This is the first story of a four-part series on this year's ODU Sports hall of fame class.
Written by Grant Gardner
NORFOLK, Va. – James Nicholson (2006-11) became ODU wrestling’s first two-time All-American in 29 years, when he earned All-American honors as a freshman in 2008, and as a senior in 2011. He is tied for the most wins in ODU history with 138 and was twice named the CAA Wrestler of the Year. Nicholson became the first wrestler in CAA history to win four-straight conference championships at a single weight class. A four-time NWCA Academic All-American, he graduated with degrees in finance and marketing. But behind all of these amazing accolades, is a story of how it all happened.
“I started wrestling in the sixth grade,” said Nicholson. “I was an overactive kid and one of our family friends said to my parents that they should get me into wrestling.”
As a senior in high school in 2006, he went 46-0 and was crowned a state champion.
“To be honest with you, I didn’t even know who James Nicholson was until he was a senior in high school,” said ODU head coach Steve Martin. “We knew nothing about him. We recruited him late, everybody was already in the picture. He came out here and was in the same recruiting trip as Kyle Hutter and we got them both. He just kind of fell in our lap. We beat out the other big schools for him.”
“Coach Martin had an outstanding background as a coach for Great Bridge High School and he had a young, hungry staff,” explained Nicholson. “His assistant, Lee Pritts, said to me on my recruiting visit, ‘James, do you want to be another name on the wall? Or do you want to move out here to Norfolk and be a part of something up and coming?’. That’s a powerful statement that ultimately locked me in. I was also one of eight kids. I grew up blue collar and we didn’t have much. Financial reasons and seeing the beach for the second time in my life solidified a recruiting trip of a life time.”
“When he came in, he was very undersized, very little,” Coach Martin reminisced. “He probably didn’t weigh 125 pounds and Christian Staylor used to beat him to death and that made him good. Actually, his first wrestle-off, he lost to Kyle Hutter. He had some ups and downs, but he surely fought through it all. He would just fight you until the end and that’s why he won most of his matches. Technique wise, he had unbelievable technique with his feet, as well as on top and bottom. He was a real student of the game. He probably deteriorated my hips. Well, my hips had blown out before then, but James probably did them in because we drilled a lot.”
When asked about his favorite memory as a Monarch, Nicholson replied, “The one that stands out the most is earning All-American honors as a freshman. My brother ran past the security guards into the tunnel to give me a hug. That memory is so vividly imprinted in my mind. I’ll never forget it. I get goosebumps every time I think about it.”
“He was a big part in us getting the wrestling program established, going and winning because he was our coaching staff’s first All-American,” Martin said.
After becoming All-American his freshman year and battling injuries during his sophomore and junior seasons, he wanted to end his college career the same way he came in. And that he did, becoming ODU wrestling’s first two-time All-American in 29 years.
Nicholson was a model of consistency, winning the CAA title all four years, being an NWCA Academic All-American all four years and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament all four years. His 138 collegiate wins is still tied for the most in program history. His career winning percentage is 87.3%.
Yet, Nicholson says he still has some regrets.
“I wish I wasn’t so stubborn,” said Nicholson. “But in reality, it was my stubbornness that got me on the podium twice. I absolutely hated to lose, I still do. I willed my way into having my hand raised even when my body was screaming ‘you cannot do that’. I put my body on the line to win matches. Not many can say that. My stubbornness was also my downfall. I thought I could do things ‘my way’ and still win a title. Obviously, I was wrong. Unfortunately, it wasn’t in the cards for me. My placement was a reflection of what I was capable of at my weight class. I felt like I was better than what people saw. I felt like I let the fans down due to poor performance. I could have given them a better result if only I knew what I know now. That’s life. I’ve come to terms with my performance.”
A perfectionist for sure. That’s the mentality that separates good from great or even the best.
“James is very deserving of his upcoming induction into the ODU Athletics Hall of Fame,” Martin concluded. “You could make an argument that he is one of the best wrestlers to ever come through ODU. I’m so proud of that kid.”
What did the sport of wrestling teach the kid from Des Moines, Iowa?
“You’re going to get taken down, but you have to get up,” exclaimed Nicholson. “You’re going to get put in a tight spot. Survive. Are you going to crack under pressure? All the pressure needs to be handled correctly. No one else can assist you the way your own mind can. Believe in yourself when no one else will. You don’t need anyone else to be successful. Yes, it is helpful to have a support group, but, ultimately, it’s between the two ears upstairs and the man above.”
Nicholson will be inducted into the Old Dominion Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 25 at the Hilton Main in downtown Norfolk. For more information on the Hall of Fame Dinner, please CLICK HERE or call 757-683-3097.
“There are no words to describe the emotions I am feeling to be rewarded for what happened nearly a decade ago. You don’t think of these kinds of moments when you have an opponent in front of you, pounds to cut, technique to learn or school to handle. All I’ve ever wanted was to make my coaches, my family and my community proud.”