CLEVELAND - In a show of strength, both on the mat – 11 wins, including five pins – and off – the new wrestling strength center was named for Cleveland assistant coach Al Miller during mid-match ceremonies – the host Blue Raiders defeated Notre Dame, 50-15, here Tuesday.

After the two teams split the first two weights, Cleveland (18-3, 11-1 at home) won eight of the next nine weights, including four pins and a pair of major decisions, for an insurmountable 44-9 lead.

“We wrestled well tonight and got on a roll after the first two weights,’’ said Cleveland head coach Heath Eslinger. “We are a good dual team and we are pointing to the region duals (Jan. 25) and state duals (Feb. 1-2).’’

Cleveland’s Brian Alvarado (103) and Notre Dame’s Nick Mallard (112) traded pins to open the match. But the Blue Raiders used pins by Marvin Lopez (119), Ben Spires (125), Clay Bunch (135) and Harold Gage (160) to help secure the 44-9 advantage through 11 matches.

Notre Dame’s three wins came in the form of pins from Mallard and Pat Flynn (189) and a regular decision from undefeated Tee Boone (28-0, 130).

“We had a real good practice on Monday, but just didn’t wrestle well tonight,’’ said Notre Dame head coach John Mullin. “Cleveland wrestled tough and in places we made them look good.’’

The Irish bumped up Mac Richmond to 125, Boone to 130 and Dillon May to 135 in hopes of a lead through seven matches.

‘‘We moved three wrestlers up a weight believing (Josh) Jadoobirsingh (of Cleveland) would wrestle at 119 and thinking we could win the next four weights (125 to 140), but only won one (Boone at 130),’’ said Mullins.

Jadoobirsingh, the 2007 Division I champion at 112 who has a cut on his head, weighed in but did not wrestle.

‘‘We weighed in Josh and Marvin Lopez and 119, but did not plan to wrestle Josh, because of his injury’’ said Eslinger.

“One of their three guys who weighed in at 119 (Mac Richmond, Brian Bledsoe, Blake Ledford) had to check in first, not knowing who we would wrestle, which worked to our advantage.’’

Spires pinned Richmond (3:25), Bunch pinned May (1:50) and Bailey Jones decisioned Eric Heider, 3-1, at 140, sandwiched around Boone’s 10-5 decision against Jacob Sewell. Cleveland led 27-9 after 140.

Best Match: 145 – Will Moreland (CL) dec. Josh Bledsoe, 9-7 … Bledsoe led 5-0 on a takedown and 3-point near fall in the first period and was up 7-4 early in the third, before Moreland used a reverse and 3-point near fall for the win.

www.ClevelandwrestlingTV.com – all Cleveland home matches and some away matches are shown via the internet – live streaming video. One fan in Alaska e-mailed a note during the match.

Al Miller Strength Center: “I was totally surprised by the announcement by Heath (Eslinger),’’ said Miller who coached Cleveland to traditional state titles in 1980 and 1994 and state duals crowns in 1992-93-94. “It is a real honor.’’

The strength center is adjacent to the wrestling arena. A coach’s office and showers in the strength center will be built after the season.

“This was a no-brainer in deciding whose name went on the door of the strength center,’’ said Eslinger. “Al has done so much for Cleveland wrestling.’’

50 Points or More: Cleveland has scored 50 points or more 14 times this season.

Cleveland 50, Notre Dame 15
(match started at 103)
103 – Bryan Alvarado (CL) pinned Martin Davis, 3:51
112 – Nick Mallard (ND) pinned Taylor Spurlin, 3:14
119 – Marvin Lopez (CL) pinned Brian Bledsoe, 2:23
125 – Ben Spires (CL) pinned Mac Richmond, 3:25
130 – Tee Boone (ND) dec. Jake Sewell, 10-5
135 – Clay Bunch (CL) pinned Dillon Mat, 1:50
140 – Bailey Jones (CL) dec. Eric Heider, 3-1
145 – Will Moreland (CL) dec. Josh Bledsoe, 9-7
152 – Travis Leonard (CL) major dec. Dylan Heath, 18-7
160 – Harold Gage (CL) pinned Connor Choate, :30
171 – Matt Sharp (CL) major dec. Ethan Nelson, 14-3
189 – Pat Flynn (ND) pinned Chip Norwood, 1:12
215 – Max Ofori (CL) dec. Eric Phipps, 10-5
285 – Adam Peters (CL) dec. Brendan Dusevic, 10-4

Records: Cleveland (18-3), Notre Dame (17-6)

Officials: David Heffington

Wins: Cleveland, 11-3
Decisions: Cleveland, 4-1
Major Decisions: Cleveland, 2-0
Tech Falls: None
Pins: Cleveland, 5-2
Forfeit Wins: None
Takedowns: Cleveland, 30-10
First Takedowns: Cleveland, 9-5
Reverses: Cleveland, 6-1
Escapes: Notre Dame, 19-6
Cautions Against: Cleveland (5), Notre Dame (2)
Warnings Against: Cleveland (5), Notre Dame (4)
Points Awarded Off Warnings: Notre Dame (2), Cleveland (0)
Penalty Points Awarded: Notre Dame (1), Cleveland (1)
2-Point Near Falls: 3-3
3-Point Near Falls: Cleveland, 3-2
Most Takedowns: Travis Leonard (CL) 8
Most 3-Point Near Falls: Five wrestlers with one each
Most 2-Point Near Falls: Nick Mallard (ND) 2

Next Match: Thursday 1/10 – Walker Valley at Notre Dame; 1/11-12 Cleveland in Florida.

Walker Valley 45, Rhea County 33
103 - Nic Fuller (RC) pinned Jared Johnson, 5:35
112 - Logan Henley (RC) forfeit win
119 - Adam Gordy (WV) pinned Robert Carter, 2:47
125 - Robert Schutt (RC) technical fall Craig Land (18-3), 6:00
130 - Travis Dias (WV) pinned Daniel Wilkey, 2:56
135 - Cole Dias (WV) forfeit win
140 - Hunter Daniel (RC) major dec. Zach Ferguson, 10-0
145 - Lindsey Aragon (WV) pinned Patrick Ezell, :53
152 - Garett Rau (WV) pinned Jordan Dodd, 3:51
160 - John Gibson (WV) pin Sam Morton, 2:52
171- Kevin Lonas (WV) pin Daniel Hickman, 3:19
189 - Andy Dopel (RC) forfeit win
215 – No. 6 Isaiah Simpson (WV) dec No. 4 Cody Graves, 5-4
285 - Kevin Revis (RC) pinned Dylan Mills, 3:56

Record: Walker Valley (15-5)

Individual records: Walker Valley - Lindsey Aragon 27-0, Adam Gordy 25-4, Isaiah Simpson 22-4

Next Matches: Thurs. 1/10 - Walker Valley at Notre Dame; Cookeville, McMinn County at Rhea County

Contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net