Manheim, Pennsylvania – For half a century, the NWCA All-Star Classic has been showcasing the nation’s best collegiate wrestlers at venues around the country. For the event’s golden anniversary, it will make a trip down south for the first time in 20 years.
The National Wrestling Coaches Association and the Wrestlers in Business Network are pleased to announce the 50th annual NWCA All-Star Classic will take place at 8,600-seat Hank McCamish Pavilion on the campus of Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia on November 1, 2015.
The last time the NWCA All-Star Classic was held in the southeast, or at least below the Virginia border, was in 1995 when the event was held at Carmichael Arena on the campus of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to bring the nation’s best college wrestlers to an area that’s not only been great with its grassroots programs, but a state where there are more and more opportunities for both men and women to wrestle in college,” said NWCA President Mark Cody. “Together with the Wrestlers in Business Network and their Atlanta Chapter, we believe the 50th annual event will be one of the best we’ve ever hosted.”
Since 2009, Shorter University, Truett-McConnell and Brewton Parker have added men’s college wrestling programs within Georgia and in the past three years, Life University and Emmanuel College have added both men’s and women’s wrestling teams to their roster of varsity sports offerings.
The NWCA All-Star Classic is an annual showcase of the nation’s top college wrestling stars in a dual meet format that’s kicked off the college wrestling season since 2004. It was previously a post-season or late-season event.
“Since we’ve been able to present this as a real kickoff to the college wrestling season, the feedback and attendance has been tremendous,” said Moyer. “We sold out at American University when we saw David Taylor wrestle Kyle Dake. Thousands saw Logan Stieber bump up to defeat Kendric Maple at George Mason. We wrestled on one of the most iconic gyms in all of college sports last year at the Palestra in Philadelphia.”
“The Wrestlers in Business Network is proud to be involved in such a historic event,” said John Licata, WIBN Executive Director. “We’re pleased to have such a great relationship with the NWCA and we have a mutual mission in some ways that our network and our membership has a great love for our sport and we like to see the sport thrive. We’re proud that we’ve been able to elevate the Classic and it reflects well on the sport itself and our organization.”
The first NWCA All-Star Classic took place in 1967 in Stillwater, Oklahoma in what was then called the East-West All-Star Classic. The 2014 event in Philadelphia eventually saw 16 of the 23 Division I wrestlers earn All-American honors.
The Wrestlers in Business Network has managed the event since 2012 and the Atlanta Chapter, headed up by William & Mary alum Rob Larmore, is serving as the event presenter.
“Rob’s been just amazing,” said Licata. “His goal was to get the All-Star Classic to Georgia; It happened a little quicker than I thought. (The Classic) is in the right place and with the right people running it. Rob’s a heck of a leader and the quality of people were getting involved with our chapter boards like Rob – it’s remarkable.”
Also situated around the event will be a WIBN social prior to the event and Saturday’s wildly popular All-Star Clinic, which is one of the nation’s best concentrations of highly-credentialed clinicians.
“To be a clinician, you’ve either got to be an NCAA champion, an Olympian or have wrestled in the All-Star Classic,” said Licata. “The clinic and the socials will all bring together high-quality people who represent the sport well.”
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Details are still being finalized with the live national television production of the event.
“I believe once we have all the final details worked out with our television and streaming contracts, the wrestling community will absolutely love what this event is going to bring to the landscape of wrestling and the landscape of wrestling on television,” said Moyer.
WHAT: 50th Annual NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the Wrestlers in Business Network Atlanta Chapter
WHEN: Sunday, November 1, 2015, Time TBA
WHERE: Hank McCamish Pavilion, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Ga.
TICKETS: VIP/Social $125, Premium Floor $100, Premium $50, Reserved $25-$35; General Admission $10-$20; Student Rate $15
PURCHASE ONLINE: Click here
TV/LIVE STREAMING: TO BE ANNOUNCED
EVENT WEBSITE: http://www.theallstarclassic.
www.nwcaonline.com
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About National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA)
The NWCA brings the wrestling coaching community together to advance the sport and ensure that current and future generations have the opportunity to engage in a safe and educationally based wrestling experience. This is primarily done by strengthening existing programs, creating new programs, and providing coaches with progressive educational opportunities.
About Wrestlers in Business Network (WIBN)
The Group Wrestlers in Business is a non-profit organization that strives to unite the thousands of wrestlers that have retired from the sport and are now in their respective careers. It started as a networking group on LinkedIn. Since then, the group has evolved into a more prominent, member-focused organization that cares about supporting current & former wrestlers and the sport. Their mission is to establish a community of wrestlers who commonly share in the interest of helping each other in business and in life, while supporting and strengthening the sport that made us who we are today. www.wrestlersinbusiness.org