The Notre Dame Crusaders wrestling team faced a challenging matchup against Bethlehem Catholic on Thursday night, falling 34-24 in a hard-fought contest. The Crusaders delivered several strong individual performances but were unable to overcome the depth and skill of their opponents.

Highlights for the Crusaders included:

• 114 lbs: Cael Muller secured a major decision over Louden Hower with an impressive 14-2 victory.
• 133 lbs: Tanner Berkenstock claimed a 5-2 decision over Ryder Campbell in a tightly contested bout.
• 139 lbs: Gavyn Kelton dominated Jaden Santiago, earning a technical fall with a 17-1 score.
• 189 lbs: Dominic Sumpolec earned a pivotal fall against Justin Martinez at 3:13.
• 215 lbs: Connor Smalley followed up with another fall, pinning James Deluise at 5:05.

Bethlehem Catholic showcased their strength with wins across multiple weight classes, including standout performances by Nico Emili (technical fall at 107 lbs) and Shane McFillin (fall at 172 lbs in just 39 seconds). The Crusaders fought hard, with close matches like Keegan Ramsay’s 4-1 sudden victory loss at 160 lbs and Noah Knorp’s narrow 6-4 decision loss at 285 lbs.

The Crusaders will look to build on their individual successes as they prepare for their next matchup.