• TicketsTickets
Blaze Makes B1G Statement as #25 Purdue Falls to #6 IowaBlaze Makes B1G Statement as #25 Purdue Falls to #6 Iowa
Quan Nguyen/Purdue Athletics

Joey Blaze (No. 4 at 165) knocked off No. 3 Mikey Caliendo to stay undefeated.

Blaze Makes B1G Statement as #25 Purdue Falls to #6 Iowa

The 2025 national finalist aced his biggest test yet.

Results Opens in a new window
by Brook Weber

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — No. 25 Purdue Wrestling closed its 2025-26 home slate with a 32-6 loss to No. 6 Iowa on Sunday afternoon.

Eight Purdue seniors were honored before the dual, bidding farewell to the home crowd in Holloway Gymnasium. The announced attendance was 1,210, the most fans in Holloway for a wrestling dual this season.

From left to right: Blake Boarman (133), Stoney Buell (157), Hayden Filipovich (HWT), Kade Law (157), Jacob Macatangay (133), Jaden Reynolds (141), Isaac Ruble (157) and Ben Vanadia (197)From left to right: Blake Boarman (133), Stoney Buell (157), Hayden Filipovich (HWT), Kade Law (157), Jacob Macatangay (133), Jaden Reynolds (141), Isaac Ruble (157) and Ben Vanadia (197)

Despite the team loss, Joey Blaze (No. 4 at 165 lbs) earned a massive victory in an upset over No. 3 Mikey Caliendo. Blaze defeated the three-time All-American in a 7-4 decision, electrifying the home crowd to stay undefeated this season.

In a battle between 2025 NCAA finalists (Blaze at 157, Caliendo at 165), the Boilermaker went on the attack early and appeared to score on the edge of the mat. The referee threw up a three-point signal, but immediately waved it off and the points stayed off the board after an unsuccessful challenge by head coach Tony Ersland.

After a scoreless first period, Blaze started the second frame on top and built his riding time over a minute before Caliendo escaped to go up 1-0. Right after the escape, Blaze shot for a single leg that he turned into a double-leg, circling around to score first takedown.

Up 3-1 in the third period, Blaze notched a reversal from bottom, then Caliendo scored a reversal of his own. Blaze escaped right away and maintained his riding time advantage, winning the 7-4 thriller.

With the win, Blaze controls his own destiny to own the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. He still needs to take care of business in the finale at Indiana on Friday, but Blaze is in great shape from a seeding perspective. He still has not surrendered a single takedown all season.

Closing senior day with a bang, Hayden Filipovich (285 lbs) took a 4-1 win in sudden-victory over Gage Marty.

It was Filipovich’s second Big Ten dual win this season; the Indianapolis native has gone through the wringer facing four wrestlers in the top-20 since Jan. 9.

Filipovich wrapped up high and muscled his way into a thunderous takedown in the extra frame, good for the 15th dual victory of his career.

True freshman Isaiah Schaefer also looked sharp in his match at 141 despite taking a 7-4 loss to Kale Petersen in sudden-victory.

Schaefer was an extremely tough out for the Hawkeyes’ team leader in wins, slithering out of what seemed like a sure takedown and getting a T3 of his own.

The future is bright for the Evansville, Ind., native, who’s 13-3 with two tournament wins and four years of eligibility remaining.

The Hawkeyes (12-5, 5-3 B1G) took three bonus wins including a pin at 197, a technical fall at 133 and an injury default at 174.

UP NEXT

The Boilermakers (9-6, 2-5 B1G) will close their regular season at rival Indiana on Friday, Feb. 20. First match in Wilkinson Hall is set for 7 p.m. ET.

Fans can stream the matches live on B1G+.

RESULTS

125 | #6 Dean Peterson def. Ashton Jackson – Dec. 9-2 | IOWA 3-0
133 | #8 Drake Ayala def. Blake Boarman – TF 19-4 (5:54) | IOWA 8-0
141 | Kale Petersen def. Isaiah Schaefer – Dec. 7-4 (SV-1) | IOWA 11-0
149 | #19 Ryder Block def. #31 Gavin Brown – Dec. 5-0 | IOWA 14-0
157 | Victor Voinovich III def. #28 Stoney Buell – Dec. 5-0 | IOWA 17-0
165 | #4 Joey Blaze def. #3 Mikey Caliendo – Dec. 7-4 | IOWA 17-3
174 | #3 Patrick Kennedy def. Aidan Costello – Inj. Def. | IOWA 23-3
184 | Gabe Arnold def. #26 James Rowley – Dec. 4-1 | IOWA 26-3
197 | Harvey Ludington def. Noah Weaver – Fall (4:23) | IOWA 32-3
285 | Hayden Filipovich def. Gage Marty – Dec. 4-1 (SV-1) | IOWA 32-6