MANKATO, Minn. – The No. 6-ranked Minnesota State wrestling team will host its annual Purple & Gold Classic on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. in the Taylor Center.
This year's event will feature two Maverick wrestling greats serving as honorary head coaches. Former All-Americans
Andy Forstner and
Travis Elg will lead the Gold and Purple squads, respectively.
Tickets for the Purple & Gold Classic are $10 for adults and $5 for students (18/under) and free for MSU students with a valid MavCard. All home and away conference wrestling matches for the Mavericks will be live on the new home of Maverick streaming on Midco Sports+ with Chris Willaert having the call.
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Forstner, a native of Madelia, Minn., earned NCAA Division II All-America honors three times during his Minnesota State career (2009, 2010, 2011). Wrestling at 125 pounds, he posted a sixth-place national finish in 2009 and a fourth-place finish in 2010. Prior to joining the Mavericks, Forstner captured a Minnesota high school state championship for Madelia/Truman, completing an undefeated 40-0 season in 2006.
Now residing in Lake Crystal, Minn., with his wife, Brandi, and son, Zev, Forstner returns to his alma mater to serve as the honorary head coach of the Gold Team.
Elg, a native of Mountain Lake, Minn., was a two-time NCAA Division II All-American for the Mavericks, earning national honors in 2008 and 2010. During his Minnesota State career, he claimed three NCAA North Region championships and was named the region's Outstanding Wrestler in 2009. Known for his aggressive style and ability to secure falls, Elg established himself as one of the program's top competitors.
Before arriving in Mankato, Elg won three Minnesota high school state championships while competing for Windom/Mountain Lake-Butterfield-Odin and compiled an impressive 193-11 career record.
Elg currently resides in St. James, Minn., with his wife, Allison, and their children, Lincoln and Madison. He returns to Minnesota State as the honorary head coach of the Purple Team.
2026 Purple & Gold Classic Matchups
