February 12, 1999
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The No.15-ranked Purdue wrestling team destroyed No. 21-ranked Michigan State 24-7 at the Intercollegiate Athletic Facility on Friday. The Boilermakers are now 15-3-1 overall and 3-1-1 in the Big Ten. Michigan State drops to 4-9 overall and 1-6 in the Big Ten.
"I was very pleased with our effort out there tonight," Purdue coach Jessie Reyes said. "Were now getting late in the season and we seem to be wrestling better as a team. Tonight it was a total team effort."
Purdue won eight matches in the dual meet. Sophomore Dan Rendell began the evening with an impressive 8-3 decision over freshman Kevin Speiss at 165 to earn his first career Big Ten victory. At 174, 17th-ranked Purdue senior James Crnich defeated 14th-ranked Will Hill, 4-2 to increase the lead to 6-0 and collect his 23rd victory of the season. Crnich's win was revenge of sorts, as Hill defeated the Oak Forest, Ill., native 3-2 at the Northern Iowa Open earlier this season.
"What a huge win for James," Reyes said. "He fought Hill hard to the end and came out on top. That win was big, especially for the Big Ten Championship seedings."
At 184-pounds, senior Phil Holmgren improved his overall record to 12-5 with a hard-fought 7-6 victory over freshman Nik Fekete. The win was the seventh in a row for Holmgren. After a Michigan State win at 197, Purdue redshirt freshman Jacob Vercelli escaped in overtime with a 2-1 win in over 17th-ranked sophomore Matt Lamb. Lamb was called for stalling just 32 seconds into OT. It was his second offense, after being warned earlier in the match.
Returning to the top of the lineup, redshirt freshman Jason Silverstein, ranked 11th in the nation, came from behind to defeat 15th-ranked Chris Williams 7-5. With two seconds remaining in the third period, Silverstein, who picked up his team-leading 26th victory, scored a takedown to claim the match.
Purdue won the last three matches. Freshman Carlos Blanco knocked off 20th-ranked senior Issac Miller 4-3 at 141 pounds. Sophomore Eric Kerkhof wore down sophomore Mike Castillo en route to a 4-3 win. And finally, seventh-ranked senior Willie Wineberg remained undefeated at 16-0 with a 5-4 decision over sophomore Corey Posey.
"Going back to the last few meets, we have just found a way to win," Reyes said. "Seven of our eight wins were decided by two-or-fewer points. "
The Boilers will have little time to rest as they travel to Ann Arbor, Mich. to battle eighth-ranked Michigan at 1 p.m.
FINAL SCORE: PURDUE 24, MICHIGAN STATE 7
125 Jason Silverstein (PU) dec. Chris Williams; 7-5133 Pat McNamara (MSU) dec. Evan Robinson; 11-4141 Carlos Blanco (PU) dec. Issac Miller; 4-3149 Eric Kerkhof (PU) dec. Mike Castillo; 4-3157 Willie Wineberg (PU) dec. Cory Posey; 5-4165 Dan Rendell (PU) dec. Kevin Speiss; 8-3174 James Crnich (PU) dec. Will Hill; 4-2184 Phil Holmgren (PU) dec. Nik Fekete; 7-6197 Nick Muzashvili (MSU) dec. Jared Williams; 10-2Hwt. Jacob Vercelli (PU) dec. Matt Lamb; 2-1, OT