GRIMES, Iowa – Thirteen student-athletes completed for the No. 14-ranked Corban University Men's Wrestling team today in one of the NAIA's most prominent regular season tournaments hosted by No. 1-ranked Grand View University, as the Warriors scored 59.5 team points across 64 bouts against 52 different collegiate programs to represent the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) as one of three conference squads in attendance.
To view the complete results of the 2024 Grand View Open, click HERE.
"It was a long day of great wrestling," began Warriors' head coach Nolan Harris when asked to detail today's results. "We came to Iowa to meet some of the best the NAIA has to offer and, as it turns out, we got that and some great wrestling from a variety of divisions from NCAA Divisions I, II, and III as well as some tough junior colleges. We had some tough matchups throughout the day including CCC opponents as well as our own teammates at 149 and 197. Toni had quality wins against nationally ranked opponents that should make an impact in the next rankings release. Ultimately, it was good for everyone to go through the same process of traveling, making weight, and being ready to compete at a high level that we expect to do again in March."
With such a diverse and strong field across all ten weight classes at today's tourney, the Navy and Gold were unable to earn placers in the top eight of each division yet saw plenty of scoring opportunities across multiple weight classes thanks to their nationally recognized grapplers. Led by junior Luke Jensen and redshirt junior Antonio Garcia who scored 8.5 team points apiece, the Warriors saw team points scored by all but one participant to continue gaining traction throughout the early stages of competition in the 2024-25 season.
A combined six technical falls (two by junior Bo Davis at 149), four major decisions, along with pins by sophomore Isaiah Twait (184) over No. 9-ranked University of Providence's Chase Youso and junior Asaiah Kamplain (197) against No. 13-ranked Missouri Valley College's Emmanuel Ayi-Bonte were the standout highlights for the Corban men's wrestling program. After dropping to unranked in the first regular season poll, Garcia made his presence once again known with upsets over the No. 10 and No. 23-ranked wrestlers in the 285-pound division to represent the final wrestler in action today in central Iowa.
Junior Blake Runion (141), Davis, sophomore Jr Downing (149), Twait, Kamplain, redshirt senior David Rubio (157), and graduate student Hunter James (197) all joined Jensen and Garcia with multiple victories on the day, with each student-athlete venturing deep into their brackets before bowing out prior to the placement rounds that was stacked with representatives from host Grand View and NCAA DI schools Iowa State University and the University of Iowa. A majority of the placement matches were also ruled no contests and medical forfeits due to the rising number of injuries that occurred due to the high level of competition.
On December 7th, the Warriors will be back on their home mats as they welcome NCAA DII Cal Poly Humboldt to the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center for a 7:30pm dual start time following the Corban Men's and Women's Basketball home doubleheader against Multnomah.
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