University of Minnesota Athletics
Sanders To Compete in NWCA All-Star Classic
11/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Manheim, Pa. - Zach Sanders has been selected to compete in the annual National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic, which will be held on Sunday, Nov. 22 this season.
Sanders, a Wabash, Minn. native, is currently a sophomore for the University of Minnesota wrestling team, and opened the 2008-09 season last weekend at the Bison Open, earning champion honors for the second consecutive season. Sanders went 4-0 to earn champion honors, which included two falls as well as a major decision in the championship match.
Sanders selection to the All-Star Classic comes off a standout freshman season where he won 39 matches to lead the team, and earned his first All-America honor at the NCAA Championships. After earning fifth place at the Big Ten championships, Sanders won four matches at the NCAA Tournament to claim sixth place honors and was named All-America in his just his first season.
Sanders' opponent at the All-Star Classic will be James Nicholson, a junior from Old Dominion. Nicholson is currently ranked No. 5 nationally at 125 pounds, while Sanders is just ahead at No. 4.
The two have met once previously, matching up in the second round of last season's NCAA Tournament. In the meeting, Sanders was able to come away with the narrow 5-4 decision. Nicholson was also at the All-Star Classic last season, falling to Charlie Falck of Iowa.
This year's All-Star Classic will mark the 44th annual, presented by the William and Mary Wrestling Alumni Group. All-Star wrestlers are invited from around the country, making up one match at each weight class. The festivities will be hosted by Cal state Fullerton marking the first time the event has been in California, in an effort to help save the program at CSUF.
All the matches will be streamed live on the internet and the stream can be accessed at www.NWCA.com.
2009 NWCA All-Star Classic Competitors
125: #5 James Nicholson (Old Dominion) vs #4 Zach Sanders (Minnesota)
133: #4 Steve Bell (Maryland) vs #5 Daniel Dennis (Iowa)
141: #2 Nick Gallick (Iowa State) vs #3 Alex Krom (Maryland)
149: #2 Lance Palmer (Ohio State) vs #5 Kyle Borshoff (American)
157: #1 Jordan Burroughs (Nebraska) vs #2 Matt Moley (Bloomsburg)
165: #4 Jonathan Reader (Iowa State) vs #6 Andrew Rendos (Bucknell)
174: #2 Chris Henrich (Virginia) vs #7 Stephen Dwyer (Nebraska)
184: #4 Max Askren (Missouri) vs #5 Josh Patterson (Binghamton)
197: #1 Jake Varner (Iowa State) vs #2 Craig Brester (Nebraska)
285: #1 Mark Ellis (Missouri) vs #5 David Zabriskie (Iowa State)
Featured Bouts:
141: Adin Duenas (Cal State Fullerton) vs Elijah Nacita (Cal State Bakersfield)
184: Zach Giesen (Stanford) vs Enoch Francois (Cal Baptist University)
197: John Drake (Cal State Fullerton) vs Riley Orozco (Cal State Bakersfield)
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Players Mentioned
