BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Notre Dame placed five wrestlers into the finals, and led the team race over Nebraska-Kearney after the semifinals of the NCAA Div. II Nationals on Saturday morning.

Returning champions who have secured a spot in the finals are Darren Wynn of McKendree at 141 pounds, Destin McCauley of Nebraska-Kearney at 157 pounds and Nick Becker at 174 pounds,

Wynn draws Nate Rodriguez of Maryville in the finals. McCauley will battle DeAndre Johnson of Limestone in the gold-medal match.

The final at 174 pounds will be a rematch of last year’s final, as Becker will battle national runner-up Blaze Shade of UNC Pembroke for the gold. Last year, Becker beat Shade, 9-3 for the title.

In a rematch of the 2016 NCAA finals at 125 pounds, returning runner-up Willie Bohince of Mercyhurst defeated returning champion Brett Velasquez of St. Cloud State in the semifinals, 5-2. In last year’s final, Velasquez won, 5-0. Bohince draws Ivan McClay of Notre Dame in the finals this year.

Notre Dame leads Nebraska-Kearney by 44 points after the semifinals. Notre Dame finalists are McClay, Juwan Edmond (149), Isaiah White (165), Garrett Lineberger (184) and Kameron Teacher (285). Consolation rounds continue.

A complete wrap-up story from Saturday’s action at the Div. II Nationals will be posted tonight, written by Roger Moore.

NCAA DIV. II NATIONALS
At Birmingham, Ala.

Finals pairings

125 pounds
1st - Ivan McClay (Notre Dame) vs. Willie Bohince (Mercyhurst)

133 pounds
1st - Blake Bosch (MSU Moorhead) vs. Michael Labry (Ashland)

141 pounds
1st - Darren Wynn (McKendree) vs. Nate Rodriguez (Maryville)

149 pounds
1st - Juwan Edmond (Notre Dame) vs. Keith Surber (Neb.-Kearney)

157 pounds
1st - DeAndre` Johnson (Limestone) vs. Destin McCauley (Neb.-Kearney)

165 pounds
1st - Isaiah White (Notre Dame) vs. Brock Wingbermuehle (McKendree)

174 pounds
1st - Nick Becker (Wis.-Parkside) vs. Blaze Shade (UNC Pembroke)

184 pounds
1st - Garrett Lineberger (Notre Dame) vs. Nicholas Fiegener (California Baptist)

197 pounds
Jacob Waste (California Baptist) vs. Jon Inman (Fort Hays St.)

285 Results
Garrett Gray (Tiffin) vs. Kameron Teacher (Notre Dame)

Semifinal results

125 pounds
Ivan McClay (Notre Dame) dec, Austin Petril (Kutztown), 7-6
Willie Bohince (Mercyhurst) dec. Brett Velasquez (St. Cloud St.), 5-2

133 pounds
Blake Bosch (MSU Moorhead) pin Dustin Warner (Wheeling Jesuit), 1:58.
Michael Labry (Ashland) dec. Carmine Ciotti (Gannon), 7-1

141 pounds
Darren Wynn (McKendree) dec. Daniel Salazar of Colorado Mesa), 10-6
Nate Rodriguez (Maryville) dec. Nick Crume (UIndy), 3-0

149 pounds
Juwan Edmond (Notre Dame) dec. Nic Goebel (Findlay). 8-6
Keith Surber (Neb.-Kearney) dec. Michael Screptock (Tiffin), 6-1

157 pounds
DeAndre` Johnson (Limestone) dec. Ryan Strope (McKendree, 6-4), sv
Destin McCauley (Neb.-Kearney) dec. Joey White (Findlay), 5-2, tb1

165 pounds
Isaiah White (Notre Dame) dec. Troy Warner (Kutztown), 8-1
Brock Wingbermuehle (McKendree) pin Francis Mizia (Mercyhurst), 1:50

174 pounds
Nick Becker (Wis.-Parkside) tech. fall Dalton George (Ohio Valley), 16-1, 7:00
Blaze Shade (UNC Pembroke) dec. Adam Cooling (Minnesota St.), 2-1, tb1

184 pounds
Garrett Lineberger (Notre Dame) dec. Aero Amo (Augustana-SD), 6-4
Nicholas Fiegener (California Baptist) dec. Jordan Murphy (Ashland), 13-9

197 pounds
Jacob Waste (California Baptist) maj. dec. Evan Ramos (Shippensburg), 10-2
Jon Inman (Fort Hays St.) dec. Luke Cramer (Ashland), 4-2, sv

285 Results
Garrett Gray (Tiffin) pin Michael Lowman (Augustana-SD), 1:17
Kameron Teacher (Notre Dame) dec. Logan Hopp (Upper Iowa), 7-2

Team Standings after semifinals
1. Notre Dame (OH) 91.0
2. Neb.-Kearney 47.0
3. California Baptist 46.5
3. McKendree 46.5
3. St. Cloud St. 46.5
6. Ashland 37.5
7. Maryville (MO) 32.5
8. Findlay 29.5
8. Fort Hays St. 29.5
10. Tiffin 28.5