Jan. 18, 2002
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - No. 21 Purdue opened its Big Ten season with a 24-9 victory over Northwestern.
Northwestern jumped out to a 6-0 lead behind victories at 133 and 141. Brad Harper knotted the team score at 6-6 with a 6-4 overtime win over Ryan Cumbee at 157. The score was tied again at 9-9 before Jon Fitch's 6-2 win over Andrew Curran gave the Boilermakers at 12-9 lead and they never looked back.
"Our wrestlers stayed aggressive when they had to," said head coach Jessie Reyes. "We came out flat but worked together as a team to come back and get the victory."
Heavyweight Jake Vercelli stayed undefeated at 18-0 with a 5-1 victory over Mike Little. Ryan Lange won a difficult 9-5 bout with Jason Erwinski. The match was interrupted due to a cut sustained by Lange before he responded with an inspiring comeback victory. Chris Fleeger defeated Bob Potashnick 9-2 at 125 to conclude the dual.
"Ryan Lange did a really nice job of keeping his composure after he was cut, " said Reyes. "Chris Fleeger also stood out and continues to be dominant."
Purdue returns to action next Saturday, Jan. 26, at No. 16 Michigan State.
PURDUE 24, Northwestern 9
133: Vargas (NU) def. Hernandez 4-2, Northwestern 3-0
141: Giacche (NU) def. Pursley, 14-8, Northwestern 6-0
149: Jankowski def. Cumbee (NU), 8-4, Northwestern 6-3
157: Harper def. Kimberlin (NU), 6-4, 6-6
165: Kane (NU) def. Santiago, 4-2, Northwestern 9-6
174: Lange def. Erwinski (NU), 9-5, 9-9
184: Fitch def. A. Curran (NU), 6-2, Purdue 12-9
197: Bush def. B. Curran (NU, F 4:32, 18-9, Purdue 18-9
HWT: Vercelli def. Little (NU), 5-1, Purdue 21-9
125: Fleeger def. Potashnick (NU), 9-2, Purdue 24-9