SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- The preseason No. 1 is now the regular-season No. 1, as the defending national-champion Notre Dame Falcons have earned the top spot in the first regular season edition of the NAIA Wrestling Coaches' Top-20 Poll, the NAIA announced Tuesday. (NAIA Release)

Notre Dame garnered 154 points in the poll, with five Falcons earning No. 1 designations in their respective weight classes. Dating back to Nov. 24, 2009, NDC has now been the top team in the nation in eight consecutive polls.

Owning top rankings in the poll were #Jeffrey Pelton# at 149 pounds, 157-pounder #Thomas Straughn#, #Cody Butzer# at 174, #Derek Foore# at 197 and heavyweight #Orlando Scales#. All five individuals were tabbed No. 1 in the NAIA Coaches' Preseason Poll, which was released on Oct. 19.

McKendree (Ill.) is No. 2 in the poll, with 77.5 points. Great Falls (Mont.), Missouri Valley and Cumberland (Tenn.) round out the Top-5 in the rankings which are released every two weeks during the regular season. Notre Dame has now been ranked in the Top-20 in every poll since Dec. 13, 2007.

The 2010-11 Wrestling Falcons are off to a strong start, with dominant performances at pair of non-scored opens and a title at the National Catholic Invitational last week (Nov. 20).

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of four regions. The next poll will be announced on Dec. 7.