KENT, Ohio – The Purdue wrestling team defeated Kent State, 31-10, thanks to seven match wins at Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center on Friday night.
The Boilermakers (6-1) took care of business in their final road trip before beginning Big Ten action next week with a home dual against Northwestern.
No. 1 Matt Ramos, who has held the top ranking in the nation since winning the Cliff Keen Invite title on December 7, got the new year started on the right foot with a 17-4 major decision over Nico Calello.
He notched five takedowns and ultimately needed one more to earn his 11th technical fall, but ran out of time just before bringing his opponent down at the end of the third period. Ramos' 10 tech falls still lead the nation this season.
The win marked Ramos' 100th of his career. He is just the 18th wrestler in program history to eclipse the century mark with 100 career wins.
Redshirt junior Dustin Norris came out strong in one of his most impressive showings of the season, earning a 15-0 technical fall over 133-pounder Adan Benavidez in just 4:26. It was Purdue's fastest tech of the evening and the third shutout of Norris' season.
Purdue kept the bonus points rolling in the 141-pound match when No. 33 Greyson Clark beat Jordan Decatur in an 11-2 major decision. It was the Wrightstown, Wis., native's fifth bonus point win of the year.
After Kent State's Billy Meiszner won a 9-5 decision over Isaac Ruble, redshirt sophomore Kade Law responded by putting the Old Gold & Black back in the win column.
Looking for his first win of 2024-25, Law submitted the best offensive output of his career in a 17-2 tech fall (6:59) over Dominic Paterra. It was his first victory since taking third place in last February's Greyhound Open.
No. 26 Brody Baumann later joined in on the bonus point party with a 21-5 tech fall over Hunter Andel in 6:31. It was the most points scored by any Boilermaker in a match this season, besting his own high mark of 20.
Orlando Cruz picked up his first dual win of the season with a 4-1 sudden victory win over Trent Thomas. Deadlocked at 1-1 entering the first overtime frame, Cruz wasted little time in scoring the winning takedown.
Wrestling in his home state, Brecksville, Ohio, native Ben Vanadia (No. 32) made his first career appearance as a ranked 197-pounder. He did not disappoint as he cruised to a 20-3 tech fall, his highest score of 2024-25.
Purdue improved to 6-1 with its win in the Buckeye State, good for the team's best dual record since 2021. UP NEXT The Boilermakers return home to compete in Holloway Gymnasium for the first time this season. Purdue opens its Big Ten slate with a dual against Northwestern on Friday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. Gates will open at 6 p.m. and a live stream will be available on B1G+. RESULTS
125 | #1 Matt Ramos (PUR) def. Nico Calello (KSU) - MD 16-4 | PUR 4-0
133 | Dustin Norris (PUR) def. Adan Benavidez (KSU) - TF 15-0 (4:26) | PUR 9-0
141 | #33 Greyson Clark (PUR) def. Jordan Decatur (KSU) - MD 11-2 | PUR 13-0
149 | Billy Meiszner (KSU) def. Issac Ruble (PUR) - D 9-5 | PUR 13-3
157 | Kade Law (PUR) def. Dominic Paterra (KSU) - TF 17-2 (5:59) | PUR 18-3
165 | Carson Miller (KSU) def. #31 Stoney Buell | MD 12-1 | PUR 18-7
174 | #26 Brody Baumann (PUR) def. Hunter Andel (KSU) - TF 21-5 (6:31) | PUR 23-7
184 | Orlando Cruz (PUR) def. Trent Thomas (KSU) - D 4-1 (SV-1) | PUR 26-7
197 | #32 Ben Vanadia (PUR) def. Corey Boerio (KSU) - TF 20-3 (5:50) | PUR 31-7
285 | Brentan Simmerman (KSU) def. Hayden Filipovich (PUR) - D 4-2 | FINAL: PUR 31-10