Navy’s Mark Conley to compete in NWCA All-Star Classic
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Pat Tocci (NWCA)
01/22/2002
Navy's Mark Conley has accepted an invitation to compete at the 2002 NWCA All-Star Classic at Hofstra University on January 28, 2002. The 4th rankedConley will replace Eric Larkin of Arizona State who pulled out of the meet due to injury. Conley will meet Virginia Tech's Sean Gray at 141lbs. Below is the press release from the U.S. Naval Academy, written by Price Atkinson Conley Selected to Compete in NWCA All-Star Wrestling Match ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Navy wrestling team captain Mark Conley (Sr./Exton, Pa.) has been selected to compete in the prestigious 2002 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All-Star Classic, it was announced by the NWCA Monday. The event will be held at Hofstra Arena in Hempstead, N.Y., next Monday at 7 p.m. The top-two wrestlers in each weight class have been selected to compete in meet, which is run like as standard dual match. Conley, ranked third in the 141-pound weight class in the latest rankings by InterMat, will wrestle Virginia Tech senior Sean Gray. Gray is ranked second nationally behind Arizona State's Eric Larkin. Gray is 19-2 this season, recording nine pin falls, and has posted a career record of 121-16. "I am excited for Mark to be able to represent himself, the Navy wrestling program, the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) and the Naval Academy," Navy head coach Bruce Burnett said. "It is a great opportunity to showcase his skills and our wrestling style here at Navy. Mark deserves this opportunity and has worked hard for this chance to compete. This will be just another opportunity to compete and test your skills against the best." Conley has posted a 25-2 record this season and has won his last five matches and 10 of the last 11. His only two losses were to Penn State's Scott Moore, winning 1-1 via a tiebreaker and to Larkin, who scored an 11-8 victory in the championship match of the 141-pound weight class at the Midlands Tournament. Conley's 107 career victories rank fifth in school history and the 139 matches he has wrestled in ranks second. Conley and Gray were slated to square off in the wrestlebacks at the 2001 NCAA Tournament, however Gray had to default due to an injury.