By Michael Comodeca
Hailing from the small town of Beaver Creek, Ohio is talented wrestler Nick Corba. Who is a redshirt senior at Cleveland State University.
Corba may not have ever picked up a singlet, or wrestling shoes, if not for a friend of his who started wrestling in second grade which made him join. Sixteen years later, his resume speaks for itself.
Corba had a highly decorated high school career, being a four-time varsity letter winner and three time All-American. He was also third in the state as a sophomore, a qualifier as junior and a state champion in his senior year.
Corba was an All-American as a Greco-Roman wrestler and participated in the Pan American Games. He won a gold medal competing as a Greco-Roman wrestler and placed third in the Junior National Tournament.
Coming out of high school, Corba had a few Division I and Division II schools recruiting him, but he fell in love with the city of Cleveland and decided to come to Cleveland State.
Corba was excited about the program being on the rise and wanted to be the foundation to help build it up.
The decision to come to Cleveland State has been mutually beneficial for both parties. Last year, Corba was the first player under Coach Stehura’s tenure at Cleveland State to earn an at-large berth to the NCAA Championships.
Corba was Coach Stehura’s first player at Cleveland State to achieve an at-large bid and it was an honor for him. It also drives him to continue competing at a high level, so he can get an automatic bid this year.
“It was a huge honor getting an at large bid and getting to represent Cleveland State at the NCAA tournament,” Corba said. “Hopefully this year I can just get an automatic bid and not have to worry about an at-large bid.”
Heading into Corba’s redshirt senior season, many publications have him ranked in the top-20, including Wrestling Insider News magazine where he is the only wrestler from Eastern Wrestling League, which is the conference the Cleveland State wrestling program is in.
Corba is also tabbed as the favorite to win the 184-pound division in a preseason poll that was conducted by the Eastern Wrestling League.
Corba doesn’t feel any extra burden with being named the favorite. He just wants to wrestle.
“I don’t think there is any extra pressure. I just have to wrestle how I want to wrestle and everything will take care of itself,” Corba said.
Corba wants success for his team and himself. He hopes all 10 starters wrestle at Quicken Loans Arena for the national tournament, and he hopes to be named an All-American this year.
In the first meet of the year at the Clarion Open, Corba finished third overall while compiling a 4-1 record on the day.
In the Eastern Michigan Open, Corba finished tied for the most wins on the team. Gabe Stark and Corba both finished 4-1 at the tournament and finished fifth in their respective divisions.
Next up for Corba and Cleveland State is a meet in Columbus Nov. 21, where they will compete against Kent State and Ohio State (OSU).
“Wrestling against OSU is always big, especially in Columbus, just to show college wrestling fans in Ohio that there is more than one college wrestling program,” Corba said.
In addition to Corba’s athletic accomplishments, he looks forward to graduating in the spring. Corba is majoring in marketing with a minor in biology and hopes to attain a job in medical sales.
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