Nov. 1, 2008
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue wrestling team started the 2008-09 season in solid fashion on Saturday, winning a trio of individual championships and posting 11 place-winning performances at the Eastern Michigan Open. Sophomores Luke Manuel and Logan Brown and freshman Jake Fleckenstein led the charge taking home the titles at 165, 197 and 133 pounds.
Manuel, ranked seventh in the preseason InterMat/NWCA poll, rolled to the 165-pound title with four straight victories, including his first fall of the season. He capped the day with a 5-1 decision over Big Ten rival Rex Kendle of Michigan State in the finals. Brown, who entered the season ranked 13th by InterMat/NWCA, needed just three wins each to snag the 197-pound championships, sticking his first two opponents of the day and finishing with a 6-1 decision over Josh Ohl of Ashland. Fleckenstein racked up four victories en route to the 133-pound crown, notching a pair of major decisions. His second big win came in the finals by way of a 14-5 rout of Pittsburgh's Eric Rosencrancz.
Other Boilermakers climbing the podium at the day's end were 125-pounders Akif Eren and Matt Fields, 141-pounder Juan Archuleta, seventh-ranked 149-pounder Jake Patacsil, 165-pounders John Doyle and Jason Martin, 11th-ranked 184-pounder A.J. Kissel and heavyweight Chris Kasten.
Eren knocked off the nation's 16th-ranked 125-pound grappler twice on his way to a third-place showing, while Fields fell to Eren in the consolation semifinals before taking home fifth. Archuleta battled back from a career-opening loss to win his next six consecutive matches and take third at 141 pounds, while Patacsil rallied from a loss in the 149-pound semifinals to post technical falls over his next two opponents and claim the bronze.
Doyle and Martin were fifth and sixth at 165 pounds, and Kissel snagged the bronze at 184 pounds with his first three pins of the season. His career count climbs to 22 falls, moving him up to a tie for ninth place all-time at Purdue. Kasten rallied back to take fifth place at 285 pounds, earning a trio of wins on the day.
The Boilermakers have now earned seven individual Eastern Michigan Open titles over the last four years and 32 place-winning efforts. They return to action in two weeks as they host the inaugural Boilermaker Challenge in Lambert Fieldhouse. For full tournament brackets visit emueagles.com.