WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Wrestling head coach Tony Ersland unveiled the winners of the 2024-25 team awards at the annual wrestling banquet on Sunday night.
Joey Blaze, Matt Ramos, Brody Baumann, Greyson Clark, Hayden Filipovich, James Rowley and Wyatt Krejsa all took home individual honors.
Additionally, a program record 15 Boilermakers were recognized as Academic All-Big Ten selections, including Baumann, Blaze, Clark, Filipovich, Ramos, Rowley, Dominic Burgett, Orlando Cruz, Ashton Jackson, Kade Law, Jacob Macatangay, Jaden Reynolds, Cooper Rider, Isaac Ruble and Christian White.
Blaze was named the team's Outstanding Wrestler after rising to the occasion at March's NCAA Championships in Philadelphia, where he became Purdue's youngest NCAA finalist since 1950 after a remarkable tournament run. He defeated Penn State's No. 1 Tyler Kasak along with three other ranked stars on his road to the national title match.
Last Monday, Blaze also won the Purdue Athletics Golden Pete award for Male Groundbreaking Performance.
Ramos earned both the Most Dominant and Most Dedicated awards after one of the best seasons in Purdue Wrestling's 110-year history. The redshirt senior became Purdue's 12th two-time All-American after going 31-3 to finish with the third-best career win percentage by a Boilermaker.
Ramos stayed loyal to Purdue after rising to national fame two years ago after pinning three-time national champion Spencer Lee in the national semifinals. Coach Ersland announced last month that the Lockport, Ill., superstar will be staying on full-time as an assistant coach.
Filipovich took home the Strength & Conditioning award after bulking up roughly 50 pounds in a little over a year to become a first-time NCAA qualifier as a heavyweight. He also won his first career NCAA match, defeating Appalachian State's Stephan Monchery.
After the hottest start of his career, Rowley suffered a season-ending leg injury in December but never wavered as a leader in the practice room all year long. He took home the Joe Patacsil Leadership award for his efforts.
Clark suffered injuries in back-to-back seasons and bounced back to qualify for the national tournament both in 2024 and 2025. He was the recipient of this season's Boiler Up Tough award.
Baumann improved from a 12-16 record in 2023-24 to go 19-13 this season, making his second consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships where he picked up his first career win at the national tournament. The Evansville, Ind., grappler is one of just five Indiana natives to qualify for each of the last two NCAA tournaments.
Lastly, Krejsa impressed in his true freshman season with two podium finishes (fourth at Kent State Open, fifth at Purple Raider Open). He also competed at two different weights and made his dual debut at 157 despite wrestling typically as a 149-pounder. Krejsa was named Purdue's freshman of the year.
Aside from Ramos, who's returning as a coach, every starting Boilermaker from the 2024-25 season is expected to return and compete in 2025-26. The team is coming off its best finish at the NCAA Championships (13th) since 1992.
2024-25 Team Awards Outstanding Wrestler - Joey Blaze
Most Dominant - Matt Ramos
Most Dedicated - Matt Ramos
Joe Patacsil Leadership - James Rowley
Strength & Conditioning - Hayden Filipovich
Boiler Up Tough - Greyson Clark
Most Improved - Brody Baumann
Freshman of the Year - Wyatt Krejsa
Joey Blaze, Matt Ramos, Brody Baumann, Greyson Clark, Hayden Filipovich, James Rowley and Wyatt Krejsa all took home individual honors.
Additionally, a program record 15 Boilermakers were recognized as Academic All-Big Ten selections, including Baumann, Blaze, Clark, Filipovich, Ramos, Rowley, Dominic Burgett, Orlando Cruz, Ashton Jackson, Kade Law, Jacob Macatangay, Jaden Reynolds, Cooper Rider, Isaac Ruble and Christian White.
Blaze was named the team's Outstanding Wrestler after rising to the occasion at March's NCAA Championships in Philadelphia, where he became Purdue's youngest NCAA finalist since 1950 after a remarkable tournament run. He defeated Penn State's No. 1 Tyler Kasak along with three other ranked stars on his road to the national title match.
Last Monday, Blaze also won the Purdue Athletics Golden Pete award for Male Groundbreaking Performance.
Ramos earned both the Most Dominant and Most Dedicated awards after one of the best seasons in Purdue Wrestling's 110-year history. The redshirt senior became Purdue's 12th two-time All-American after going 31-3 to finish with the third-best career win percentage by a Boilermaker.
Ramos stayed loyal to Purdue after rising to national fame two years ago after pinning three-time national champion Spencer Lee in the national semifinals. Coach Ersland announced last month that the Lockport, Ill., superstar will be staying on full-time as an assistant coach.
Filipovich took home the Strength & Conditioning award after bulking up roughly 50 pounds in a little over a year to become a first-time NCAA qualifier as a heavyweight. He also won his first career NCAA match, defeating Appalachian State's Stephan Monchery.
After the hottest start of his career, Rowley suffered a season-ending leg injury in December but never wavered as a leader in the practice room all year long. He took home the Joe Patacsil Leadership award for his efforts.
Clark suffered injuries in back-to-back seasons and bounced back to qualify for the national tournament both in 2024 and 2025. He was the recipient of this season's Boiler Up Tough award.
Baumann improved from a 12-16 record in 2023-24 to go 19-13 this season, making his second consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships where he picked up his first career win at the national tournament. The Evansville, Ind., grappler is one of just five Indiana natives to qualify for each of the last two NCAA tournaments.
Lastly, Krejsa impressed in his true freshman season with two podium finishes (fourth at Kent State Open, fifth at Purple Raider Open). He also competed at two different weights and made his dual debut at 157 despite wrestling typically as a 149-pounder. Krejsa was named Purdue's freshman of the year.
Aside from Ramos, who's returning as a coach, every starting Boilermaker from the 2024-25 season is expected to return and compete in 2025-26. The team is coming off its best finish at the NCAA Championships (13th) since 1992.
2024-25 Team Awards Outstanding Wrestler - Joey Blaze
Most Dominant - Matt Ramos
Most Dedicated - Matt Ramos
Joe Patacsil Leadership - James Rowley
Strength & Conditioning - Hayden Filipovich
Boiler Up Tough - Greyson Clark
Most Improved - Brody Baumann
Freshman of the Year - Wyatt Krejsa