Jan. 17, 2010
ASHLAND, Ohio - The Purdue wrestling team posted a 2-1 record at the 21st Annual Wendy's Duals, hosted by Ashland University on Sunday, improving to 10-4 in dual competition on the season. The Boilermakers dropped their opener to eighth-ranked University of Maryland, but rebounded with a 26-17 dismantling of 15th-ranked Kent State University and closed the day with a 43-12 victory over Ashland.
The Boilermakers got off to a great start against the Terrapins as Purdue freshman Cashé Quiroga opened the match with a 14-5 major decision over Pat Strizki at 125 pounds. However, Maryland came back with a trio of narrow decisions at 133, 141 and 149 pounds, winning 133 by two points and 141 and 149 by just one. Purdue juniors Akif Eren and Juan Archuleta were just short of upsetting top-10 opponents as Eren fell to 10th-ranked Steve Bell at 133, 7-5, while Archuleta dropped a 3-2 decision to #8 Alex Krom at 141, despite getting the match's only takedown. Maryland's Jon Kohler picked up three team points at 149, edging out Purdue senior Sam Patacsil, 7-6.
Junior Colton Salazar chipped into the Terrapins' lead at 157 pounds, taking a 5-3 decision from Kyle John, but Maryland came right back at 165 pounds as 15th-ranked Josh Asper posted a 12-2 major decision over senior Jason Martin. Sixth-ranked Purdue junior Luke Manuel cut the team score to 13-10 at 174 pounds, defeating Owen Smith by decision, 5-1.
Maryland pushed its lead back to six at 184 pounds as Corey Peltier scored a narrow 2-1 win on a riding time point to make it 16-10, but a matchup of highly-ranked grapplers followed at 197 pounds in Purdue's 11th-ranked junior Logan Brown and No. 4 Hudson Taylor of Maryland. The Terrapins got the better of the ranked clash as Taylor used a first-period penalty point to earn a narrow 4-3 decision and put the match out of reach. Maryland heavyweight Pat Gilmore finished the match with a 5-0 decision over Purdue freshman Adam Walls, completing the contest at 22-10.
The Boilermakers got off to a similar start against 15th-ranked Kent State as Quiroga downed Troy Opfer by major decision, 17-6. Quiroga nearly pinned Opfer twice, but had to fight off his back once himself in an exciting opener at 125 pounds. Kent State rebounded with a win at 133 pounds as 13th-ranked Dan Mitcheff had to work hard to topple Eren by decision, 10-6. Purdue's lead stretched to 10-3 at 141 pounds in a bizarre match that resulted in Archuleta scoring a disqualification victory over Kent State's Chase Skonieczny. Archuleta dominated early, building a 4-1 lead in the first period, but a series of cautions and injury time made the second period last a lifetime, despite no scoring and a two-minute ride out for Skonieczny. It all unraveled in the final frame as Archuleta mounted a 12-1 lead before Skonieczny was hit with his sixth and final caution, resulting in the disqualification.
The two sides traded major decision at 149 and 157 pounds as Patacsil rolled out a 9-0 win over Tommy Sasfy at 149 pounds, while Kent State's Mallie Shuster topped Salazar at 157 pounds, 13-1. The Boilermakers grabbed firm control of the bout at 165 and 174 pounds, taking a 23-7 lead with wins by Martin and Manuel. Martin displayed a gutsy performance against Kent State's Ross Tice at 165 pounds, fighting off a pair of takedowns in the third period to go to sudden victory and score one of his own, while Manuel quickly took Keith Witt to the mat at 174 pounds, bundled him in a cradle and pinned him at 1:16 for six team points.
The Golden Flashes looked to rally at 184 pounds, picking up four team points from fifth-ranked Dustin Kilgore with a 13-4 major decision over Corpe, but Brown slammed the door shut on any comeback hopes, putting it out of reach with a 6-1 decision over Casey Newburg. Kent State's 16th-ranked heavyweight Brendan Barlow capped the match with a 4:13 fall over Walls.
The finale was all Purdue as the Boilermakers piled on bonus points in all eight of it wins, including four falls. After an Ashland forfeit at 125 pounds to make it 6-0, Eren and Archuleta posted back-to-back falls to juice the lead to a quick 18-0. Eren scored a quick takedown against Jacob Garringer and took him straight to his back for the fall, while Archuleta built a big lead before hitting a huge throw and pin in the third period over Daniel Genetin.
Sam Patacsil continued the bonus point run with a 9-0 major decision at 149 pounds, scoring a late nearfall on T.J. Rigel to add a point, and Purdue notched two more pins at 157 and 165 to continue the rout to 34-0. At 157, Salazar racked up seven quick points before turning Hunter Pool to his blades for the fall in 1:34, while at 165 Martin was almost pinned off a headlock, giving up a 4-0 lead to Anthony Bradberry, but rolled Bradberry on to his back for a defensive pin at 1:01.
The Eagles got on the board with a forfeit victory for Thomas Grazl at 174 pounds, but momentum quickly shifted back to the Old Gold and Black as Corpe notched a 12-1 major decision over Justin Cheesman at 184 pounds and Brown scored a 16-0 technical fall in 3:24 against Jake Ewing. Ashland earned a win in the final match of the contest as Tyler Houska scored a pin of his own, turning Walls at the 3:50 mark.
The Boilermakers head into Big Ten Dual competition next weekend hosting top-ranked, defending national champions Iowa at Lowell High School in Lowell, Ind., on Sunday. Visit PurdueSports.com this week for a full preview of Sunday's matchup.