CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The No. 18-ranked Warriors of the Corban Men's Wrestling team completed day one of the NWCA National Duals, which only the top men's wrestling programs in the country are invited to on an annual basis, where they suffered an opening round 40-9 loss to No. 2-ranked Life University followed by a redemption upset win over No. 14-ranked Central Methodist University to advance within the primary bracket. However, in the afternoon session, the No. 13-ranked University of Cumberlands (Ky.) won the first seven weight classes to send the Navy and Gold into the 9-12 seeded bracket to conclude the national event tomorrow.
"It was a good day of wrestling," began Warriors' head coach Nolan Harris. "There were some good individual wins against ranked opponents throughout the day. Unranked Jr and Jesse were able to defeat ranked opponents from Central Methodist. Even in matches we lost, I thought we competed well. Due to injury, we gave up 12-point leads in the later duals, so any victory reflects well on the team commitment of our guys. We looked in good shape but need a couple of tweaks to our technique and there are a couple of positions needing improvement. Tomorrow should prove to have tough matchups as well."
The only Warrior to go 3-0 on the day was No. 3-ranked redshirt senior Antonio Garcia of the 285-weight class, who three-straight decisions over a pair of unranked grapplers and the man right behind Garcia in the national rankings, No. 4-ranked Gabriel Jacobs of Life University. Garcia rallied in the final round to tie the matchup and force overtime, where he won by sudden victory over Jacobs and claim the final weight class win of their opening round in a top four national bout.
Despite not partaking in the opener against the Running Eagles, senior Asaiah Kamplain was also undefeated on the day, defeating CMU's Jacob Ruff and Cumberlands' Jovon Howe via 7-4 and 7-3 decisions, respectively.
Also picking up at least two wins today was No. 25-ranked senior Blake Runion of 141lbers, picking up a 10-4 decision over Jacob Ruiz in the Life dual followed by a pin in 3:59 against Eagles' Drew Cooper. No. 4-ranked Isaiah Twait (184lbs) shook off an opening round loss by picking up a 4-1 decision against CMU's Roman Garcia and a 14-4 major decision versus Patriots' Lane Kiser.
The upset of the day for Corban men's wrestling belonged to redshirt sophomore Jesse Rubio, who dealt out a 4-2 decision to No. 12-ranked Eric Hodge of Central Methodist that swung the momentum of the dual back to the Warriors and ultimately decided the fate of the team result. Junior Jr Downing also picked up an unranked vs ranked victory during the CMU dual, as he pinned his No. 19-ranked opponent in Alex Walker with 13 seconds remaining in the first round.
National Dual #1 – No. 2 Life 40, No. 18 Corban 9
125 – Mikey Doerr (Life) defeated Brayden Boyd (Corban); Fall 5:00
133 – Isaiah Rubio (Life) win by forfeit
141 – Blake Runion (Corban) defeated Jacob Ruiz (Life); Dec 10-4
149 – Bo Davis (Corban) defeated Gavin Balmeceda (Life); Dec 4-1 (SV)
157 – Fabian Padilla (Life) defeated Gus Menne (Corban); Fall 2:59
165 – Rocky Raby (Life) defeated Jesse Rubio (Corban); TF 16-0, 5:00
174 – Konlin Weaver (Life) defeated Armando Nicacio (Corban); TF 19-4, 6:06
184 – Kendall Norfleet (Life) defeated Isaiah Twait (Corban); Fall 4:55
197 – Gio Jackson (Life) win by forfeit
285 – Antonio Garcia (Corban) defeated Gabriel Jacobs (Life); Dec 7-4 (SV)
National Dual #2 – No. 18 Corban 24, No. 14 Central Methodist 19
125 – Luis Acevedo (Central Methodist) win by forfeit
133 – Warren Taylor (Central Methodist) win by forfeit
141 – Blake Runion (Corban) defeated Drew Cooper (Central Methodist); Fall 3:59
149 – Jr Downing (Corban) defeated Alex Walker (Central Methodist); Fall 2:47
157 – Brayden Forman (Central Methodist) defeated Bo Davis (Corban); MD 11-2
165 – Jesse Rubio (Corban) defeated Eric Hodge (Central Methodist); Dec 4-2
174 – Kevin Olavarria (Central Methodist) defeated Armando Nicacio (Corban); Dec 7-6
184 – Isaiah Twait (Corban) defeated Roman Garcia (Central Methodist); Dec 4-1
197 – Asaiah Kamplain (Corban) defeated Jacob Ruff (Central Methodist); Dec 7-4
285 – Antonio Garcia (Corban) defeated Garine Gibson (Central Methodist); Dec 4-1
National Dual #3 – No. 13 Cumberlands (Ky.) 30, No. 18 Corban 10
125 – Elijah Valencia (Cumberlands) win by forfeit
133 – Riley Bettich (Cumberlands) win by forfeit
141 – Eli Peyton (Cumberlands) defeated Blake Runion (Corban); Dec 5-3
149 – Ty Lehman (Cumberlands) defeated Bo Davis (Corban); Dec 7-5
157 – Marc Le Gaspe (Cumberlands) defeated Gus Menne (Corban); Dec 12-5
165 – Malachia Harris (Cumberlands) defeated Jesse Rubio (Corban); Dec 8-5
174 – Weston Melvin (Cumberlands) defeated Armando Nicacio (Corban); Fall 3:43
184 – Isaiah Twait (Corban) defeated Lane Kiser (Cumberlands); MD 14-4
197 – Asaiah Kamplain (Corban) defeated Caden Brewer (Cumberlands); Dec 7-3
285 – Antonio Garcia (Corban) defeated Jovon Howe (Cumberlands); Dec 10-3
Tomorrow, the Warriors will finish out the NWCA National Duals with two more head-to-head duals, with opponents and times yet to be announced by the national organization. The second opponent will be determined based on dual results for a still to be determined placement. Once dual information is made available by the national organization, the Corban men's wrestling online schedule will be updated.
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