April 4, 2013 – George Mason University will host the 48th annual All-Star Classic on November 2, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. The Classic will be held in the 10,000 seat Patriot Center on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. 

“This premier event will provide something for everyone.  We will have a full day of events leading up to the All-Star Meet.  Amongst other things, we will hold a wrestling clinic at the Field House and a VIP reception at the Patriot Center,” said George Mason University head coach Joe Russell.

The event will feature many of the nation’s top Division I wrestlers who will participate in a dual meet format.  The participants will be selected in October 2013 and each wrestler will be announced as they commit. 

“Fans can expect to see high paced, action packed wrestling matches that many times have been the precursor to the year-end NCAA finals bouts,” said Russell. 

The All-Star Classic will be the largest wrestling event in history to be held in northern Virginia.   National Wrestling Coaches Association President Coach Rob Koll hopes that the magnitude of the event in combination with Washington D.C. having one of the strongest wrestling spectator bases in America will result in filling up most if not all of the 10,000 seat Patriot Center. 

“Sports fans, the media, and the wrestling public will have to recognize the importance of amateur wrestling in the northern Virginia region,” said Russell. “This event will change the perspective of wrestling for the northern Virginia area.”

The NWCA selected George Mason University, a historically successful wrestling program, as the location for the event due to its partnership with the Greater Washington Wrestling Business Network. The solid corporate support that existed within the relationship made George Mason University a solid choice, said Moyer. 

George Mason University looks to use the spectator and media attention their school will receive to show to the public and their student body the success that their wrestling program embodies. 

“My hopes are that the student body will see the excitement that wrestling can bring to sports fans,” said Russell. “They will recognize the wrestling community’s commitment to the sport when so many out of town sports fans arrive on our campus. This will continue to bolster our reputation as a nationally prominent program in the sport of wrestling.” 

The George Mason University wrestling program has a very rich tradition in wrestling.  Over the past twenty five years, they have advanced 41 different wrestlers to the NCAA Division I Championships and have had two All Americans and one two-time All American.  

Tickets will be on sale later in September 2013. For additional information on next year’s event visit the NWCA website at: http://www.nwcaonline.com/NWCAWebSite/Events/nwcaallstarclassic.aspx

More information on the All-Star Classic will also be released as the event gets closer. 

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.