Oct. 27, 2017
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State All-Americans Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.) and Nick Nevills (Clovis, Calif.) will take part in the 2017 NWCA All-Star Classic on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 3 p.m. The exhibition event begins at 3 p.m. at Princeton University. For more information visit the official event website.
Hall, the 2017 NCAA Champion at 174 as a true freshman, will battle Arizona State All-American Zahid Valencia. The two met in the national semifinals last year with Hall winning a close match on his way to an NCAA title. Both head into the new season among the nation's elite at 174 once again. Each wrestler competed for Team USA this past summer in Tampere, Finland where Hall won his second straight junior world championship and Valencia finished with a silver medal. Both were key components in the U.S. winning the team championship in Finland. Hall went 31-3 last year as a true freshman.
Nevills, a 2017 All-American at 285 after placing fifth last year, finished fifth at 285 pounds as a sophomore. The Lion big man posted a 25-5 record during his first full season of action. He dropped a match to Duke's Jacob Kasper in the national quarterfinals but wrestled back and beat Kasper in the fifth place match-up, helping to lead Penn State to the NCAA team championship. Nevills will wrestle Tanner Hall, also from Arizona State. Hall took third at the NCAA Championships and has represented the U.S. on two junior world teams.
The Nittany Lions are coming off a 14-0 dual meet season and their sixth NCAA title in the last seven years. Penn State opens up the 2017-18 season with home duals against Army West Point on Thursday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. and Bucknell on Sunday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m. Both duals are in Rec Hall. With all home dual meets sold out, a limited number of Standing Room Only (SRO) tickets are available to select Rec Hall duals based on availability. Call 1-800-NITTANY for information or to purchase tickets.
The 2017-18 Penn State wrestling season is sponsored by The Family Clothesline. Penn State Fans are encouraged to follow Penn State wrestling via twitter at @pennstateWREST, on Penn State Wrestling's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pennstatewrestling and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/pennstatewrest. This is PENN STATE. WRESTLING lives here.