The NWCA All-Star Classic pairs two of the top college wrestlers in each of the 10 weight classes. This year, the event is hosted by Cal State Fullerton at Titan Gym on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m.
Nicholson, ranked No. 5 nationally will take on No. 4 Zach Sanders from Minnesota. It will be a rematch of a 2009 NCAA Tournament match in which Nicholson was narrowly edged by fellow All-American Saunders, 5-4.
"Old Dominion University is honored to have James Nicholson selected to compete in the 44th NWCA All-Star Classic Presented by the Wrestling Alumni - College of William & Mary," said Monarch head coach Steve Martin. "This is a very prestigious honor to be selected and it will put Old Dominion University on a national platform.
This All Star Classic will give James another opportunity to compete against the best in the nation! Our schedule is loaded with Top 25 opponents this year and it is a goal of our program to always compete at the highest level."
Nicholson is currently ranked No. 5 at 125-pounds in both the Intermat and Amateur Wrestling News listings. The junior was a NCAA All-American during the 2007-08 season, finishing eighth at 125-pounds at the NCAA Tournament. He has won the CAA Championship in each of the last two seasons. Last year, Nicholson went 36-4 and once again qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
This season, Nicholson has claimed first at the Hokie Open and won his lone dual at No. 12 Wisconsin.
Nicholsons appearance is the third overall for a Monarch wrestler at the All-Star Classic. Wayne Bright wrestled in the event in 1970 when it was known as the East-West All-Star Classic. He faced Iowa State's Dan Gable, the eventual 1972 Olympic Champion and longtime Iowa head wrestling coach.
Binghamton's Josh Patterson is the CAA's second representative in the event, wrestling at 184 pounds.
The event will be broadcast live by LIVESPORTSVIDEO.COM and later by The Big Ten Network on a tape delayed basis in December.
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