EDINBORO, Pa. -- The Wresting Falcons wound down their regular season in Pennsyvania on Saturday, as the Blue & White competed at the Edinboro Open. (Brackets)

No NDC grapplers earned title in the open tournament which featured athletes from several prominent NCAA Division I programs throughout the Midwest. Head Coach #Frank Romano# and the top-ranked (NAIA Coaches' Poll) Falcons did walk away with eight placers, however.

“This was a good tune-up for us,” said Romano. “We have some guys who are still getting healthy after some mid-season injuries. But the competition for the guys who did wrestle was high-level, and that will help us over the next few weeks.”

Those next few weeks will be what the entire program has been pointing to since last March, when Notre Dame dominated the field at the 2010 NAIA National Championships to win the College's first national title in any sport. The Edinboro event closes out Notre Dame's regular-season schedule. The Falcons are now bound for the NAIA National Qualifying Tournament (Feb. 19) and the NAIA National Championships (March 3-5), where they will look to defend that 2010 title.

On Saturday, Notre Dame wrestlers earned two fourth-place finishes, two fifths and four sixths. Notable performances were turned in by junior #Ashtin Primus#, who went 3-1 with a fall at 149 pounds, and by #Cody Butzer#, who went 3-1 at 165. #Jon Bittenger# went 2-0 with a pair of decisions in the 174-pound weight class before forfeiting out. Bittenger is now 15-1 over his last 16 bouts; he is the No.7-ranked grappler at 174 in the most recent NAIA Coaches' Poll (Feb. 8).

Saturday's tournament was hosted by the Edinboro University.


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