Feb. 8, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The 25th-ranked Purdue wrestling team suffered its third straight Big Ten Dual loss on Sunday evening, dropping a 28-10 effort at sixth-ranked Ohio State in St. John Arena. The Boilermakers fell to 11-4-1 on the year and 0-3-1 in conference duals, while Ohio State moved to 12-2 (3-1 Big Ten).
Purdue picked up wins at 174, 197 and 133 pounds as freshman Carson Beebe scored a major decision at 133, while junior Nick Corpe and sophomore Logan Brown tallied respective decisions at 174 and 197.
The match was thrust into excitement as seventh-ranked Purdue senior Jake Patacsil squared off with No. 4 Ohio State junior Lance Palmer at 149 pounds. Patacsil looked like he was on the edge of a takedown in both the first and second periods, but ended up surrendering two points on each occasion en route to a 4-1 deficit. Patacsil started the third period on top, but in a strange turn of events he gave up a reversal and two back points before re-reversing Palmer and moving the count to 8-3. Patacsil managed a two-point nearfall of his own shortly after, but Palmer managed to fend him off the rest of the way and earn the 8-5 win.
The Buckeyes followed with wins at 157 and 165 pounds as 17th-ranked Jason Johnstone posted a 14-3 major decision over Purdue sophomore Colton Salazar at 157, and second-ranked Buckeye sophomore Colt Sponseller edged No. 16 Purdue sophomore Luke Manuel at 165, 3-1. In the 165-pound match, Sponseller rode a first-period takedown through the last two rounds for the narrow win.
Corpe put the Boilermakers on the board at 174 pounds, topping Ohio State junior Dave Rella by decision, 6-4. Corpe snared an early takedown, hitting a single-leg shot on Rella's left side and stretching him out for the two. Rella countered in the second with a takedown of his own, and nearly notched another late in the period, but Corpe fought it off on the edge of the mat and responded with a two-pointer of his own in the closing seconds of the frame to earn a 5-4 advantage. A quick escape to start the third made it 6-4 Corpe, and followed up with three near-takedowns on the same single-leg shot. He was unable to convert any of them and settled for the two-point decision and his first Big Ten Dual victory of the season.
A medical forfeit by the Boilermakers at 184 pounds made it 16-3 in Ohio State's favor at the intermission, but 13th-ranked Purdue sophomore Logan Brown snagged another decision at 197 pounds, defeating Buckeye Jason Cook, 5-4. Brown scored a takedown in the opening seconds and followed up with a tight-waist tilt for a pair of back points and a 4-0 lead. Cook picked away at the lead, escaping twice and scooping a takedown off one of Brown's shots in the second, but Brown's two-plus minutes of riding time proved the difference in the win.
Purdue dropped back-to-back matches at heavyweight and 125 pounds as junior Chris Kasten gave up a late takedown to Ohio State senior Corey Morrison en route to the 3-1 loss at heavyweight, while sophomore Akif Eren was pinned by Buckeye sophomore Nikko Triggas in just 53 seconds.
Beebe rebounded for the Boilermakers at 133 pounds, scoring a major decision over Ohio State senior Owen Shaefer, 9-1. Beebe picked up the initial takedown, working out the back of a Shaefer shot for the two, and preceded to ride his Buckeye opponent through the remainder of the first. After a neutral start in the second, Beebe notched another takedown and ride out and pushed his lead to 6-0 with a third-period reversal. Beebe cut Shaefer for the one-point escape, but quickly picked up another takedown to secure bonus points in the major decision.
Sophomore Matt Hemry gave defending NCAA Champion J Jaggers all he could handle at 141 pounds, wearing out the Buckeye senior despite an 8-4 loss. Hemry gave up a trio of first-period takedowns, but rallied in the second and third frames with an onslaught of aggressive wrestling. Jaggers took two injury stoppages and all of his injury time as Hemry beat on both of his shoulders with a flurry of two-on-one attempts and nearly pinned Jaggers before the Buckeye gave up a third-period takedown.
The Boilermakers stay on the road next weekend, traveling to top-ranked Iowa on Friday night and No. 17 Wisconsin on Sunday.