ASHLAND, Ohio -- Notre Dame wrestlers claimed three titles and earned Top-6 finishes in seven different weight classes at Saturday's Simonson Open in Ashland. (Results)

The Blue & White earned victories at 141 (#Brett Freeman#), 157 (#Thomas Straughn#) and 197 pounds (#Derek Foore#) in a field that included grapplers from Ashland, Findlay, Gannon (Pa.), Kent State, Lake Erie, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and other programs throughout the Great Lakes region. The open event in its 12th renewal was hosted by Ashland University.

“This was a good field for us to face at this stage of the season,” said Head Coach #Frank Romano#. “We hadn't wrestled in this event for a few years. The field included a number of challenging bouts for our guys, and that sets us up well for the final month or so left in the season.”

Despite the tough competition, NDC's trio of champions went a combined 12-0 with three majors and two falls on the mats of AU's Kates Gymnasium. Freeman went 3-0 in earning the title at 141; Straughn went 5-0 with two majors at 157; Foore had a major decision and two pins in a 4-0 day at 197.

Among its other placers on the day (NDC had eight overall) were #Marty Carlson#, who went 3-0 with two majors in placing second at 141, and #Orlando Scales#, who bounced back from his first loss of the season -- a 4-0 loss to Eastern Michigan's Wes Schroeder in the semifinals -- to go 4-1 and earn third in the heavyweight division. Prior to the Schroeder bout, Scales had won all of his 20 collegiate bouts in 2010-11. After Saturday's action, the NAIA's No. 1 at 285 (Coaches' Poll) has a record of 22-1.

No. 1 Notre Dame (NAIA Coaches' Poll) will continue its 2010-11 slate next Saturday, Jan. 29, when the team travels to Campbellsville, Ky., to compete in a double dual tilt hosted by Campbellsville University. The Falcons are scheduled to face Campbellsville and Limestone (S.C.) in the event which gets underway at 12 p.m.


NOTES FROM THE NEST …

BAKER'S DOZEN: Heading into this weekend, 13 Falcon grapplers had already qualified for the 2011 NAIA National Championships, which will be held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on March 3-5. NDC's 13 qualifiers: #Jon Bittenger#, #Cody Butzer#, Carlson, #Brian Dean#, #Alex Denman#, Foore, Freeman, #Kevin Hardy#, #Jeffrey Pelton#, #Ashtin Primus#, #Dante Rini#, Scales and Straughn. Per NAIA rule, Notre Dame can take a maximum of 12 wrestlers to the national tournament. … Including this year's 13 qualifiers, Notre Dame has had 69 national qualifiers in its short history (the program was launched in 2006).

FOUR MORE FOR FOORE: With his four wins in Ashland, Derek Foore is now 18-0 this season and 45-0 in his two seasons on College Road. Among his 18 wins this season, Foore has pinned 10 opponents. On Saturday the senior strongman pinned Heidelberg's Sean Slee in 45 seconds. That marked his fourth fall this season accomplished in under a minute.

BAKER'S DOZEN, PART 2: With his five victories on Saturday, Thomas Straughn has now reeled off 13 straight wins since his last loss -- a 7-5 decision on Nov. 7. For the season, the Massillon, Ohio, native is 15-2, with six majors to his credit.


Won-loss records noted are for collegiate bouts except where noted otherwise.  Collegiate bouts do not include those against junior college and club opponents.