SALEM, Ore. – The (RV) Corban University men's wrestling team claimed its first-ever home dual victories on Friday afternoon, handedly defeating Big Bend Community College (45-11) and Grays Harbor College (33-20) at the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center.

RESULTS (Big Bend CC)
RESULTS (Grays Harbor College)

"It was great to get our first home dual wins tonight," said head coach Keegan Davis. "The guys have made a lot of growth throughout the season, and it showed in many of their matches."

Big Bend served as the Navy and Gold's first adversary on the mat, with Joe Foster providing a promising start for the Warriors with his exhibition pin of Eduardo Rodriguez (3:42).

At 157 pounds, Cooper McCullough was in control from the onset in his battle against Big Bend's Devon Salcedo. The junior from Moses Lake, Wash. pinned Salcedo at the 3:37 mark, his first of two victories by way of fall on the evening.

In a match that began as a gritty, low-scoring affair, No. 7-ranked Levi Perry (174 pounds) pulled away from Big Bend's Roman Porter in the second and third rounds to claim an 18-3 (technical fall) triumph for the Navy and Gold. Noah Sickles then took the torch, pinning the Vikings' Brandon Bido (2:18) in an impressive effort.

At 197 pounds, Falemalama Van Weggen continued the trend by cruising past Andrew Showman (major decision, 20-6), while Jack Farley dominated the heavyweight bout by pinning Zain Andrewjeski in the second period (4:01).

McCullough competed in the first official match of the squad's dual with Grays Harbor, delivering yet another pin (fall, 4:37), this time over Kimani Johnson.

A couple matches later, Perry won by way of fall for the ninth time in 2019-20. The reigning NAIA Men's Wrestler of the Week needed just one round to finish his 174-pound battle with Andy Gonzalez (2:56).

Van Weggen then endured a tense matchup with Grays Harbor's Mike Garrison, with the 197-pounders entering the third period deadlocked at three apiece. A gritty effort in the final stanza helped the rookie to a 6-3 victory in the low-scoring affair.

Approaching the final stretch of events before the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) Tournament, Corban continues to grow and impress. The squad will face off with a pair of nationally-ranked conference foes—No. 12 Embry-Riddle and No. 18 Eastern Oregon—before postseason play arrives.

The Warriors (5-7) will enjoy a day off before returning to action on Sunday, traveling to Forest Grove, Ore. for the second time this season to compete in the Boxer Open.