By: Brook Weber
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Purdue Wrestling team fell in a 35-8 dual decision at No. 13 Illinois in Huff Hall on Saturday afternoon.
Two nationally ranked Boilermakers were victorious in the loss, including one bonus point win and one ranked victory.
No. 1 Matt Ramos had no rust coming out of the bye week, earning a 19-1 technical fall over Caelan Riley at the top of the card.
Winning in just 2:32 with a furious offensive pace, it was the fastest tech fall of the redshirt senior's career.
Ramos' win put him back on top as the national tech fall leader with 12 this season, tied with one other wrestler (No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State, 165 pounds).
No. 7 Joey Blaze also prevailed at 157 lbs., beating No. 31 Jason Kraisser 8-1 for his sixth ranked victory of the year.
The sophomore Blaze improved to 4-0 in Big Ten Conference action after a takedown, a pair of reversals and a riding time point secured his match win.
Also of note, redshirt freshman Orlando Cruz took No. 12 Edmond Ruth down to the wire with a 2-0 lead heading into the third period.
The Crown Point, Indiana, native gave up a takedown in overtime, but ultimately impressed in a hard-fought 5-2 decision loss (SV-1) to the No. 12-ranked wrestler at 184 lbs.
The Boilermakers fell to 8-4 (1-3 B1G) after the Fighting Illini (9-3, 4-1 B1G) took six bonus point victories and two decisions in Saturday's dual. UP NEXT Purdue will hit the road one last time in the regular season next weekend, making stops at Wisconsin (Friday night) and Minnesota (Sunday afternoon) before returning home for the final two duals.
Friday night's bout with the Badgers is set for 10 p.m. ET at UW Field House in Madison. Big Ten Network will host the live broadcast. RESULTS 125 | #1 Matt Ramos (PUR) over Caelan Riley (ILL) – TF 19-1 (2:32) | PUR 5-0
133 | #4 Lucas Byrd (ILL) over Jacob Macatangay (PUR) – TF 25-8 (6:17) | TIED 5-5
141 | #15 Danny Pucino (ILL) over Christian White (PUR) – TF 20-4 (6:18) | ILL 10-5
149 | #13 Kannon Webster (ILL) over Isaac Ruble (PUR) – TF 19-4 (5:23) | ILL 15-5
157 | #7 Joey Blaze (PUR) over #31 Jason Kraisser (ILL) – D 8-1 | ILL 15-8
165 | #13 Braeden Scoles (ILL) over Stoney Buell (PUR) – Fall (3:44) | ILL 21-8
174 | #23 Danny Braunagel (ILL) over #26 Brody Baumann (PUR) – D 15-8 | ILL 24-8
184 | #12 Edmond Ruth (ILL) over Orlando Cruz (PUR) – D 5-2 (SV-1) | ILL 27-8
197 | #16 Zac Braunagel (ILL) over #27 Ben Vanadia (PUR) – MD 17-3 | ILL 31-8
285 | #10 Luke Luffman (ILL) over Hayden Filipovich (PUR) – MD 9-1 | Final: ILL 35-8
Cover photo courtesy of Beth Krejsa
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Purdue Wrestling team fell in a 35-8 dual decision at No. 13 Illinois in Huff Hall on Saturday afternoon.
Two nationally ranked Boilermakers were victorious in the loss, including one bonus point win and one ranked victory.
No. 1 Matt Ramos had no rust coming out of the bye week, earning a 19-1 technical fall over Caelan Riley at the top of the card.
Winning in just 2:32 with a furious offensive pace, it was the fastest tech fall of the redshirt senior's career.
Relentless. 😤@Matt_Ramos2' 12th tech fall this season is officially the FASTEST of his career!
— Purdue Wrestling (@PurdueWrestling) February 1, 2025
19-1 in just 2:32. pic.twitter.com/XSwcxPoMvl
Ramos' win put him back on top as the national tech fall leader with 12 this season, tied with one other wrestler (No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State, 165 pounds).
No. 7 Joey Blaze also prevailed at 157 lbs., beating No. 31 Jason Kraisser 8-1 for his sixth ranked victory of the year.
Joey Blaze at 157 lbs wins by decision 8-1 💥#B1GWrestling x @PurdueWrestling pic.twitter.com/L7vZ3taFNY
— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) February 1, 2025
The sophomore Blaze improved to 4-0 in Big Ten Conference action after a takedown, a pair of reversals and a riding time point secured his match win.
Also of note, redshirt freshman Orlando Cruz took No. 12 Edmond Ruth down to the wire with a 2-0 lead heading into the third period.
The Crown Point, Indiana, native gave up a takedown in overtime, but ultimately impressed in a hard-fought 5-2 decision loss (SV-1) to the No. 12-ranked wrestler at 184 lbs.
The Boilermakers fell to 8-4 (1-3 B1G) after the Fighting Illini (9-3, 4-1 B1G) took six bonus point victories and two decisions in Saturday's dual. UP NEXT Purdue will hit the road one last time in the regular season next weekend, making stops at Wisconsin (Friday night) and Minnesota (Sunday afternoon) before returning home for the final two duals.
Friday night's bout with the Badgers is set for 10 p.m. ET at UW Field House in Madison. Big Ten Network will host the live broadcast. RESULTS 125 | #1 Matt Ramos (PUR) over Caelan Riley (ILL) – TF 19-1 (2:32) | PUR 5-0
133 | #4 Lucas Byrd (ILL) over Jacob Macatangay (PUR) – TF 25-8 (6:17) | TIED 5-5
141 | #15 Danny Pucino (ILL) over Christian White (PUR) – TF 20-4 (6:18) | ILL 10-5
149 | #13 Kannon Webster (ILL) over Isaac Ruble (PUR) – TF 19-4 (5:23) | ILL 15-5
157 | #7 Joey Blaze (PUR) over #31 Jason Kraisser (ILL) – D 8-1 | ILL 15-8
165 | #13 Braeden Scoles (ILL) over Stoney Buell (PUR) – Fall (3:44) | ILL 21-8
174 | #23 Danny Braunagel (ILL) over #26 Brody Baumann (PUR) – D 15-8 | ILL 24-8
184 | #12 Edmond Ruth (ILL) over Orlando Cruz (PUR) – D 5-2 (SV-1) | ILL 27-8
197 | #16 Zac Braunagel (ILL) over #27 Ben Vanadia (PUR) – MD 17-3 | ILL 31-8
285 | #10 Luke Luffman (ILL) over Hayden Filipovich (PUR) – MD 9-1 | Final: ILL 35-8
Cover photo courtesy of Beth Krejsa