WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue Wrestling head coach Tony Ersland unveiled the winners of the 2025-26 team awards at the annual wrestling banquet on Saturday night.
Brody Baumann, Joey Blaze, Blake Boarman, James Rowley and Isaiah Schaefer all earned individual honors.
Additionally, a program record 17 Boilermakers were recognized as Academic All-Big Ten selections, including Baumann, Blaze, Rowley, Gavin Brown, Dominic Burgett, Greyson Clark, Hayden Filipovich, Quinn Herbert, Ashton Jackson, Wyatt Krejsa, Kade Law, Jacob Macatangay, Keagan Martin, Ethan Popp, Isaiah Quintero, Jaden Reynolds and Isaac Ruble.
The Boilermakers raised the bar in the classroom once again, smashing the program record for Academic All-Big Ten honorees for the second year in a row. The team set the previous record of 15 just last year.
Blaze was named the team's Outstanding Wrestler for the second straight season after becoming a two-time All-American at the NCAA Championships last month. He also garnered the Most Dominant award following a 25-4 junior season in which he posted just the fourth undefeated regular season in school history.
Baumann, the redshirt junior from Evansville, Indiana, earned the Joe Patacsil Leadership award after becoming a three-time NCAA Championships qualifier in as many seasons. He was one of just three Indiana natives to qualify for the national tournament in each of the past three seasons.
Speaking of Evansville natives, Baumann’s fellow Mater Dei High School alumni Boarman and Schaefer also represented Purdue at a high level this season. Boarman earned the Most Improved award as he became a two-time NCAA qualifier in his first and only season at Purdue. Schaefer was named Freshman of the Year and Most Dedicated after a stellar 13-3 true freshman season. Schaefer won two tournament titles and finished runner-up at the Tiger Style Invite in his first day of college wrestling.
Rowley, the redshirt junior from Corvallis, Ore., took home the Strength & Conditioning award. The third-year Boilermaker rebounded from a season-ending knee injury in December 2024 to put together a complete year in 2025-26. Purdue’s trusty starter at 184 lbs., Rowley was one of four Boilermakers to compete in every dual.
2025-26 Team Awards
Outstanding Wrestler – Joey Blaze
Most Dominant – Joey Blaze
Freshman of the Year – Isaiah Schaefer
Most Dedicated – Isaiah Schaefer
Joe Patacsil Leadership – Brody Baumann
Most Improved – Blake Boarman
Strength & Conditioning – James Rowley
Photos courtesy of Beth Krejsa