Fresno, Calif. – The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) and California USA Wrestling are hosting the 45th Annual NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the Marines as a fundraiser to assist in the preservation and development of collegiate wrestling in California. 

The NWCA All-Star Classic is built on 45 years of tradition and is unique from other wrestling tournaments. The 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 with its intense matches between the highest-ranked collegiate wrestlers from across the nation. This year, the All-Star Classic will be held at the Selland Arena in Fresno, California on November 21. 

The well-known and respected magnate, David S. Pottruck and 2008 Olympic wrestling gold medalist, Henry Cejudo are the featured speakers at the fundraising luncheon that precedes The 45th Annual NWCA All-Star Classic presented by the Marines. The luncheon is open to those who want to support California Wrestling through corporate or private sponsorship.

Henry Cejudo achieved his dream of becoming an Olympic gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.  At just 21, Mr. Cejudo made history by becoming the youngest American wrestler to ever bring home the gold. His amazing story of determination and triumph has won the hearts of America. His highly-acclaimed autobiography; "American Victory" was released in January 2010. “American Victory” is the story of Henry’s amazing journey that took him from a childhood devoid of stability to the top of the Olympic podium. As a spokesperson for the Latino community and underprivileged children, Henry actively mentors to troubled youth and inner city kids across the country. As a mentor and positive role model for America’s youth, Henry works with various charities, outreach programs, and notable non-profit organizations including The Special Olympics, Boy Scouts of America, and Beat the Streets Wrestling. Many of these programs are geared towards under privileged youth and the Hispanic community. Through these programs he is able to offer hope and support to thousands of young athletes by sharing his inspirational story.  Henry teaches them to stay focused, to lead by example and above all to believe in themselves.

David S. Pottruck is a high-profile corporate executive and author with a distinguished resume that includes membership in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame of the Hall of Outstanding Americans. David was also the team leader for the 2000 Olympic wrestling team. He was a varsity wrestler for the Univ. of Pennsylvania, where he received undergraduate and graduate degrees. He also served as an assistant wrestling coach at Penn.

Currently, Pottruck is the co-chairman of HighTower, a $14 billion nationwide wealth management firm. In addition to HighTower and other business pursuits, Mr. Pottruck serves on the board of directors for Intel and as a senior fellow and adjunct faculty in the Wharton Center for Leadership and Change Management. He is the former president and chief executive officer of The Charles Schwab Corporation. Mr. Pottruck co-authored the best seller, “Clicks and Mortar: Passion Driven Growth in an Internet Driven World” and has received numerous awards and accolades from a variety of notable organizations including “CEO of the Year” by Information Week and was the recipient of the Anti-Defamation League’s 2000 Torch of Liberty Award.

“We are excited to have the support of David Pottruck and Henry Cejudo. They are both great speakers with important messages. Those who attend the luncheon will be inspired by their stories,” stated Mike Moyer, executive director of NWCA.

The state’s struggling economy has left many casualties in its wake including a number of collegiate wrestling programs. Fresno State and UC Davis’s programs have been eliminated while Cal State Bakersfield and Cal State Fullerton are in danger of being cancelled. The event and its cause are attracting support from high-profile athletes and corporate leaders alike.

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 p.m. The luncheon will precede tournament. For more information about table sponsorship at the luncheon and purchasing tickets to the All-Star Classic, visit www.nwcaonline.com's event page.  

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

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.

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.