TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Eastern Michigan Open
Saturday, Nov. 5 / 9 a.m. ET
Convocation Center / Ypsilanti, Michigan
Brackets, Live Scoring / General Information
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. ââ'¬"The 2016-17 campaign for Purdue wrestling gets underway Saturday at the Eastern Michigan Open. Nineteen Boilermakers will be in action starting at 9 a.m. ET inside the Convocation Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Wrestling will run throughout the day on 10 mats with finals and place matches starting at 7 p.m.
Although Wrestle-Offs were contested Sunday, the Eastern Michigan Open will serve as an even greater evaluation tool for Purdue head wrestling coach Tony Ersland.
"For me, this is definitely a better indicator of the progress our guys have made over the past year," Ersland said. "Seeing different competition outside of our own wrestling room allows us to watch the returners and see what the progress looks like."
Additionally, the coaches will get their first look at six of their newcomers who will compete as unattached wrestlers.
"We are super excited to see the newcomers wrestle because we feel that there is a lot of talent in this class," Ersland said. "I really enjoy being in the corner because of the energy and the emotions that you get from competing, so it's hard not be to in the corner for the unattached guys. Even though it will be from afar, I'm excited to watch them start their careers and see how they will define themselves as competitors."
The Eastern Michigan Open marks the first official competition as a Boilermaker for five redshirt freshmen. One of those redshirt freshmen is Junior World Team Trials qualifier and 165-pounder Dylan Lydy.
"I am really grateful to finally compete this weekend," Lydy said. "I'm grateful for being able to do what I love every day. Being able to have the staff coach me from here on out will help me develop a lot more throughout the season. I know I have every resource I need in order to achieve my goals so that leaves the rest to me."
Lydy's fellow redshirt freshmen set to compete include Nate Limmex, Gavin Murray, Kyle Todrank and Cole Wysocki.
"They're my first recruiting class and that will always hold a special place in my heart," Ersland said. "We think that Dylan Lydy is just now realizing his potential in what he can be. We really started to see him gather momentum and confidence wrestling freestyle in summer competitions. This is a first stepping stone to realizing that potential for him."
While Purdue took part in the Eastern Michigan Duals in 2015, a trio of Boilermakers placed while wrestling in the Open. Cody Pae, who was sixth last season at 133 pounds, is eyeing the sixth open tournament podium finish of his career. Redshirt sophomore Jacob Aven brought home third-place honors at 285 and as an unattached freshman Murray was fifth at 157.
