2013 Senior Canada Cup and was the Ontario Junior champion. He has won Greco-Roman National titles in Canada on the Junior and Juvenile levels. Narlidis is currently ranked No. 7 in Senior freestyle in Canada by 49North.com.
"I couldn't ask for a better matchup for myself than Kyle Snyder. He's the guy that won the World title this year at my weight class. I want this exhibition match to prove to myself it could have been anybody's day in Sofia, Bulgaria," Narlidis said.
Narlidis is looking forward to wrestling alongside the All-Star Classic, where he has a chance to display his skills in front of a large audience.
"Wrestling at the All-Star Classic will be huge, and something I won't forget. You don't get these opportunities everyday, so I'm glad I could jump on it. Hopefully we put on an exciting match, to show the fans what freestyle wrestling is all about as well as help raise awareness for Olympic Wrestling," said Narlidis.
Snyder has not previously wrestled Narlidis in any competition.
USA Wrestling will be announcing another international wrestling match which will also be held alongside the NWCA All-Star Classic in the upcoming days.
Hosting the event are George Mason University and the Wrestlers in Business Network – Washington DC Chapter.
Tickets can be ordered online through Ticketmaster at the following URL:
http://www.ticketmaster.com/2013-nwca-all-star-classic-fairfax-virginia-11-02-2013/event/15004B1CAE85423C?artistid=1911545&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=27
In addition, USA Wrestling will be working with the Wrestlers in Business Network and Beat the Streets USA to present the WIBM Middle School All-Star Dual Meet on Friday, November 1 at George Mason University.
For more information on the NWCA All-Star Classic, visit the NWCA website at:
http://www.nwcaonline.com
KYLE SNYDER, Woodbine, Maryland
Born: November 20, 1995
• 2013 FILA Junior World Champion in freestyle
• 2013 U.S. FILA Junior World Team Trials champion
• 2013 U.S. FILA Junior Nationals champion
• 2013 ASICS High School Wrestler of the Year
• Three-time Prep School National champion for Good Council High School in Maryland
• 2012 U.S. Junior National Greco-Roman champion and freestyle bronze-medalist
• 2011 U.S. Cadet National champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman
• U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete
YIANNIS NARLIDIS, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Born: February 1, 1993
• 14th in 2013 Junior World Championships
• Third in 2013 Senior Canada Cup
• 2013 Ontario Junior champion
• 2012 Canadian Junior Greco-Roman champion
• 2011 Canadian Juvenile Greco-Roman champion
• Ranked No. 7 in Canada on Senior level in freestyle by 49North.com
• Competes for Team Impact
About USA Wrestling
USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for the Sport of Wrestling in the United States and, as such, is its representative to the United States Olympic Committee and the International Wrestling Federation FILA. Simply, USA Wrestling is the central organization that coordinates amateur wrestling programs in the nation and works to create interest and participation in these programs. Its president is James Ravannack, and its Executive Director is Rich Bender.
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.
About George Mason University (GMU)
Was established in 1957 and obtained university status in 1972. George Mason University is located in Fairfax Virginia has 32,000 students. The GMU wrestling program has a rich tradition as evidenced by having advanced 41 different wrestlers to the NCAA Division I Championships, two wrestlers achieved All American status one time and one wrestler achieved All American status two times. The head coach is Joe Russell and he is in his 2nd year.
About Wrestlers in Business Network (WIBN)
The WIBN-Washington DC Chapter consists of prominent business leaders in the Washington DC metropolitan region. The organization was originally formed in September 2012 under the name of the Greater Washington Wrestlers in Business Network and more recently merged with the Wrestlers in Business Network (headquartered in Cleveland OH) to form a national Wrestlers in Business Network. The purpose of this organization is to support amateur wrestling activities in major cities across America.
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