The NWCA All-Star Classic presented by Cliff Keen will be held on November 22 in Austin, Texas, and will be streamed LIVE on FloWrestling. Below is a preview of the 165-pound match between #1 Keegan O’Toole (Missouri) and #6 Dean Hamiti (Wisconsin). 

Season/Record/NCAA/Weight/School

Keegan O’Toole, SO
2021: 19-1  (3rd), 165 (Missouri)
2022: 25-0 (1st), 165 (Missouri)

Other: 2021 U20 World champion 

Dean Hamiti, SO
2022: 28-4 (6th), 165 (Wisconsin)

Match History

This is the first college match between O’Toole and Hamiti.

What You Need To Know 

O’Toole enters as last season's 165-pound NCAA champion but there’s no telling what could happen this year in a loaded weight class. David Carr (Iowa State) and Shane Griffith (Stanford) — both NCAA champions — will push O’Toole after an undefeated season for the Missouri star. Carr won his title in 2021 at 157 while Griffith won at 165. The Stanford star reached the 2022 NCAA tournament finals but fell to O’Toole, 6-5.

Hamiti had an excellent true freshman campaign where he placed sixth at the NCAA Championships with a 28-4 record. He fell to Griffith 10-4 in the quarterfinals before winning two matches in the consolation bracket to become an All-American. He dropped a 7-5 match to Michigan’s Cam Amine and medically forfeited to Iowa’s Alex Marinelli to place sixth. 

What Can You Expect?

Hamiti earned a reputation as one of the most dynamic college wrestlers in the country. A quick glance at his scores shows how offensive-minded the Badger star was last season. He put up 10 or more points in 17 matches along with 14 falls/technical falls. Overlook look Dean Hamiti at your own peril. This guy is good — and entertaining.

O’Toole has only dropped one match in his college career: a 9-6 setback to Pittsburgh’s Jake Wentzel at the 2021 NCAA Championships — an opponent Hamiti defeated 8-0 in the consolation round in 2022. The Tiger star had a brutal draw but still came out on top. Gritty. Tough. Poised. Winner. These four words accurately describe Keegan O’Toole.

Excitement is the word that will accurately describe this match. Both have a style that could make this a classic match at the All-Star Classic. It’s always fun to see lots of points, but this match should include a lengthy scramble or two.

Hamiti uses his length for a diverse array of attacks from all positions. His ankle pick and cradle are lethal, but getting them to work on O’Toole is the challenge. The Missouri sophomore knows how to control a match and keep the pace high. 

O’Toole has to be the favorite, but Hamiti has what it takes to make this competitive. If you had to choose one match for guaranteed action — pick this one.