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Frank Romano
TALON(ted) CREW: Head Coach Frank Romano has his Falcons aiming for a run at a National Duals title this weekend.

Wrestling by Skip Snow

NDC primed for title

Falcons earn No. 1 seed in this weekend's NAIA National Duals

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Notre Dame will be competing in the NAIA National Duals this weekend  - Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 9-10.  (Live Video | Tournament Page | Brackets)

The Falcons, ranked No. 1 on the current NAIA Coaches' Poll, will be the NAIA No. 1 seed in the tournament, which features 64 teams from across all levels of the collegiate wrestling landscape.  NDC is believed to be te first-ever Ohio program to earn a No. 1 seed at the National Duals.

The Wrestling Falcons, which placed sixth at last year's NAIA National Duals, are slated to get underway Saturday, Jan. 9, with a 10 a.m. match against Missouri Baptist.

Notre Dame heads into the prestigious tournament flying high - 10 Falcon grapplers are ranked on the current NAIA Coaches' Poll.

Breakdown of the roster competing in Cedar Falls:

125 LBS: Tyler Savage (Jr./Carlisle, Ohio) - 09-10 Record: 10-3; current NAIA rank - No. 2; 08-09 NAIA All-American (placed 3rd at NAIA National Championships); 2x NAIA qualifier; All-American and State Champion in HS. … Dante Rini (Jr./Massillon, Ohio) - 09-10 Record: 5-1; current NAIA rank - No. 3; 08-09 NAIA All-American; 3x State placer in HS.

133: Brian Dean (So./Norton, Ohio) - 09-10 Record: 10-5; State Champion in HS.

141: Adam Koballa (Sr./Twinsburg, Ohio) - 09-10 Record: 14-2; current NAIA rank - No. 1; 08-09 NAIA National Champion; 2x NAIA All-American; All-American and State Champion in HS.

149: Jeff Pelton (So./Bellevue, Ohio) - 09-10 Record: 11-0; current NAIA rank - No. 2; 08-09 NAIA All-American (3rd place); All-American and 3x State placer in HS. … Ashtin Primus (So./Connellsville, Pa.) - 09-10 Record: 10-3; current NAIA rank - No. 8; All-American and 2x State Champ (Pa.) in HS.

157: Thomas Straughn (Jr./Massillon, Ohio) - 09-10 Record: 13-2; current NAIA rank - No. 2; 08-09 All-American; 2x State Champ and All-American in HS. … Josh Rohler (So./Akron, Ohio) - 09-10 Record: 0-0.

165: Kevin Hardy (So./Solon, Ohio) - 09-10 Record: 12-2; 3x State Champ; HS All-American.

174: John Bittenger (Fr./East Liverpool, Ohio) - 09-10 Record: 9-2; current NAIA rank - No. 7; State RU in HS. … Kurt Wolff (Jr./Genoa, Ohio) - 09-10 Record: 9-4; current NAIA rank - No. 10; 2x NAIA qualifier.

184: Alex Denman (So./Painesville, Ohio) - 09-10 Record: 9-3; current NAIA rank - No. 10.

197: Derek Foore (Jr./Wadsworth, Ohio) - 09-10 Record: 14-0; current NAIA rank - No. 7; 3x State RU in HS.

285: Orlando Scales (Fr./Cincinnati, Ohio) - 09-10 Record: 9-3; All-American and 2x State champ in HS; was No.1-ranked recruit nationally at 215 pounds.




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