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The 2024 College of the Redwoods athletics dinner and auction will be held on Aug. 15 and this year the Corsairs will honor a group of trailblazing former athletes.

With the return of men’s wrestling this past year and a new women’s wrestling team at the local community college, the sport is back with a bang.

And with that in mind, the Corsairs will remember the college’s first era of wrestling from 1967-1982 at this year’s fundraiser, recognizing wrestling alumni Bert Van Duzer, Jim Sylvia and the 1976 wrestling team, which placed second at the inaugural California State Small College Wrestling Tournament.

The event will be held in the gymnasium on the Eureka campus and will run from 5 to 9 p.m.

“Our athletic department is thrilled to recognize the return of men’s wrestling and the addition of women’s program, and to reconnect with the outstanding legacy of our wrestling program that operated from the mid-60s through the early 80s,” CR Athletic Director Bob Brown said. 

“Many members of those legacy teams have been instrumental in their support to reinstate these programs into intercollegiate competition this past season. 

“The goal is to create a similar level of legacy of success over time with [men’s and women’s wrestling] coach Brandon Benvenuti and his staff, mirroring the excellent wrestling that happened at CR under the tutelage of head coach Jim Sylvia.”

Benvenuti and his wrestlers are helping to re-establish a new era for the sport at the local community college.

“We are combining the ring’s spirit with the crowd’s pulse,” he said. “We’re more than wrestlers, we’re warriors, entertainers and champions, leaving an imprint on CR’s wrestling history, while simultaneously paving the way for its future.”

The college is actively seeking both silent and live auction items for the August fundraiser. 

Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Members of the 1998/99 CR men’s basketball team were honored at last year’s annual dinner and auction.

Donors have the option to designate their contributions to support either a specific sports team or the athletic department.

The CR sports teams provide opportunities for 275 student athletes, of whom 50 percent are local.  

In the 2023/24 school year, female athletes averaged a grade point average of 3.23, while male athletes averaged 3.13, with an overall graduation rate of 77 percent.  

The College of the Redwoods Dinner & Auction will be sponsored this year by Blue Lake Casino & Hotel. 

To donate products or services please — or if you wrestled at CR and would like to be involved — contact Executive Director of College Advancement & the CR Foundation Marty Coehlo at 707-476-4325 or by email at marty-coelho@redwoods.edu. 

To purchase tickets to this year’s event, please go to https://app.donorview.com/lekpY.