Men's College Notebook: NWCA All-Star Classic Review

The unofficial start to the college season, the 2025 NWCA All-Star Classic, took place this past weekend on the campus of Rutgers University.

Here is a look at all the D1 men’s matchups; each one was a meeting between top 10 foes.

Reminder, these results do not count towards individual records and will not be a factor in NCAA seeding.

Meet the wrestlers: Both are All-American transfers in their first seasons at a new school. McNeil was a three-time All-American at North Carolina, placing fifth in 2025 at 149 pounds, his first season at the weight. Swiderski did not compete last year after suffering a season-ending injury before the season. In 2024 at Iowa State, he placed seventh in his second trip to NCAAs.

Revenge factor: This is the first-ever meeting between the two.

Result: Swiderski dec. McNeil, 4-2.

Swiderski scored the lone takedown of the match for the deciding factor.

Meet the wrestlers: In his first season, Ruiz earned All-American honors with a fifth-place finish last year. He was also named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year. Pinto transferred to Rutgers for his final season. At Nebraska, he was a three-time NCAA Qualifier. He was seeded eighth last year and reached the Blood Round.

Revenge factor: They met twice last year, with Ruiz claiming a decision both times. At the CKLV Invitational, Ruiz scored a 6-4 win. They met again at the NCAAs in the Blood Round, as Ruiz’s 2-1 decision eliminated Pinto from the tournament.

Result: Ruiz dec. Pinto, 9-6

What a comeback! Ruiz gave up a pair of first-period takedowns and was down 6-2 at the end of the first period. The second and third periods were different stories. Ruiz was dominant on top, with a two-point near fall and over two minutes of riding time. He also got a takedown to complete the comeback.

Meet the wrestlers: After coming back from injury, Novak placed fifth at the NCAAs last year, a run that included four bonus-point wins. Little has earned All-American honors in back-to-back years, placing seventh in 2024 and sixth last year.

Revenge factor: They have split their two previous meetings, both of which came at the NCAAs. In 2024, Little scored a 13-5 major decision in the consolations that eliminated Novak one win shy of the Blood Round. Last year, they met in the fifth-place bout with Novak scoring an 8-0 major decision.

Result: Little dec. Novak, 2-1 (SV)

The most controversial bout of the night. All tied up 1-1 going into extra time, the deciding point was awarded to Little as Novak was called for an illegal headlock. To make matters worse for Wyoming, the call came after a challenge for a late takedown from Novak’s corner.

Meet the wrestlers: A matchup of two returning All-Americans. Ventresca is a two-time All-American, including a fifth-place finish last year. Also last year, he was the ACC champion and claimed two wins over national champion Vince Robinson of NC State during the season. Seymour took sixth last year, including knocking off No. 1 seed Luke Lilledahl of Penn State to advance to the semifinals.

Revenge factor: A rematch of the fifth-place bout at the 2025 NCAAs, which Ventresca took 11-4.

Result: Ventresca dec. Seymour, 4-0

A first-period takedown was all the New Jersey native needed for the convincing win.

Meet the wrestlers: A pair of wrestlers both coming off redshirt seasons. As a freshman in 2024, Watters finished fourth at the NCAAs after winning a Big 12 title. After being named the 2023 Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year, Cardenas placed fourth at the 2024 NCAAs.

Revenge factor: This was the first-ever meeting between the two.

Result: Watters dec. Cardenas, 7-2 (SV)

Another extra time battle. It was all tied 2-2 until Watters hit a foot sweep in the extra period, not only for the takedown by also for a two-point near fall.

Meet the wrestlers: Garvin has earned All-American honors in each of his first two seasons, placing sixth in both 2024 and last year. He also won Stanford’s first ACC title last year. Brignola started his career at 149 pounds, then moved up to 157 for 2023 and 2024, and will be in his first season at 165 pounds. He went 15-0 last year unattached while deferring eligibility, winning six tournaments.

Revenge factor: This was the first-ever meeting between the two.

Result: Garvin dec. Brignola, 4-1

Another one-takedown bout went in favor of Garvin.

Meet the wrestlers: Smith earned All-American honors with a sixth-place finish last year. He is a three-time NCAA qualifier, reaching the quarterfinals as a freshman in 2023. Ryder redshirted last season at Penn State before transferring to Oklahoma State in the offseason. He went 8-0 as a redshirt, with a Southern Scuffle title.

Revenge factor: This was the first-ever meeting between the two.

Result: Ryder major dec. Smith, 14-4

In the lone bonus-point match of the event, Ryder was very impressive in his first bout for the Cowboys.

Meet the wrestlers: Both took a redshirt season last year. Bastida was a 2022 All-American at 197 pounds. This will be Bastida’s second full season at heavyweight. In his first back in 2024, he was the Big 12 champion and entered the NCAAs unbeaten as the No. 2 seed. Ghadiali is in his first season at Michigan after transferring from Campbell. He became the second All-American in Campbell program history with an eighth-place finish in 2024. He was also a four-time NCAA Qualifier and three-time SoCon champion.

Revenge factor: This was the first-ever meeting between the two.

Result: Bastida dec. Ghadiali, 8-2

It was a scoreless first before Bastida got an escape and a stall call point in the second period. In the third, Bastida tacked on a pair of takedowns off counters.

Meet the wrestlers: Byrd is the reigning national champion at this weight, returning for his seventh season. He is a three-time All-American and the reigning Big Ten Champion. In 2024, Shawver had a breakout year with a seventh-place finish for All-America honors two weeks after winning the Big Ten tournament. He reached the Blood Round last year.

Revenge factor: They met in a dual last year, Byrd winning by a narrow 6-5 decision.

Result: Byrd dec. Shawver, 7-1

After a scoreless first, Byrd dominated the second period with an escape to start, then a takedown and near-fall points.

Meet the wrestlers: Mendez is the reigning two-time national champion at this weight, a three-time All-American overall. Echemendia suffered a season-ending injury at the CKLV Invitational last year but was an All-American and Big 12 champion in 2024.

Revenge factor: Second career meeting. Mendez won 6-4 at the 2024 NCAA Championships in the semifinals. Echemendia also spent a year at Ohio State (2021-22) before Mendez’s arrival.

Result: Mendez dec. Echemendia; 7-3

After a scoreless first period, Mendez scored an escape and then a takedown in the second to open up the scoring. It was a two-point contest in the third period with a Mendez takedown at the 1:04 mark icing the match.