SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- Top-ranked (NAIA Coaches' Poll) Notre Dame ran its season record to 10-1 with another dominant performance at home on Sunday. The Falcons beat West Liberty (W. Va.), 33-8, to claim their ninth straight victory.
NDC won eight of the 10 bouts against the Hilltoppers. The Wrestling Falcons haven't dropped a dual match since losing to the Buckeyes of Ohio State on Nov. 22. Since then, the Blue & White have gone 9-0, outscoring opponents, 301-42.
West Liberty came into the match as the No. 12 team in NCAA Division II wrestling, according to TheMat.com. With the victory on Sunday, Notre Dame is now 3-0 against ranked D-II foes this season. The match against the Hilltoppers marked NDC's final action at home this season. The Falcons finished the season with a 4-0 record at Murphy Gymnasium.
The meeting with the Hilltoppers also marked the final regular season action for NDC; the Falcons are now bound for the NAIA Regional Tournament and then the NAIA National Championships.
#Tyler Savage# kicked off Sunday's proceedings with a 10-2 major over Sean Jackson at 125 pounds. After West Liberty picked up a decision at 133, Notre Dame rattled off six straight wins to take a commanding 30-2 lead in the match.
#Adam Koballa# and #Ashtin Primus# pinned their foes at 141 and 149, respectively. Koballa's pin of Mat Cunningham in 2:58 marked his first of the season. Primus followed that up with a lightning-quick fall earned in 53 seconds, his second-fastest pin of the season among 16.
NDC's only loss the rest of the way was a forfeit at 197.
“The guys are focused heading into our postseason,” said Head Coach #Frank Romano#. “We wrestled well, and it's always great to perform in front of our fans.”
Notre Dame will hit the mat again next week when the team will be competing in the NAIA East Regional Qualifying Tournament as a prelude to the National Championships. The Qualifying Tournament will be held in Lebanon, Tenn., on Saturday, Feb. 20.
NOTES FROM THE NEST …
MURPH MAGIC: Since the program's inception in 2006, Notre Dame has hosted 10 official collegiate dual matches. The Wrestling Falcons are 8-2 in those meetings.
SENIOR SALUTE: Sunday's action at Murphy Gymnasium represented Senior Day for NDC Wrestling. Notre Dame honored their lone senior, Adam Koballa, prior to the match. The veteran grappler is a three-year letterman for Notre Dame, having transferred to NDC from Old Dominion (Va.) prior to the 07-08 season. In his three years on College Road, Koballa is 65-10 (.867) in 74 collegiate bouts.
DUALS WITH THE DEUCE: NDC has faced three ranked D-II squads this season - the Falcons defeated current D-II No. 15 (TheMat.com) Findlay, 31-9, on Nov. 22 and beat Ashland, 28-7, on Dec. 14. … Notre Dame is currently competing as a Year-One Candidate in the NCAA-II application process.
STREAK SENSE: #Brian Dean# lost, 9-6, to Nick Wykoff at 133. That loss snapped a seven-bout win streak. … Koballa's pin at 141 extended his winning streak to 16 bouts. … Primus' pin marked his 10th consecutive win; seven of those have been falls. … #Jeff Pelton# remained undefeated on the season; he is now 15-0. Pelton picked up a major (15-3) in his first bout of the season at 157. He is the No. 2-ranked grappler at 149. … #Kevin Hardy# earned his 11th straight win. … #Cody Butzer# ran his season record to 7-0 with a taut 6-4 win over Jarrod Shaw. … #Orlando Scales# won his 10th in a row with a decision (13-6) at 285.
