SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Notre Dame will be the No. 1 seed in the upcoming NAIA National Duals, it was announced with the release of brackets on Monday night. (NAIA Bracket)

The top-ranked (NAIA Coaches' Poll) Wrestling Falcons will be the No. 1 seed among 16 NAIA programs competing at the unique, dual-competition tournament which features teams from all levels of collegiate wrestling. NDC is the defending champion at this year's tournament, which will be held Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 8-9. The Falcons breezed to victory last year, going 3-0 in three matches and winning their trio of contests by a combined score of 97-15.

The Blue & White defeated Missouri Valley, 26-7, in the NAIA final in 2010. Notre Dame and Missouri Valley will be joined in the 2011 tournament field by 14 schools: Campbellsville (Ky.), Cumberland (Ky.), Dickinson State (N.D.), Grand View (Iowa), Jamestown (N.D.), Lindenwood (Mo.), McKendree (Ill.), Missouri Baptist, Montana State-Northern, Morningside (Iowa), Oklahoma City (Okla.), University of Great Falls (Mont.), Southern Oregon and Waldorf (Iowa).

The Falcons are one of eight teams to be seeded and will face unseeded Waldorf in their opening match, which is slated for Saturday at 10 a.m. ET. The top teams on NDC's side of the bracket are No. 4-seed McKendree, No. 5 Southern Oregon and No. 8 Oklahoma City.

NDC used the 2010 National Duals to vault to an eventual 10-1 record and the College's first national championship in any sport.  The Wrestling Falcons are thus far 1-0 in the 2010-11 season.