PHILADELPHIA — No. 20 Purdue Wrestling split a doubleheader on Friday, suffering its first loss at Drexel (19-16) before answering in the nightcap with an impressive victory at Rider (24-6).
The Boilermakers (7-1) won 13 of 20 total matches, competing in two different states just a few hours apart. Purdue closed the night winning seven matches in a row to finish the non-conference slate on a high note.
DOWNED AT DREXEL
Purdue began its trip at Drexel’s John A. Daskalakis Center in Philadelphia. In a hard-fought affair with each team winning five matches, the dual came down to the final bout at heavyweight to decide a winner.
No. 4 Joey Blaze (165 lbs) took Purdue’s only bonus points with another impressive major decision, winning 15-3. No. 24 Ben Vanadia (197) picked up his first of two ranked victories, topping No. 32 Ibrahim Ameer in a 13-8 decision.
No. 33 Greyson Clark (141), No. 21 Gavin Brown (149) and No. 26 James Rowley also added decision wins. But bonus points for Drexel in the 157- and 174-pound matches put them in the driver’s seat, and No. 31 Nate Schon clinched the dual with a 12-3 major at 285.
REDEMPTION AT RIDER
Needing a response on a quick turnaround, Purdue traveled across state lines to Lawrenceville, N.J., to battle a tough Rider team with four ranked stars. The Boilermakers trailed 6-3 early until going on to win seven straight decisions, running away with a 24-6 blowout.
Vanadia registered an upset over No. 23 Brock Zurawski, racking up an incredible 4:59 riding time advantage and imposing his will. The redshirt senior is now 13-4 with a team-high four ranked victories.
Blake Boarman (133) rebounded from three consecutive losses to notch an upset over No. 32 Will Betancourt, winning a 2-1 rock fight. The Chattanooga transfer, who ranked as high as No. 17 earlier this season, regained momentum at the right time heading into Big Ten season.
No. 16 Brody Baumann (174), Brown, Buell, Blaze and Filipovich each took care of business with their own decisions to seal the win.
UP NEXT
The Boilermakers will travel west for their Big Ten opener at No. 6 Nebraska next Friday, Jan. 9. Action from the Devaney Center in Lincoln gets started at 8 p.m. ET with the broadcast on B1G+.
RESULTS
Drexel 19, #20 Purdue 16
125 | Desmond Pleasant def. Jacob Macatangay – Dec. 9-4 | DREX 3-0
133 | Kyle Waterman def. Blake Boarman – Dec. 18-15 | DREX 6-0
141 | #33 Greyson Clark def. Jordan Soriano – Dec. 6-2 | DREX 6-3
149 | #21 Gavin Brown def. Deon Pleasant – Dec. 6-2 | TIED 6-6
157 | Luke Nichter def. #18 Stoney Buell – MD 12-4 | DREX 10-6
165 | #4 Joey Blaze def. Cody Walsh – MD 15-3 | TIED 10-10
174 | #18 Jasiah Queen def. Aidan Costello – TF 19-3 (6:15) | DREX 15-10
184 | #26 James Rowley def. Ethan Wilson – Dec. 9-3 | DREX 15-13
197 | #24 Ben Vanadia def. No. 32 Ibrahim Ameer – Dec. 13-8 | PUR 16-15
285 | No. 31 Nate Schon def. Hayden Filipovich – MD 12-3 | DREX 19-16
#20 Purdue 24, Rider 6
125 | #19 Tyler Klinsky def. Ashton Jackson – Dec. 8-5 | RIDR 3-0
133 | Blake Boarman def. #32 Will Betancourt – Dec. 2-1 | TIED 3-3
141 | #15 Eli Griffin def. Isaiah Schaefer – Dec. 7-3 | RIDR 6-3
149 | #21 Gavin Brown def. Dylan Layton – Dec. 4-2 | TIED 6-6
157 | #18 Stoney Buell def. Gianni Maldonado – Dec. 12-6 | PUR 9-6
165 | #4 Joey Blaze def. Brendon Abdon – Dec. 8-2 | PUR 12-6
174 | #16 Brody Baumann def. Enrique Munguia – Dec. 5-3 | PUR 15-6
184 | #26 James Rowley def. Giovanni Alejandro – Dec. 6-1 | PUR 18-6
197 | #24 Ben Vanadia def. #23 Brock Zurawski – Dec. 8-3 | PUR 21-6
285 | Hayden Filipovich def. Hogan Swenski – Dec. 5-4 | PUR 24-6