The 2023 NWCA All-Star Classic is set to go down on November 21, 2023 at 7:00 pm (ET). This event will feature a lineup filled with past NCAA Champions and All-Americans. One of the premier matchups of the night is the heavyweight bout between #1 Greg Kerkvliet and #2 Wyatt Hendrickson. Check out the below article for a full preview and prediction of this matchup at the All-Star Classic. 

Greg Kerkvliet, Penn State

Kerkvliet's Stats:

• 51-10 career college record
• 3-time All-American - 2nd (2023), 4th (2022), 7th (2021)
• 2017 Cadet World Champion
• 2018 Cadet World Silver 

Kerkvliet’s College All-American Hitlist:

• Wyatt Hendrickson
• Trent Hillger (3X)
• Mason Parris (3X)
• Tate Orndorff (5X)
• Anthony Cassioppi (3X)
• Christian Lance (4X)
• Jordan Wood
• Lucas Davison

Wyatt Hendrickson, Air Force

Hendrickson's Stats:

• 73-9 career college record
• 3rd Place At 2023 NCAAs
• 2023 U23 World Champion

Hendrickson’s College All-American Hitlist:

• Anthony Cassioppi
• Lucas Davison
• Zach Elam
• Jordan Wood

Winner Of All-Star Match = Clear NCAA Champion Favorite

Greg Kerkvliet and Wyatt Hendrickson are ranked #1 and #2 respectively in the country at heavyweight and are the clear title contenders heading into the start of the year. Beyond their ranking, their results from last year show they’re in a class of their own at heavyweight. Kerkvliet beat Tony Cassioppi three times last season and holds a win over Lucas Davison from the 2022 season. Meanwhile, Hendrickson pinned both Cassioppi and Davison in the NCAA Tournament last year. Kerkvliet and Hendrickson are the men to beat at heavyweight and whoever wins the All-Star match will be the favorite to win the 2024 285-pound NCAA title.

2023 NCAA Semifinal Match Recap

Greg Kerkvliet and Wyatt Hendrickson have only wrestled one time in their college career - last year in the semifinals of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. In that match, Hendrickson took control of the match early with a takedown in the first and even accumulated 59 seconds of riding time before Kerkvliet earned an escape to make the match 2-1 in favor of Hendrickson at the end of the first period.

Kerkvliet went underneath to start the second period and was able to secure a pivotal reversal and rideout to take a 3-2 lead into the final period. Hendrickson chose down to start the third but Kerkvliet put on a controlling ride for the entirety of the third period and ultimately took the 4-2 victory. 

Watch Kerkvliet’s win over Hendrickson in the semifinals of the 2023 NCAA Tournament:

The Case For Wyatt Hendrickson

Wyatt Hendrickson has made incredible progress in his 3 years of college wrestling and has become one of the most dominant wrestlers in the country. Hendrickson failed to place at NCAAs his first 2 years of college but is now a dynamic, pinning machine. What does that mean for his match against Kerkvliet? We’ll find out on November 21 but we can assuredly expect him to make adjustments on bottom from what he learned in their head-to-head matchup. Beyond that, their NCAA semis match shows us that Hendrickson might hold a slight edge in the neutral position. Hendrickson has all the tools to take out Kerkvliet - he just has to put together a complete match and tighten up his bottom weaknesses. 

The Case For Greg Kerkvliet

Greg Kerkvliet might not have the same bonus point numbers as Wyatt Hendrickson, but Kerkvliet is the favorite heading into the All-Star match. Kerkvliet will have the advantage on the mat against Hendrickson and has the neutral skills to take down anyone in the country. Kerkvliet has already felt the danger that Hendrickson presents and was able to come out on top with a win. On top of that, history has shown us that the Penn State staff can put together incredible game plans when given ample time and we should expect nothing less from Kerkvliet at the All-Star Classic.

Kerkvliet Or Hendrickson - The Prediction

This match might be the most highly anticipated bout of the entire All-Star event and I can’t wait to watch it go down. These are the two best heavyweight wrestlers in the country and we should expect to see incredible exchanges throughout the bout. I expect Kerkvliet to attempt to slow down Hendrickson's high-powered offense in order to force him into taking risky attacks. When that happens, I believe Kerkvliet will capitalize and control the match once again with his mat wrestling. Regardless of how the match plays out, it will be fascinating to watch unfold and set the stage for 285 pounds for the rest of the 2023-24 college wrestling season.