Nov. 20, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern wrestlers Jake Herbert (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) and Ryan Lang (North Royalton, Ohio/St. Edward) will participate in Monday's 41st annual NWCA All-Star Classic held in Dallas. The event traditionally pits the No. 1 versus No. 2 grapplers in each weight class.
Herbert will make his second appearance while Lang will make his first and both Wildcats are ranked No. 1 at their weight. This year marks the first time Northwestern will have two representatives in the same year.
"This event recognizes the elite wrestlers in the country," head coach Tim Cysewski said. "It shows the wrestling world that Northwestern is continuing to evolve as a national power. We take the invitations very seriously and we plan to use this meet to set the stage for the 2006-07 season."
At 141, Lang will face fifth-ranked Nathan Morgan from Oklahoma State. Michigan State's Andy Simmons, ranked No. 2, pulled out of the event. Lang has posted an 11-0 record to start 2006-07 with three major decisioins and three falls. Morgan is 1-1 in duals with one of those victories coming over MSU's Simmons.
Herbert will take on Minnesota's Roger Kish, ranked second at 184 lbs. Herbert defeated Nebraska's Jacob Klein in his first All-Star Classic appearance in 2005. Herbert is a perfect 11-0 with all but two wins coming by fall or technical fall. Kish is the reigning Big Ten Champion at 184 lbs. and he finished second at the NCAA Championships. This will be the first meeting between the two wrestlers.
LiveSportsVideo.com will provide a free web cast of the All-Star Classic, with coverage beginning at 5 p.m. CT. The featured match-ups will begin at approximately 7 p.m.