IOWA CITY – Matt Ramos knocked off his third No. 1 ranked opponent in the last year and James Rowley picked up his first Big Ten dual win, but Purdue Wrestling dropped its matchup with No. 3 Iowa by a score of 34-6.
The Boilermakers (5-5, 0-2 B1G) got their two wins on the evening from Ramos and Rowley, who both used second period takedowns and impressive defense throughout to secure their victories.
The dual started at 125 with the premier matchup featuring Ramos and Iowa's Drake Ayala. The duo split the polls this week with Ramos claiming the No. 1 ranking from WIN Magazine and The Open Mat, while Ayala was given the top spot by FloWrestling and Intermat.
Ramos came out firing from the whistle, putting together most of the shots in the first and forcing a stall call on Ayala. The first period ended scoreless and the second was headed in that direction before a blast double from the reigning national finalist and All-American Boilermaker with just 0:18 seconds left in the period gave him the advantage.
He would ride out the period to prevent the escape and hold a 4-0 lead going into the third. Good head and hands defense prevented a late Ayala comeback attempt and gave Ramos a 4-1 decision win.
It is the third time in the last 308 days that Ramos has beaten a No. 1 ranked wrestler, with two of three wins coming against Hawkeyes. The first and most famous being his pin of Spencer Lee in the 2023 national semifinal and the second coming at the NWCA All-Star Classic in a 10-2 major of Lock Haven's Anthony Noto. Ramos is the only wrestler under Ersland to beat two top-ranked wrestlers in the same season.
Redshirt-freshman James Rowley earned his first Big Ten dual win with a 5-1 decision over Aiden Riggins. The pair went to the second period tied at zeros. Rowley started down and got a quick three second out before securing a drag takedown to take a lead he would not relinquish. It was the second conference win of the year for the Corvalis, Ore., native who has won four of his last five matches.
UP NEXT The Boilermakers will look to bounce back quickly with a Sunday dual against No. 6 Nebraska in Lincoln coming up in just two days. First match will start at 2:00 p.m. ET and will be streamed on B1G+.
Purdue 6 - #3 Iowa 34
125: #2 Matt Ramos (PUR) over #1 Drake Ayala (IOWA) - Dec 4-1
133: Cullan Schriever (IOWA) over Dustin Norris (PUR) - MD 20-7
141: #1 Real Woods (IOWA) over #32 Greyson Clark (PUR) - MD 8-0
149: Victor Voinovich (IOWA) over Marcos Polanco (PUR) - TF 19-4 6:15)
157: #2 Jared Franek (IOWA) over #16 Joey Blaze (PUR) - Dec 2-1
165: #6 Mike Caliendo (IOWA) over Stoney Buell (PUR) - Dec 9-4
174: #9 Patrick Kennedy (IOWA) over Brody Baumann (PUR) - TF 19-4 (4:43)
184: James Rowley (PUR) over Aiden Riggins (IOWA) - Dec 5-1
197: #14 Zach Glazier (IOWA) over Ben Vanadia (PUR) - TF 20-5 (3:15)
285: Bradley Hill (IOWA) over Tristan Ruhlman (PUR) - TF 19-4 (4:04)
The Boilermakers (5-5, 0-2 B1G) got their two wins on the evening from Ramos and Rowley, who both used second period takedowns and impressive defense throughout to secure their victories.
The dual started at 125 with the premier matchup featuring Ramos and Iowa's Drake Ayala. The duo split the polls this week with Ramos claiming the No. 1 ranking from WIN Magazine and The Open Mat, while Ayala was given the top spot by FloWrestling and Intermat.
Ramos came out firing from the whistle, putting together most of the shots in the first and forcing a stall call on Ayala. The first period ended scoreless and the second was headed in that direction before a blast double from the reigning national finalist and All-American Boilermaker with just 0:18 seconds left in the period gave him the advantage.
He would ride out the period to prevent the escape and hold a 4-0 lead going into the third. Good head and hands defense prevented a late Ayala comeback attempt and gave Ramos a 4-1 decision win.
PUBLIC ENEMY OF NO. 1s IN IOWA CITY@Matt_Ramos2 knocks off yet another top-ranked Hawkeye in a 4-1 decision win over No. 1 Drake Ayala.#BoilerUp🚂 | #AlwaysAggressive pic.twitter.com/rxjCR0VfMx
— Purdue Wrestling (@PurdueWrestling) January 20, 2024
It is the third time in the last 308 days that Ramos has beaten a No. 1 ranked wrestler, with two of three wins coming against Hawkeyes. The first and most famous being his pin of Spencer Lee in the 2023 national semifinal and the second coming at the NWCA All-Star Classic in a 10-2 major of Lock Haven's Anthony Noto. Ramos is the only wrestler under Ersland to beat two top-ranked wrestlers in the same season.
Redshirt-freshman James Rowley earned his first Big Ten dual win with a 5-1 decision over Aiden Riggins. The pair went to the second period tied at zeros. Rowley started down and got a quick three second out before securing a drag takedown to take a lead he would not relinquish. It was the second conference win of the year for the Corvalis, Ore., native who has won four of his last five matches.
UP NEXT The Boilermakers will look to bounce back quickly with a Sunday dual against No. 6 Nebraska in Lincoln coming up in just two days. First match will start at 2:00 p.m. ET and will be streamed on B1G+.
Purdue 6 - #3 Iowa 34
125: #2 Matt Ramos (PUR) over #1 Drake Ayala (IOWA) - Dec 4-1
133: Cullan Schriever (IOWA) over Dustin Norris (PUR) - MD 20-7
141: #1 Real Woods (IOWA) over #32 Greyson Clark (PUR) - MD 8-0
149: Victor Voinovich (IOWA) over Marcos Polanco (PUR) - TF 19-4 6:15)
157: #2 Jared Franek (IOWA) over #16 Joey Blaze (PUR) - Dec 2-1
165: #6 Mike Caliendo (IOWA) over Stoney Buell (PUR) - Dec 9-4
174: #9 Patrick Kennedy (IOWA) over Brody Baumann (PUR) - TF 19-4 (4:43)
184: James Rowley (PUR) over Aiden Riggins (IOWA) - Dec 5-1
197: #14 Zach Glazier (IOWA) over Ben Vanadia (PUR) - TF 20-5 (3:15)
285: Bradley Hill (IOWA) over Tristan Ruhlman (PUR) - TF 19-4 (4:04)