March 23, 2013
DES MOINES, Iowa - The Purdue wrestling team turned in a 31st-place finish at the 2013 NCAA Wrestling Championships over the week, led by senior Ivan Lopouchanski's seventh-place All-America showing at 149 pounds. The Boilermakers scored 11 team points over the three-day tournament and turn in their first All-American since the 2010 season.
Lopouchanski topped Virginia Tech's eighth-seeded Nick Brascetta in the seventh-place bout Saturday afternoon, 5-3, using a second-period takedown and dominant top game to earn his 32nd victory of the season. Brascetta struck first, getting in deep on a double-leg shot and converting it to a single before finishing for a 2-0 edge. Lopouchanski was out quickly, tied the score with a second-period escape and took his first lead with a slick slide-by move to make it 4-2. Brascetta got back to his feet to make it 4-3 before the end of the second, but Lopouchanski turned in a third-period ride out to seal the victory. The Boilermaker senior got his legs in on Brascetta early and nearly turned him on a few occasions. Brascetta made it interesting in the last 20 seconds, scrambling towards a reversal, but Lopouchanski held control to the wire and added a riding-time point to close the bout.
At 32-4 this season, Lopouchanski matches the sixth-best single-season win percentage (.889) in school history, tying Boilermaker greats Aaron Moran's 1992 season and Tony Vaughn's 1996 campaign. He was 48-12 in his two seasons at Purdue, marking the sixth-best career win percentage (.800) all-time at Purdue, and he compiled 122 collegiate victories between his two seasons at UNC Greensboro and two years with the Boilermakers.
The 40th All-American in school history, Lopouchanski is the second Boilermaker to earn the honor at 149 pounds, joining 2009 honoree Jake Patacsil. He is the 21st senior in school history to earn a spot on the podium, putting a Boilermaker back on the All-America stand for the first time since junior teammate Cashé Quiroga earned sixth place in 2010.
The NCAA Championships conclude this evening, beginning with the Parade of All-Americans at 6:35 p.m. (CT). The national finals will begin at 7 p.m., live on ESPN, as Penn State looks to win its third straight NCAA Championship with five individuals in the finals, including the highly-anticipated matchup between Nittany Lion junior David Taylor and Cornell senior Kyle Dake. Dake is trying to become the first wrestler in NCAA history to win four national titles at four different weight classes.
For brackets and team scores click here.
Purdue Results
141 Pounds - Brandon Nelsen
First Round - lost to #12 Chris Mecate (Old Dominion), D 6-3
Conso. First Round - def. Pat Greco (Northwestern), Fall 4:26
Conso. Second Round - lost to Zach Neibert (Virginia Tech), D 7-3
149 Pounds - #10 Ivan Lopouchanski - Seventh Place
First Round - def. Josh Roosa (Bloomsburg), D 3-0
Second Round - lost to #7 Scott Sakaguchi (Oregon State), D 4-1
Conso. Second Round - def. Brandon Richardson (Wyoming), D 3-2
Conso. Third Round - def. David Habat (Edinboro), D 5-2
Round of 12 - def. #4 Cole Von Ohlen (Air Force), D 6-0
Conso. Quarterfinals - lost to #6 Dylan Ness (Minnesota), D 12-5
Seventh-Place Match - def. #8 Nick Brascetta (Virginia Tech), D 5-3
157 Pounds - Tommy Churchard
First Round - lost to #5 James Fleming (Clarion), TF 16-0 (4:44)
Conso. First Round - def. Cody Pack (South Dakota State), D 3-0
Conso. Second Round - def. Spartak Chino (Ohio), MD 11-2
Conso. Third Round - lost to #4 James Green (Nebraska), Fall 3:30
174 Pounds - Chad Welch
First Round - lost to Cody Walters (Ohio), D 5-3
Conso. First Round - lost to Ian Korb (Penn), MD 12-4
197 Pounds - Braden Atwood
First Round - lost to #11 Blake Rosholt (Oklahoma State), D 3-2
Conso. First Round - lost to Mario Gonzalez (Illinois), D 7-1