BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Purdue Wrestling is set to start the regular season with a non-conference dual at Gardner-Webb on Friday. The meet is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Paul Porter Arena and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
The Boilermakers return 20 wrestlers from last season and welcome eight true freshmen to the roster.
Preseason national rankings continue to roll in, and five Purdue wrestlers have earned rankings in their respective weight classes: Matt Ramos (No. 4 at 125), Joey Blaze (No. 15 at 157), Greyson Clark (No. 23 at 141), Stoney Buell (No. 23 at 165) and Brody Baumann (No. 31 at 174).
All five preseason ranked wrestlers on the team earned automatic qualifying bids for last season's NCAA Tournament. Each of the five are slotted as projected starters against Gardner-Webb.
Additionally, Dustin Norris (133 pounds), Isaac Ruble (149), James Rowley (184), Ben Vanadia (197) and Hayden Filipovich (285) are all probable starters for Purdue.
The experienced group of Purdue starters has a combined 477 matches under their belt, and a total record of 255-222.
Ashton Jackson (125), Cole Solomey (141), Jaden Reynolds (149) and Orlando Cruz (174) will also make the road trip to potentially compete.
Gardner-Webb competes in the Southern Conference, in which it finished sixth as a team last season. The Runnin' Bulldogs went 7-9 overall and 3-5 in conference in 2023-24.
The dual marks the Boilermakers' first trip to North Carolina since competing at the Fighting Camel Duals last December. Purdue won the third of its three matches that day in a competitive quad meet, defeating Campbell by a score of 21-17.
In addition to the live broadcast on ESPN+, fans can follow Friday's dual via the @PurdueWrestling Twitter/X page, where live updates will be posted throughout the event.
| PROJECTED LINEUPS | |||
| Purdue | Gardner-Webb | ||
| 125 | #5 Matt Ramos or Ashton Jackson | Tyson Lane or Jeffrey Jacome | |
| 133 | Dustin Norris | TK Davis | |
| 141 | #23 Greyson Clark or Cole Solomey | Todd Carter | |
| 149 | Isaac Ruble or Jaden Reynolds | Joseph Giordano or Dominic Ditullio | |
| 157 | #15 Joey Blaze | Drew Pepin | |
| 165 | #23 Stoney Buell | Grant Kress or Tyler Brignola | |
| 174 | #31 Brody Baumann or Orlando Cruz | Andrew Wilson | |
| 184 | James Rowley | Edison Flores or Brixan Burgess | |
| 197 | Ben Vanadia | Josh McCutchen | |
| 285 | Hayden Filipovich | Peyton McComas | |