OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- Notre Dame Wrestling hits the mats of Abe Lemons Arena at the 53rd Annual NAIA National Champonships today, looking for a first in NDC history - a national championship.

The Falcons have been ranked as the No. 1 team in the NAIA Coaches' Poll since Nov. 24. On March 4-6, Notre Dame will be competing in the NAIA National Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla., with an opportunity to earn the College's first national championship of any kind.


TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
* The 53rd Annual NAIA Wrestling Championships will be held at the Abe Lemons Arena in Oklahoma City.

* The event includes 32 contestants in each of the NAIA's 10 weight divisions.

* Competition to be held over three days, from March 4-6. Final eight compete on Saturday, March 6.

* The tournament host-school is Oklahoma City University.


THE WRESTLING FALCONS
* NDC Wrestling was instituted in 2006.

* The Falcons finished fifth in the national tournament a year ago.

* Notre Dame has been ranked No. 1 in the nation (NAIA Coaches' Poll) since Nov. 24.

* NDC owns a 10-1 record in dual meets, with a nine-match win streak. The Falcons only loss came at D-I Ohio State (Nov. 22). NDC has outscored opponents, 301-42, in the nine-match streak.

* The Falcons have won four tournament titles in the 2009-10 season (National Catholic Invitational - Erie, Pa., Nov. 7; RIT Tournament - Rochester, N.Y., Dec. 5; NAIA National Duals - Cedar Falls, Iowa, Jan. 10; NAIA East Region Qualifying Tournament - Lebanon, Tenn., Feb. 20). … Notre Dame also dominated a pair of open tournaments, earning a combined 12 individual titles at opens hosted by Ashland University-Ohio (Nov. 14) and Mount Union-Ohio (Jan. 17).

* NDC has 12 grapplers (maximum allowed) competing in Oklahoma City. The combined record of those 12 wrestlers in 2009-10 is 227-35 (.866) with 78 pins.

* Ten of the Falcons' 12 wrestlers are currently ranked (NAIA Coaches' Poll, Feb. 16). Eight of those are rated in the top three of their respective weight classes. … Derek Foore is the top-ranked grappler at 197 pounds.


NDC ATHLETES COMPETING IN OKLAHOMA CITY

Weight | Wrestler (Yr., Hometown) | 09-10 Record, Current NAIA Rank

125 | Tyler Savage (Jr., Carlisle, Ohio,) | 19-8, No. 2

125 | Dante Rini (Jr., Massillon, Ohio) | 12-2, No. 3

141 | Adam Koballa (Sr., Twinsburg, Ohio) | 27-2, No. 2

149 | Jeffrey Pelton (So., Belevue, Ohio) | 19-0, No. 2

149 | Ashtin Primus (So., Connellsville, Pa.) | 22-3, No. 10

157 | Thomas Straughn (Jr., Massillon, Ohio) | 22-3, No. 2

165 | Kevin Hardy (So., Solon, Ohio) | 21-3, No. 3

174 | Cody Butzer (So., Canal Fulton, Ohio) | 11-0, NR

174 | Kurt Wolff (Jr., Genoa, Ohio) | 20-5, NR

184 | Alex Denman (So., Painesville, Ohio) | 17-7, No. 10

197 | Derek Foore (Jr., Wadsworth, Ohio) | 22-0, No. 1

285 | Orlando Scales (Fr., Cincinnati, Ohio) | 23-3, No. 2


NOTES
Senior Adam Koballa (141) is the defending national champion at 141 pounds. Koballa - a product of St. Peter Chanel High School in Bedford, Ohio - was the national runner-up at 141 in 2008. He was 30-5 last season, when he became the program's second national champions. Koballa is 58-10 in three seasons at Notre Dame. … Derek Foore (197) was selected by coaches as the 2009-10 Wrestler of the Year in the NAIA East Region. The Wadsworth, Ohio, native and transfer from Eastern Michigan has dominated foes during the season. He arrived in Oklahoma City toting a 22-0 record and has pinned 12 opponents.


HEAD COACH FRANK ROMANO
Frank Romano has been Notre Dame's head coach since the program's inaugural 2006-07 season. With early successes, he has built the Wrestling Falcons into a nationally recognized program.

While at NDC, Romano's teams have sent 42 grapplers to the NAIA National Tournament, winning two national championships (Victer Crenshaw-2008, Adam Koballa-2009) and eight All-America awards.

Romano's NDC teams are 38-15 (.717) in dual-meet competition. His collegiate record is 137-56-1 (.709).