Corban University adds women’s wrestling, Stryder Davis named head coach
SALEM, O.R. – – We’re starting October with the confirmation of another new women’s wrestling program on the West Coast. Corban University has added the sport for the 2020-21 season, and Stryder Davis has been selected as head coach.
There was a one-liner preview of this program back in May when the Cascade Collegiate Conference announced the addition of women’s wrestling: “Corban University, a league full member, has announced the addition of women’s wrestling in 2020-21.”
Corban’s men’s wrestling program is heading into it’s first year of competition this fall, but Athletic Director Twiggs Reed said, “I knew we wanted to add women’s wrestling right away.”
Reed has recently encouraged other athletic directors in the area to consider the sport as well. While acknowledging that these same types of individuals are found in many sports across college campuses, Reed said he has recommended that, “If you’re looking for high caliber people that are disciplined and can be found doing academically and socially well, wrestlers tend to be those people.”
Sometimes in passing conversations Reed said he might get a raised eyebrow and is asked to explain, “Well, what is women’s wrestling?” His response: “It’s two athletes that wrestle . . . you’re watching two elite athletes doing the same thing the men do.” He acknowledged the fast growth of the sport, and is happy that Corban is able to provide women an opportunity at the next level.
Davis is already on campus recruiting – he coaches alongside his brother as an assistant on the men’s wrestling team. Reed said, “Both Davis’ have great resumes and are just high character, high energy, individuals.”
Davis was a two-time NAIA National Champion for Montana State University-Northern, a two-time NJCAA All-American and has more than ten years of coaching experience.
Corban University is an NAIA member institution and becomes Oregon’s seventh college program to offer women’s wrestling. Fellow in-state programs include Pacific University, Eastern Oregon University, Southern Oregon University, Warner Pacific University, Southwestern Oregon Community College and Umpqua Community College.
Read Corban’s full press release, here.
