California USA Wrestling and NWCA will use proceeds from the 45th Annual NWCA All-Star Classic Presented by The Marines to help save wrestling programs

Fresno, Calif. – October 18, 2010 – California USA Wrestling and the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) are teaming up to host the 45th Annual NWCA All-Star Classic Presented by The Marines on November 21, 2010 in Fresno, California at the Selland Arena. The highest-ranked collegiate wrestlers from across the nation will compete in the time-honored event. The intense matches between equally skilled and aggressive athletes often leave fans in a state of suspense until the NCAA Division I Championships where they hope to witness a rematch. 

The NWCA All-Star Classic is built on 45 years of tradition and is unique from other wrestling tournaments. The All-Star Classic has evolved over the years, becoming a kick-off event for the college-wrestling season; it consistently draws wrestling enthusiasts and general sports fans alike. The event features compelling matchups at each weight class as individual competition versus a team style tournament; the result is an atmosphere of gripping anticipation among an unbiased crowd.

The excitement of the 45th annual NWCA All-Star Classic Presented by The Marines is tempered only by the cause it is serving. California USA Wrestling and the NWCA are hosting the event as a fundraiser to preserve college wrestling in California. Numerous Division One wrestling programs such as Cal State Bakersfield, Cal Poly, UC Davis and Cal State Fullerton are in danger of being eliminated due to the adverse conditions of California’s economy. Fresno State’s wrestling program was cancelled after the 2005-06 season; the NWCA and California USA Wrestling are working diligently with the school to get the program reinstated through additional fundraising efforts and initiatives. 

“California USA Wrestling and the NWCA are committed to helping preserve California collegiate wrestling,” stated Duane Morgan, president of California USA Wresting. “We want the event to raise awareness of what is happening in California. We have the largest state high school wrestling participation in the U.S. with 27,000 wrestlers and few alternatives available to accommodate them in the state. Athletes won’t have the opportunities they deserve if programs continue to be eliminated.” 

The two organizations are collaborating on additional strategies and outlining new initiatives to build awareness, raise funds and support legislature aimed at preserving California’s collegiate wrestling programs. The 45th Annual NWCA All-Star Classic Presented by The Marines is an important step in building momentum behind their efforts.   

“We need the entire California wrestling community to step up and support this event. These four intercollegiate wrestling teams need the support more than ever. They will directly benefit from all proceeds generated from the All-Star Classic. The NWCA has identified some very viable and cost effective strategic initiatives uniquely designed to save/protect all four of these college programs but without funding, we’ll probably never know what might have been,” said Brian Smith, president of NWCA.

The 45th Annual NWCA All-Star Classic Presented by The Marines will be held at the Selland Arena in Fresno, California on Sunday, November 21, 2010. The doors open at 2:00 p.m. The All-Star Classic follows a weekend of fundraising events. 

For more information about the tournament, purchasing tickets and the fundraising events, visit the www.nwcaonline.com's event page at:
http://www.nwcaonline.com/NWCAWebSite/Events/nwcaallstarclassic.aspx

To donate to the aforementioned collegiate wrestling programs, visit:
http://nwca.ticketleap.net

About California USA Wrestling

California USA Wrestling is a non-profit organization committed to the success and health of their athletes and dedicated to the promotion and preservation of collegiate and international styles of amateur wrestling. As the official California affiliate of USA Wrestling, the national governing board for international-style amateur wrestling in the United States, the club is responsible for the organization and execution of sanctioned USA Wrestling events in the state. California USA Wrestling educates the community about the styles of wrestling and the value of being involved in the sport. They strive to provide fun, exciting and well-planned events and improve the quality of California wrestling at the competitive level. For more information, visit www.ca-usaw.org.

About NWCA

The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a professional organization dedicated to supporting and elevating the sport of amateur wrestling. NWCA provides leadership and guidance primarily to scholastic and collegiate wrestling programs, but is an advocate to all levels of wrestling. The NWCA promotes communication, recognizes achievement, recommends rules and regulations, sponsors events and serves as a resource for education and information pertaining to the sport of wrestling. Additionally, The NWCA strives to foster the sportsmanship and integrity that are the cornerstones of any competitive sport. For more information, visit http://www.nwcaonline.com.