University of Northern Iowa to Host 38th Annual NWCA All-Star Classic; Five National Champions Headl

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Pat Tocci (NWCA)
01/26/2004


The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) is pleased to announce four NCAA Champions and one NAIA Champion will headline an impressive lineup of wrestlers for the 2004 NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the United States Marine Corps. The 38th Annual All-Star Classic will take place on Monday, February 2 at 8p.m at the University of Northern Iowa - UNI Dome.      The NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the United States Marine Corps pits the nation's top collegiate wrestlers against each other in challenge matches that are often seen as a preview of the upcoming NCAA championships.      This year's lineup will feature five National Champions and five current number one ranked wrestlers.  There are currently three matches featuring the number one and two ranked wrestlers in the nation according to Amateur Wrestling News. The lineup is tentative and could be subject to change due to injuries or other reasons beyond our control.      NCAA Champions Travis Lee of Cornell, Teyon Ware of Oklahoma, Greg Jones of West Virginia and Tommy Rowlands of Ohio State have all accepted invitations to compete.  Lee will meet third ranked Mark Jayne at 133lbs while Ware will battle second ranked Scott Moore of Virginia at 141lbs.  Jones will look for his second victory this season over second ranked Ben Heizer of Northern Illinois at 184lbs.  Rowlands will continue his rivalry with Big Ten Foe and second ranked Pat Cummins of Penn State at 285lbs.      NAIA National Champion Emmett Willson of Montana-State Northern will be the first non-Division I wrestler to compete in the event since 1989.  Willson has captured the Las Vegas Invitational and the Midlands Championships this season. His opponent in the All-Star Classic will be sixth ranked Sean Stender of Northern Iowa.      The fifth number one ranked wrestler to compete will be Chris Pendleton of Oklahoma State.  Pendleton will meet third ranked Ryan Lange of Purdue at 174lbs.       Michigan's Mark Moos is the lone freshman selected to compete in this year's event.  The third ranked Moos will battle second ranked Luke Eustice of Iowa at 125lbs.      The remaining lineup includes:  Fifth ranked Dustin Manotti of Cornell meeting sixth ranked Jeremy Spates of Missouri at 149lbs, third ranked Jake Percival of Ohio University meeting fourth ranked Matt Gentry of Stanford at 157lbs and second ranked Tyrone Lewis of Oklahoma State wrestling third ranked Matt King of Edinboro at 165lbs.      The local feature match will pit Northern Iowa's Eric Hauan against Lehigh's second ranked Brad Dillon at 174lbs.     Gentry and Willson's appearance in the All-Star Classic will mark the first time a Stanford and Montana-State Northern wrestler have competed in the event.    "On behalf of the NWCA Board of Directors, we would like to thank the wrestlers, coaches, and spectators for supporting our signature event.  It is one of the few opportunities we have to showcase our sport's hero's and champions to a national audience," stated Jack Maughan, President of the National Wrestling Coaches Association.      "The University of Northern Iowa is very excited to host the NWCA All-Star Classic in the UNI-Dome. We are happy to be involved in a National event and bringing elite college wrestlers to the Cedar Valley area."    Tickets can be purchased for the USMC / NWCA All-Star Classic by calling by the UNI Dome ticket office at 319-273-3663.  Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $5 for students.  For more information, please call 717-653-8009 or visit the NWCA website at www.nwcaonline.com.       2004 NWCA All-Star Classic Lineup  Presented by United States Marine Corps  February 2, 2004  University of Northern Iowa  125 - #2 Luke Eustice (Iowa) vs. #3 Mark Moos (Michigan)  133 - #1 Travis Lee (Cornell) vs. #3 Mark Jayne (Illinois)  141 - #1 Teyon Ware (Oklahoma) vs. #2 Scott Moore (Virginia)  149 - #5 Dustin Manotti (Cornell) vs. #6 Jeremy Spates (Missouri)  157 - #3 Jake Percival (Ohio) vs. #4 Matt Gentry (Stanford)  165 - #2 Tyrone Lewis (Oklahoma State) vs. #3 Matt King (Edinboro)  174 - #1 Chris Pendleton (Oklahoma State) vs. #3 Ryan Lange (Purdue)  184 - #1 Greg Jones (West Virginia) vs. #2 Ben Heizer (Northern Illinois)  197 - #1 (NAIA) Emmett Willson (MSN) vs. #6 Sean Stender (Northern Iowa)  285 - #1 Tommy Rowlands (Ohio State) vs. #2 Pat Cummins (Penn State)    Coaches: Brad Penrith (Northern Iowa), Rob Koll (Cornell), Joe Parisi (Lindenwood) and Paul Schmidt (Nassau Community College)