Back when Division III wrestlers were allowed to compete in the Division I national championships, two Blue Streaks have the distinction of becoming Division I All-Americans: Mark Hawald and Jim Weir.

Hawald's story will come later. This one will be about Jim Weir. 

Weir was a three-time Division III national champion, once at 158 pounds and twice at 167 pounds. He was a three-time Presidents' Athletic Conference champion and a four-time National Catholic Invitational champion.

He was also a three time Division I qualifier.

He holds the school record for highest career winning percentage (.904), finishing his career with an astounding record of 98-10-1.

Of his ten losses, six were at the Division I national championships.

Weir's crowning achievement was earning All-American honors twice at the Division I level - 6th place in 1976 and 4th place in 1978. In 1978, he lost in the national quarterfinals to the eventual national champion, Keith Stearns of Oklahoma, in overtime.

To no one's surprise, he was inducted into the John Carroll Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He is also in the Division III Wrestling Hall of Fame.

It was not that Weir simply won a lot. He also won when his team needed him to the most.

On this date in 1977, Weir delivered a huge victory for the Blue Streaks in their biggest win ever in their series with Ohio State. Here is the Plain Dealer account:

John Carroll University won three one-point decisions and had a key pin by 167-pound junior Jim Weir as it broke a two-match losing streak by beating invading Ohio State, 26-16, in college wresting Thursday night. JCU is 6-3 and OSU is 8-7. 

The Blue Streaks lost last week to Cleveland State (36-5) and Ashland (24-17) and needed to bounce back against the Buckeyes to tune up for a key Presidents' Athletic Conference double dual against Hiram and host Allegheny Monday. 

JCU, ranked No. I in NCAA Div. III, won six of the 10 bouts. It scored points in three of the first four with a draw by 118-pounder Steve Batanian, 126-pounder John Jackson and 142- pounder Nick Cipollo. 

"The turning point was the pin by Weir," said JCU coach Tony DeCarlo. "We were down going into the match and had to get things together." 

Cipollo was losing with 15 seconds to go before he edged Mike Pace of Mayfield, 11-10, with a takedown with 15 seconds to go. 

Brad Bowman, 177-pound senior from Warrensville, hiked his JCU record this season to 10-0 with a 17-5 victory over Kent Bruggerman.

Weir, now 13-1, had a 10-point lead over Mike Sustersic, former state champ from Brecksville, before his pin at 7:07. 

Kevin Hinkel (190) and Bill Kahl (heavyweight) wrapped up the victo­ry for JCU with one-point decisions.