McKenna-Brock match highlights NWCA All-Star Classic

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Updated: November 2, 2018

By Andy Hamilton, TrackWrestling, NWCA Press Release

Manheim, PA – Joey McKenna has been one of college wrestling’s most consistent winners throughout his career. Kaid Brock has developed a reputation for toppling decorated opponents. The two-time All-Americans will tangle on Nov. 2 at 141 pounds at the NWCA All-Star Classic in Denver. The event will be streamed live on Trackwrestling.

McKenna, a senior at Ohio State, has compiled a 79-8 record at 141 during his first three college seasons. He placed third at the 2016 NCAA Championships as a freshman at Stanford and placed third again last year during his first season with the Buckeyes.

The Towaco, New Jersey, native is also a three-time conference champion, a 2017 U23 World bronze medalist, a 2014 Junior World silver medalist, and he’s currently second on the United States men’s freestyle ladder at 65 kilograms.

Brock immediately established himself as a national title threat three years ago when he debuted in an Oklahoma State singlet with a 42-second fall against returning NCAA champion Cody Brewer.

Over the course of the last two seasons, the Stillwater, Oklahoma native, has compiled a 59-9 record with 10 wins against All-Americans, including a victory against 2017 national champion Cory Clark.

Those results occurred at 133 pounds. The junior is taking on a new challenge at 141.

All-Americans Abby Nette and Erika Mihalca to face off at 130 pounds at the 2018 NWCA All-Star Classic

Erika Mihalca a Petaluma, California native is a three-time WCWA National Qualifier and a one-time All-American while attending Missouri Baptist College.  Mihalca earned her first ever All-American status while placing fourth in the 130-pound weight class at the 2018 WCWA National Championships. Mihalca has competed in the USAW University Nationals in which she placed fifth and second respectively.  Mihalca will look to repeat her All-American status while looking to improve upon her fourth-place finish. She will kick off the season with a tough opponent in an All-Star match against Emmanuel’s Abby Nette.

From a four-time All-American while a high school athlete in Louisiana, to an All-American at Emmanuel College, Abby Nette hopes to improve on than her third-place finish in the 123-pound weight class at last year’s 2018 WCWA National Championships. With a 63-17 career record, Nette is a force to be reckoned with. During her freshman year, she qualified for the WCWA’s missing out on an All-American finish.  Abby represent the USA as 2018 U23 World Team Member, an accomplishment that should never go unnoticed. Abby Nette will be wrestling at 130 in this bout, to match up against Erika Mihalca. Nette will continue her season as a 123 pounder and look for back to back trips All-American honors.

Both Erika and Abby are excited to represent their schools on a national stage early in the season.  While they will share the mat in Denver, they will compete at different weights this year with Nette going 123 and Mihalca going 130.

Hemida and White pitted against each other at the 285-weight class for 2018 NWCA All-Star Classic

Hailing from Mamaroneck, New York, Youssif Hemida is ready to compete against a high-level opponent to kick-start his season. Hemida earned his first All-American honors, with an eighth-place finish at the 2018 NCAA National Championships. He has qualified for the NCAA’s two times, has amassed a 65-25 career record, and was a one-time New York state champion, which he says his biggest sports thrill of his career. This will be Youssif’s second consecutive NWCA All-Star Classic as he at Princeton in 2017.

Oklahoma State heavyweight, Derek White, is ready to make a name for himself starting with the NWCA All-Star Classic. Derek comes into the season as a redshirt senior and is actively pursuing his first All-American honors. With a career record of 51-16, one Big12 championship in 2018, which earned him his first NCAA Tournament birth, Derek is ready to show the country what he is made of. He competed his first two collegiate years at the University of Nebraska and transferred to Oklahoma State to compete for his final three years of eligibility. Derek is Oklahoma State’s third wrestler to wrestle in this year’s NWCA All-Star Classic which will air live on TrackWrestling for $14.99.

What:  53rd NWCA All-Star Classic hosted by RMNevents, Nuway, and the University of Northern Colorado. Presented by, ARMS Software and Denver Chapter WIBN

When:  Friday, November 2, doors open at 4 pm

Where:  National Wrestling Complex, 4655 Humboldt St, Denver, CO 80216

Tickets:  $20 (matside tables available) Click Here!  

Social Media:  #allstarclassic

Watch:  www.trackwrestling.com  

Info:  www.goallstarclassic.com  

ANNOUNCED MATCHUPS
Men
141: Joey McKenna (Ohio State) Vs. Kaid Brock (Oklahoma State) – Release
149: Mitch Finesilver (Duke) Vs. Matt Kolodzik (Princeton) – Release
174: Myles Amine (Michigan) Vs. Jacobe Smith (Oklahoma State) – Release
184: Max Dean (Cornell) Vs. Taylor Venz (Nebraska) – Release
285: Derek White (Oklahoma St.)  – Youssif Hemida (Maryland)

Women
109: Charlotte Fowler (Campbellsville) Vs. Maria Vidales (Emmanuel) – Release
123: Gabriela Ramos-Diaz (Wayland Baptist) Vs. Dominique Parrish (Simon Fraser) – Release
130: Erika Mihalca (Missouri Baptist) Vs. Abby Nette (Emmanuel)
143: Nicole Joseph (King) Vs. Alexis Porter (McKendree) – Release
170: Brittany Marshall (Wayland Baptist) Vs.  Mariah Harris (Campbellsville) – Release 

 

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