WASHINGTON D.C.- The 157 pound weight class bout at the 2012 NWCA All Star Classic will feature Dylan Alton of Penn State wrestling against Jason Welch of Northwestern University in a rematch of the 2011 NCAA Championship third place bout.
 
In 2011-2012 Alton began his collegiate career earning All-American Honors as a freshman. Alton was third at the Big Ten Championships and defeated Welch in a 6-2 decision in the third place bout at the NCAA National Championships. Alton tied his brother, Andrew Alton, and Josh Moore for tenth on Penn State’s list of all-time wins recorded by a freshman.

Alton, who was a redshirt during the 2010-2011 season, completed his freshman season with a 30-10 overall record, 12-2 dual record and 6-2 record in the Big Ten. Alton recorded the fourth most wins for the Nittany Lions during the 2011-2012 season.
 
Welch is a two time All-American, only the 15th athlete in Wildcat history to earn All-American status twice. Welch has never finished outside of the top three at the Big Ten Championships, finishing second in 2012, and has traveled to the NCAA Championships three times in his career qualifying as a true freshman, finishing sixth as a redshirt sophomore and finishing fourth as a redshirt junior.
 
Welch finished the 2011-2012 season 27-3 overall, 15-0 in duals and 8-0 in Big Ten competition. Welch was the recipient of the Stutevill High Point-Scorer Award and Lupton Takedown Award during the 2011-2012 season for recording the most team dual points and most net takedowns on the team. Welch has a career record of 83-21.
 
Alton and Welch have faced off twice already in their careers. Welch won the first bout on a 2-1 decision, but was bested by Alton in their match up at the NCAA Championships.
 
Welch wrestled at the 2011 NWCA All-Star Classic where he defeated Granbayar Sanjaa of American University in an 8-5 decision. Welch, who is an elite group of wrestlers to receive back-to-back invitations to the event, is excited to have the opportunity to participate in the event.
 
"It's extremely exciting for Jason and his family to be attending their second All Star Classic," said Northwestern head coach Drew Pariano. "With the excitement for this year's event, you have to give credit to the NWCA and Teague Moore for their marketing efforts.  It is going to be a great event and back-to-back invites puts Jason in an elite crowd."
 
The All-Star Classic will occur on November 3, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in Bender Arena on the campus of American University in Washington D.C. To purchase tickets to the event visit American University’s website at http://aueagles.tix.com/Event.asp?Event=507577.  For more information on the event, visit the NWCA website and follow the NWCA Facebook and Twitter pages.
 
The NWCA Classic serves as a premier event to help grow the sport of wrestling. Proceeds from the event will go towards supporting the sport in the Washington DC area.