#17 Purdue to Host Michigan State in B1G Home Opener on Friday#17 Purdue to Host Michigan State in B1G Home Opener on Friday

#17 Purdue to Host Michigan State in B1G Home Opener on Friday

Boilers host their annual Hammer Down Cancer dual in Holloway Gymnasium.

Hammer Down Cancer Singlet Auction Opens in a new window Watch on BTN Opens in a new window Dual Notes Opens in a new window
by Brook Weber

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — No. 17 Purdue Wrestling will open a four-dual homestand against Michigan State on Friday in Holloway Gymnasium.

First match is set for 5 p.m. ET. Doors will open at 4 p.m. and, as always, admission is free to all students and fans. The dual will be nationally televised on Big Ten Network.

The Boilermakers (8-3, 1-2 B1G) will be wearing their special edition Hammer Down Cancer singlets, an annual tradition in which the team raises money and awareness for cancer research. Every match-worn singlet on Friday night is already available to purchase via online auction, which will remain open until 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday night. All proceeds will be donated to the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research.

To place your bid on a Nike match-worn wrestling singlet, or to donate for cancer research, click here.

Early arriving fans will receive Hammer Down Cancer-themed bracelets.

PROJECTED MATCH CARD

All rankings via InterMat (team ranking via InterMat tournament standings)
MICHIGAN STATE WEIGHT (LBS) #17 PURDUE
Nick Corday 125 Ashton Jackson / Isaiah Quintero
Caleb Weiand / Andy Hampton 133 Blake Boarman / Vincent Paino
Jaden Crumpler / Jace Morgan 141 Greyson Clark / Isaiah Schaefer
Clayton Jones / Evan Gosz 149 #30 Gavin Brown
Darius Marines 157 #24 Stoney Buell / Isaac Ruble
DJ Shannon / Jack Conley 165 #4 Joey Blaze
Connor O'Neill 174 #17 Brody Baumann / Aidan Costello
Ryan Boucher / Luke Vanadia 184 #29 James Rowley
#27 Kael Wisler 197 #20 Ben Vanadia / Noah Weaver
Josh Terrill / James Campbell 285 Hayden Filipovich / Tyson Russell

DUAL PREVIEW

The team will be wrestling in West Lafayette for the first time since Nov. 15, when the Boilers swept the Boilermaker Duals, a quad meet against Buffalo, Northern Illinois and American.

Purdue is set to battle Michigan State (3-4, 0-2 B1G), a team it hasn’t seen in dual competition since Jan. 15, 2022 in Holloway. The Spartans edged Purdue that day via tiebreaker criteria; with the score tied 16-16 after 10 matches, and neither team scoring a fall, Michigan State took the contest due to having more individual match points.

Prior to that meeting, Purdue had won eight straight and 10 of the past 11 against the Spartans. Friday will be the 79th meeting in the series, which dates back to March 7, 1925, an 11-9 Purdue win in Lansing, Mich.

This year’s Spartan team has two nationally ranked stars: No. 27 Kael Wisler (197 lbs) and No. 27 Max Vanadia (285). Purdue's starter, No. 20 Ben Vanadia (197), is the older brother of twins Max and Luke Vanadia. Both younger brothers wrestle for Michigan State. While Max is not expected to compete, Luke is listed among the Spartans' probable starters at 184.

Purdue’s Vanadia projects to face Wisler in the only ranked matchup of the dual.

LAST TIME OUT

The Boilers closed an extensive road swing with a pair of duals at Maryland and Rutgers last weekend. Purdue beat Maryland 28-11 on Friday before falling 24-9 at Rutgers on Sunday.

Purdue produced 10 match wins, including three over ranked opponents, and four Boilermakers earned their first career Big Ten dual wins on the trip: Blake Boarman (133), Ashton Jackson (125), Vincent Paino (141) and Isaiah Schaefer (141).

NEXT UP

Purdue will host its annual Mackey Mania dual across the plaza next Sunday, Feb. 1, in Mackey Arena.

The Boilermakers will square off with a tough Wisconsin team in the legendary home of Purdue Basketball, with first match slated for 1 p.m. Tickets are free for all fans, but must be claimed in advance. Click here to secure your free spot for the best show in town.