Nov. 5, 2008

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois junior All-American and fourth-ranked Jimmy Kennedy (Ingleside, Ill.) was selected to compete at the 43rd Annual National Wrestling Coaches Association's National All-Star Classic, which will be held Nov. 24 at St. John Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Kennedy, who placed fourth at 133 pounds at the 2008 NCAA Championships, will take on the host Buckeyes' ninth-ranked Reece Humphrey, a two-time NCAA qualifier, in the first collegiate match between the two.

"It's a good feeling to know that all the wrestling I've done so far in my career hasn't gone unnoticed," Kennedy said. "This will be another opportunity to get some good match experience against a quality opponent."

Kennedy is one of 15 Big Ten wrestlers who are scheduled to compete in the event. Five Iowa wrestlers, two each from Ohio State and Penn State, and one each from Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin will compete in the 10 regular matches, while Kennedy and a pair of Buckeye grapplers will participate in the exhibition matches at the All-Star Classic. The conference is sure to bring home at least five victories, as the matches at 133, 149, 174 and 184, and the exhibition between Kennedy and Humphrey will be contested by two Big Ten wrestlers.

The invitation is Kennedy's first to the All-Star Classic and the event will wrap up Illinois' third weekend of competition, as the rest of the team will be competing at the Missouri Open on Nov. 23. The Illini open the season on Saturday at Huff Hall with the instrasquad wrestle-offs at 11:30 a.m., then travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., to face North Carolina State, Virginia and the host Tar Heels in the ACC/Big Ten Clash on Nov. 15.