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Manheim, Pa. – Returning All-American Zach Epperly will face preseason no. 1-ranked Kyle Crutchmer of Oklahoma State at the 50^th annual Hire Heroes NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the Wrestlers in Business Network on November 1 in Atlanta, Ga. The All-Star Classic will be held at Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion at 5 p.m.

“Having multiple Hokies in this event says a lot about the potential of this team,” said associate head coach Tony Robie. “This is one of the premier wrestling events of the season. Being selected to participate is an indication that you have the ability to contend for an NCAA title.”

This will be the first meeting of the two wrestlers and the first appearance at the NWCA All-Star Classic for Epperly.

Epperly was a standout freshman for the Hokies last year, helping lead Virginia Tech to a 10^th-place finish as a team in St. Louis. Voted as the state’s top rookie by the VaSID, Epperly finished his debut season with 24 victories and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2015 NCAA Championships and earned All-American status.

“This is an exciting opportunity for [Epperly] and a great way to start the season off after a fantastic freshman year,” said Robie. “I know Zach is excited about this match up and the opportunity to wrestle no.1-ranked Crutchmer. I expect an exciting match as both wrestlers are tremendously athletic guys.”

Epperly will be Virginia Tech’s seventh entrant into the event, joinging Ty Walz and Nick Brascetta at the 2015 event.

“The NWCA All-Star Classic is one of the premier events of the season, it showcases many of the best athletes in our sport,” said Robie. “Having representation from Virginia Tech three years running says a lot about how far we have come in recent years and is a testament to the individuals selected. If you're wrestling in this event, it means you're among the best our sport has to offer.”

Announced #NWCAClassic50 Matchups
125-
133-
141-
149-
157-
165-
174- Kyle Crutchmer (Oklahoma State) vs Zach Epperly (Virginia Tech)
184- Vic Avery vs Nate Brown
197- Conner Hartmann
285- Adam Coon, Jr. (Michigan) vs. Ty Walz, Jr. (Virginia Tech)

WHAT: 50^th Annual Hire Heroes NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the Wrestlers in Business Network Atlanta Chapter
WHEN: Sunday, November 1, 2015, 5 p.m. Eastern
WHERE: Hank McCamish Pavilion, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Ga.
TICKETS: VIP/Social $125, Premium Floor $100, Premium $50, Reserved $25-$35; General Admission $10-$20; Student Rate $15
PURCHASE ONLINE: Click here
TV/LIVE STREAMING: ESPNU (Find ESPNU on your cable or satellite provider)
EVENT WEBSITE: http://www.theallstarclassic.com

About the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA)
The NWCA brings the wrestling coaching community together to advance the sport and ensure that current and future generations have the opportunity to engage in a safe and educationally based wrestling experience. This is primarily done by strengthening existing programs, creating new programs, and providing coaches with progressive educational opportunities.

About Wrestlers in Business Network (WIBN)
The Group Wrestlers in Business is a non-profit organization that strives to unite the thousands of wrestlers that have retired from the sport and are now in their respective careers. It started as a networking group on LinkedIn. Since then, the group has evolved into a more prominent, member-focused organization that cares about supporting current & former wrestlers and the sport. Their mission is to establish a community of wrestlers who commonly share in the interest of helping each other in business and in life, while supporting and strengthening the sport that made us who we are today. www.wrestlersinbusiness.org

About ESPNU
The 24-hour college sports television network airs more than 650 live events annually. ESPNU is available nationwide in approximately 73 million households.

For updates on Virginia Tech wrestling, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @VT_Wrestling