The coronavirus executed a take-down this year of Clackamas Community College’s annual Crab Feed and Auction fundraiser — which has helped the college’s wrestling team become one of the nation’s top programs over the past decade — but the Cougars are not ready to tap out.
Last year, the Crab Feed set a new record, raising $53,000. These donations directly impact the college’s ability to outfit the team, travel, gain exposure for the athletes, and continue to recruit excellent talent for the coming year.
“I’m devastated to announce that due to Covid-19, our Crab Feed, wrestling camps, and tournaments have all been canceled,” CCC wrestling coach Josh Rhoden said. “These are our only sources of funding [for] this nationally prominent program. Without the revenue these events generate, I worry that we will give up ground that took us 15 years to gain.”
To help combat these losses, Clackamas Community College has started an online fundraising campaign. Money raised will go to directly help fund the wrestling program. The campaign will end on what would have been the Crab Feed date of Sept. 26.
“Even though we are not having our popular Crab Feed and Auction we are asking for your continued support by making a donation to our team through the CCC Foundation,” Rhoden said.
For the past decade, CCC wrestling has been synonymous with success — on both the wrestling mat and in the classroom as well. Student-athletes at CCC have earned a two-year graduation and transfer rate of 75% all while providing the campus community with the on-the-mat success that is unmatched.
Since the 2010-11 season, CCC wrestling has either won the national championship or finished as the national runner-up on six occasions. The other four finishes were fourth, third, third and sixth respectively.
The team has also won seven national dual meet championships and produced 66 All-Americans. This success is directly related to the giving the college receives from the community, Rhoden said.
“Help us continue to produce high-quality wrestlers, students, and young men,” Rhoden said. “Your continued support is going to be instrumental in our maintaining the type of program we have all come to know and love. Help us overcome adversity and move into the next decade of dominance.”
To donate, visit give.clackamas.edu/wrestling. To learn more about Clackamas Community College’s wrestling program, visit www.clackamas.edu/wrestling.
