University Park, PA – November 16, 2024
Rec Hall buzzed with energy on Saturday night as the NWCA All-Star Classic brought together some of the best collegiate wrestlers from across the country. Fans packed the arena to watch intense matchups featuring athletes from both NCAA and NAIA programs.
The evening began with a close contest at 110 pounds, where Kendra Ryan from North Central, ranked fourth, narrowly defeated top-ranked Emma Baertlein of Southern Oregon, 4-2. Ryan took an early lead with two takedowns in the first period, and despite Baertlein's efforts to come back, Ryan held on for the victory.
At 124 pounds, Amani Jones of North Central made a statement by pinning Maya Davis from Grand View in just 1 minute and 40 seconds. This fast-paced match set the tone for the night.
Victoria Baez-Dilone from King University also had a strong performance at 131 pounds, defeating Carolina Moreno, who was also ranked first, with a 6-2 decision after building a solid lead in the first period.
In the 145-pound match, Jamilah McBryde from Life University quickly pinned Aine Drury of King in just 46 seconds. Her sister, Latifah McBryde, followed with a win at 160 pounds, pinning Cheyenne Bowman of King in 3 minutes and 52 seconds.
The 197-pound division featured Massoma Endene from Wartburg, who dominated Derek Blubaugh of Indianapolis, winning by major decision, 12-1. In another tight match at the same weight, Stephen Little of Little Rock defeated Zac Braunagel of Illinois, 2-1, in a dramatic tiebreaker.
The heavyweight bout saw Taye Ghadiali from Campbell defeat Nick Feldman from Ohio State with an 8-3 decision, showcasing his skill and strategy throughout the match.
In the 125-pound class, Jore Volk of Wyoming secured an 8-2 victory over Tanner Jordan from South Dakota State. Lucas Byrd of Illinois also had a tight match, winning 1-0 against Nasir Bailey of Little Rock in the 133-pound division.
Ohio State's Jesse Mendez won a close 4-1 match against Penn State's Beau Bartlett at 141 pounds. Shayne Van Ness from Penn State had a dominant performance at 149 pounds, defeating Ty Watters from West Virginia with a decisive 16-4 major decision.
Tyler Kasak from Penn State edged out Peyten Kellar of Ohio with a 4-2 win at 157 pounds. The 165-pound match featured Peyton Hall from West Virginia, who pinned Hunter Garvin of Stanford after a back-and-forth contest.
Levi Haines from Penn State finished strong with a 7-0 victory over Cade DeVos from South Dakota State at 174 pounds. The final match of the night saw Carter Starocci of Penn State defeat Parker Keckeisen from Northern Iowa in sudden victory, 4-1.
The NWCA All-Star Classic highlighted the talent and competitiveness of collegiate wrestling, providing fans with an exciting evening of matches and a preview of the upcoming wrestling season.
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