Bellevue looks to keep on rolling

NORWALK

Since the Northern Ohio League started a dual meet tournament 11 years ago, there's been one constant:

Bellevue has won it every single time ... except once.

 Other than a rare loss to Willard, the Redmen have owned the NOL Duals. And, beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, coach Jim DePolo's team has its sights set on another title.

"Norwalk, Shelby and Tiffin Columbian will all be real competitive," he said. "I think we're the favorite, but it's going to be closer than you might think."

Bellevue is coming in on a roll, having outlasted rival Clyde to win the Clyde Invitational last Saturday. Also, the Redmen defeated Edison and Norwalk in a triangular meet the week before.

"I think we've made some improvements since Brecksville and we got a stronger lineup together," DePolo said. "We've been jockeying some weights around, that kind of thing. Now, we're finally getting people down to the right weights."

The NOL Duals, which will be held at Norwalk High School Friday and Saturday (beginning at 10 a.m.), will be similar to the Sandusky Bay Conference Duals with one notable exception:

Unlike the SBC Duals, the NOL Duals factor into the championship race.

Teams get a point for every team they beat in the duals and a point for every team they finish ahead of in the league tournament. The team with the biggest total is the league champion.

So, a 7-0 record in the duals would give Bellevue seven points that go toward the league crown.

"It's kind of nice," DePolo said. "It puts some importance into (the duals). You want to go into the league tournament with as many points as you can, so the duals can become very competitive. Everyone wants that advantage."

Each team will wrestle three matches Friday and four more Saturday. The top two teams from last season will meet in the final round of the duals. Doors will open at 4:15 p.m. Friday and 10:15 a.m. Saturday.

The league tournament will be Feb. 14 at Tiffin Columbian High School.