Nicholson caps career as one of ODu's best

James Nicholson was one of two Iowa preps to reach the awards for an out-of-state school.

Nicholson placed eighth for Old Dominion University at 125 pounds Saturday of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Nicholson ended his career as a four-time NCAA qualifier and became the Monarchs' first two-time All-American since Buddy Lee did it in 1980 and 1982.

Nicholson, a Class 3A 119-pound champion for Des Moines Roosevelt in 2006, went 35-3 and finished with 138 career wins, which ties him for first in school history with Chris Brown (2005-10). He also placed eighth as a freshman in 2008.

Former Creston-OM three-time state champion Andrew Long, who was an NCAA finalist at 125 for Iowa State last year and transferred to Penn State for the second half of the season, placed third for the Nittany Lions. Long (20-2) helped Penn State win its first NCAA team title since 1953.