Darian Cruz to compete at NWCA All-Star Classic November 5
10/4/2017 10:19:00 AM | Men's Wrestling
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh NCAA Champion Darian Cruz has been selected to compete in the 52nd NWCA All-Star Classic, hosted by Wrestlers in Business Network and sponsored by Princeton Brain and Spine and Northwestern Mutual Life, Sunday November 5 at Princeton's Jadwin Gym.
Cruz won Lehigh's 28th individual national championship in wrestling last March, capping a 31-2 junior campaign by upsetting top seed Thomas Gilman of Iowa in overtime in the semifinals and then avenging an earlier loss to Minnesota's Ethan Lizak with a 6-3 decision in the NCAA Finals.
Now a two-time All-American and two-time EIWA Champion, Cruz enters his senior campaign with a 90-18 career record. The 2017 EIWA Wrestler of the Year, Cruz won his final 21 bouts last season.
Cruz will wrestle Oklahoma State All-American Nick Piccininni at 125 pounds at the All-Star Classic. Piccininni, a sophomore, went 27-8 as a redshirt freshman for the Cowboys and finished fourth at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis.
This will be the first meeting between Cruz and Piccininni.
Cruz's appearance at the NWCA All-Star Classic will mark the fifth time in six seasons that Lehigh has had at least one wrestler compete in the event. The Mountain Hawks had three entrants in 2015, with Mitch Minotti winning his bout by fall and Mason Beckman and Nathaniel Brown dropping decisions. Beckman competed in three NWCA All-Star Classic events during his time in the Brown and White.
Lehigh wrestlers own a 17-15 career record at the All-Star Classic. Mike Caruso was the first Lehigh wrestler to compete in the classic, defeating Jim Hanson of Colorado 6-3 in 1967.
The 52nd NWCA All-Star Classic, hosted by Wrestlers in Business Network and sponsored by Princeton Brain and Spine and Northwestern Mutual Life, is set for 3 p.m. on Sunday November 5 at Princeton's Jadwin Gym. For more information, including ticket information, visit goallstarclassic.com.
Like Lehigh Wrestling on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Cruz won Lehigh's 28th individual national championship in wrestling last March, capping a 31-2 junior campaign by upsetting top seed Thomas Gilman of Iowa in overtime in the semifinals and then avenging an earlier loss to Minnesota's Ethan Lizak with a 6-3 decision in the NCAA Finals.
Now a two-time All-American and two-time EIWA Champion, Cruz enters his senior campaign with a 90-18 career record. The 2017 EIWA Wrestler of the Year, Cruz won his final 21 bouts last season.
Cruz will wrestle Oklahoma State All-American Nick Piccininni at 125 pounds at the All-Star Classic. Piccininni, a sophomore, went 27-8 as a redshirt freshman for the Cowboys and finished fourth at the NCAA Championships in St. Louis.
This will be the first meeting between Cruz and Piccininni.
Cruz's appearance at the NWCA All-Star Classic will mark the fifth time in six seasons that Lehigh has had at least one wrestler compete in the event. The Mountain Hawks had three entrants in 2015, with Mitch Minotti winning his bout by fall and Mason Beckman and Nathaniel Brown dropping decisions. Beckman competed in three NWCA All-Star Classic events during his time in the Brown and White.
Lehigh wrestlers own a 17-15 career record at the All-Star Classic. Mike Caruso was the first Lehigh wrestler to compete in the classic, defeating Jim Hanson of Colorado 6-3 in 1967.
The 52nd NWCA All-Star Classic, hosted by Wrestlers in Business Network and sponsored by Princeton Brain and Spine and Northwestern Mutual Life, is set for 3 p.m. on Sunday November 5 at Princeton's Jadwin Gym. For more information, including ticket information, visit goallstarclassic.com.
Like Lehigh Wrestling on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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