Nov. 2, 2009
Columbia, Mo. –Missouri senior wrestlers Mark Ellis (Peculiar, Mo.) and Maxwell Askren (Hartland, Wis.) were selected to the 44th annual National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) All-Star Classic set for Sunday, Nov. 22, at 4 p.m. (CT) in Titan Gym on the campus of Cal State Fullerton. This marks the first time in program history that two Tigers were selected to compete for the prestigious event.
Ellis, the defending national champion and current No. 1 ranked heavyweight in the nation, is slated to take on Iowa State’s fifth-ranked David Zabriskie. The two Big 12 opponents have met five times throughout Ellis’ career with two-time All-American Zabriskie owning a 5-0 lead. The matchup between two Big 12 competitors is one of two on the card.
Two-time All-American Askren will make his first appearance at the NWCA All-Star Classic when he pairs with fifth-ranked Josh Patterson of Binghampton in the 184 pound match. Askren opens his senior season ranked as high as fourth in the nation, while Patterson, a 2009 All-American, enters at No. 5.
The Big 12 Conference is sending a total of nine wrestlers to the All-Star Classic. Iowa State has the most representatives with four, including 197 pound National Champion Jake Varner. Nebraska will send three grapplers, among them, 157 pound National Champion Jordan Burroughs.
Since 2004, five Missouri wrestlers have been selected to compete at the All-Star Classic. Most recently, Nicholas Marable (Collierville, Tenn.) represented the Tigers at the 2008 event, besting Mack Lewnes of Cornell, 3-2.
Bouts contested at the All-Star Classic do not count toward a wrestler’s official record.
Fans interested in attending the annual event can purchase tickets through TicketLeap (http://savefullertonwrestling.ticketleap.com/).
2009 NWCA All-Star Classic Competitors
125: #2 Anthony Robles (Arizona State) vs. #4 Zach Sanders (Minnesota)
133: #4 Steve Bell (Maryland) vs. #5 Daniel Dennis (Iowa)
141: #2 Nick Gallick (Iowa State) vs. #3 Alex Krom (Maryland)
149: #2 Lance Palmer (Ohio State) vs. #5 Kyle Borshoff (American)
157: #1 Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska) vs. #2 Matt Moley (Bloomsburg)
165 :#4 Jonathan Reader (Iowa State) vs. #6 Andrew Rendos (Bucknell)
174: # Chris Henrich (Virginia) vs. #7 Stephen Dwyer (Nebraska)
184: #4 Max Askren (Missouri) vs. #5 Josh Patterson (Binghamton)
197: #1 Jake Varner (Iowa State) vs. #2 Craig Brester (Nebraska)
285: #1 Mark Ellis (Missouri) vs. #5 David Zabriskie (Iowa State)
Featured Bouts:
141: Adin Duenas (Cal State Fullerton) vs. Elijah Nacita (Cal State Bakersfield)
184: Zach Giesen (Stanford) vs. Enoch Francois (Cal Baptist University)
197: John Drake (Cal State Fullerton) vs. Riley Orozco (Cal State Bakersfield)
