Joe Belford
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- Year:
- Sr.
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- Hometown:
- Berea
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- High School:
- St. Edward
ACADEMIC MAJOR: Business Management
BW ATHLETICS INFORMATION: Joe Belford competed in four seasons of wrestling at Baldwin Wallace University from 2012-2016. The 2016 first-team All-Ohio Athletic Conference 285-pounder earned four varsity letter, was a four-year starter and ranks high on the Top-25 list for victories.
ALL-OAC HONORS: As a senior in 2015-2016, Joe was selected first-team All-OAC at 285 pounds.
GENERAL WRESTLING INFORMATION: Joe competed in wrestling for four years, was a four-year starter and ranks 24th on the school all-time victory list with 68 and a 71-55 career record (.563 winning percentage) with 34 pins (falls) and one technical fall. Joe also had 81 takedowns, 90 escapes, nine reversals and 27 total near falls. He earned first-team All-OAC honors as a senior and helped to lead the Yellow Jackets to their first OAC title in wrestling since 1973.
THROUGH THE YEARS: As a freshman in 2012-2013, Joe competed in his first season of wrestling and earned his first varsity letter. He was the starting 285-pounder and compiled a 22-18 record with a team-leading 10 pins. He had 26 takedowns, 28 escapes, four reversals and four near falls. Joe had a 5-0 record and won an individual title at the Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology Tournament.
As a sophomore in 2013-2014, Joe competed in his second season of wrestling and earned his second letter. He was the starting 285-pounder for the second straight season. He missed the first half of the season but returned after January 1, 2014 to compile an 11-8 record with eight pins. He also had nine takedowns, four escapes, one reversal and two total near falls. BW finished 8-3 overall in dual matches and 22nd at the 2014 NCAA Division III National Tournament.
As a junior in 2014-2015, Joe competed in his third season of wrestling and earned his third varsity letter. Joe split the starting duties at 285 pounds. He compiled a 13-11 record with 17 takedowns, 19 escapes, one reversal, one near fall and had seven pins. BW set a single-season school-record with 17 wins, finished 17-6 overall and 4-1 in OAC dual matches, won the 29th Annual John Summa Memorial Tournament, placed sixth at the NCAA Div. III Mideast Regional and 20th at the 2015 NCAA Div. III National Tournament.
As a senior in 2015-2016, Joe competed in his fourth season of wrestling and earned his fourth letter. He was the starting 285 pounder for the fourth straight season. He had a 25-18 overall record, including a 3-1 mark against OAC opponents. He had nine pins, one technical fall, 29 takedowns, 39 escapes, three reversals and 20 total near falls. Joe was selected as a first-team All-OAC choice. Joe helped BW reset the school-record for single-season wins with 18, compile an 18-8 overall and perfect 5-0 OAC record and an OAC title and place second at the 2016 NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Tournament.
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HOMETOWN & HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION: Joe Belford grew up in Berea, Ohio and graduated from Lakewood St. Edward High School. He participated in four years of wrestling as well as two years of football.
