Russell Selected to Compete in NWCA All-Star Classic
11/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Nov. 10, 2011
NOTE (11/21/2011): Due to injury, Russell will not compete in the NWCA All-Star Classic. He will be replaced by Penn's Zach Kemmerer.
MANHEIM, Pa. -- Fifth-year senior Kellen Russell (High Bridge, N.J./Blair Academy) of the University of Michigan wrestling team has been selected to participate in the National Wrestling Coaches Association's 46th annual All-Star Classic. The event will be held on Monday, Nov. 21, at Arizona State University's Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Ariz.
The NWCA All-Star Classic pits the nation's top collegiate wrestlers against each other in challenge matches that are often seen as a preview of the NCAA Championships.
Russell, the nation's top-ranked 141-pounder, will square off against Cal Poly's No. 2-ranked Boris Novachkov. It will be a rematch of last season's NCAA Championships final, won by Russell, 3-2. Russell also won a previous meeting against Novachkov by the same margin at the 2010 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.
A three-time Big Ten champion and returning NCAA champion, Russell boasted an impressive 38-0 record last season, including a 16-0 mark in dual meets. He is the 32nd Michigan wrestler to earn an NWCA All-Star selection and the first since Steve Luke went in 2008.
2011 NWCA All-Star Classic Lineup
125 -- #3 Jarrod Patterson (Oklahoma) vs. #4 Nic Bedelyon (Kent State)
133 --#1 Jordan Oliver (Oklahoma State vs. #3 B.J. Futrell (Illinois)
141 -- #1 Kellen Russell (U-M) vs. #2 Boris Novachkov (Cal Poly)
149 -- #3 Jamal Parks (Oklahoma State) vs. Tyler Nauman (Pittsburgh)
157 -- #3 Jason Welch (Northwestern) vs. Ganbayar Sanjaa (American)
165 -- #2 Shane Onufer (Wyoming) vs. #3 Josh Asper (Maryland)
174 -- #3 Jordan Blanton (Illinois) vs. #4 Nick Heflin (Ohio State)
184 -- #6 Joe LeBlanc (Wyoming) vs. #8 Ben Bennett (Central Michigan)
197 -- #1 (DIII) Byron Tate (Wartburg) vs. #4 Christ Honeycutt (Edinboro)
Hwt -- #2 Ryan Flores (American) vs. #4 Spencer Myers (Maryland)
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
