The win is Purdue's second straight over Wisconsin, following up on last year's 18-16 victory in Madison, and is the 14th in school history over the Badgers. The Boilermakers scored bonus points in bunches, picking up three falls, two technical falls and a major decision as they won nine of the 10 matches in the dual. As the match was aired live on the Big Ten Network, the Boilermakers improved to 2-3 on national broadcasts on the young network.
“I'm proud of our team for coming back strong after our last few outings, and performing well in the national spotlight,†said Purdue head coach Scott Hinkel. “Things hadn't been going our way, but we know there's a lot of season left and time to turn things around. We have to keep things in perspective and get ready to keep going forward.â€
Sophomore Camden Eppert returned to the lineup in spectacular fashion, rolling out a 17-2 technical fall over Badger freshman Austin Hietpas at 125 pounds. Eppert started slow, scoring just one takedown in the first period for a 2-0 lead, but followed up with a reversal and three back points in the second, and three more takedowns and three more back points in the third. Eppert picked up his sixth win of the season and first career technical fall. Ninth-ranked classmate Cashé Quiroga followed Eppert's lead at 133 pounds, scoring a 20-5 technical fall over Wisconsin junior Shane McQuade in just two periods to give Purdue a 10-0 team advantage. Quiroga scored early and often over the five minutes of action, totaling seven takedowns and a pair of three-point nearfalls.
Freshman 141-pounder Brandon Nelsen matched senior Matt Fields for the team lead with his eighth fall of the season, sticking freshman Thomas Glenn in 5:32. Nelsen was slow and steady, scoring a takedown in all three periods before putting Glenn on his blades for the fall and six team points. Purdue's Ivan Lopouchanski was dominant in the night's only contest between two ranked individuals as the 15th-ranked Boilermaker junior scored a 9-1 major decision over No. 14 Badger junior Cole Schmitt at 149 pounds. Lopouchanski spent most of the match in the top position, posting three takedowns, a reversal and nearly four minutes of riding time, earning his ninth win of the season.
The Badgers' lone win came at 157 pounds as sophomore Shawn Perry scored an 8-2 decision over Purdue junior Tommy Churchard. Churchard scored the first takedown of the match, but Perry quickly earned a reversal and followed with a pair of back points to gain firm control of the bout. Perry added a takedown in the second and an escape and riding time point in the third for the victory, preventing the Badgers from surrendering their second consecutive shutout.
Boilermaker sophomore Kyle Mosier grinded out a 5-0 victory over Wisconsin freshman Alex Yde at 165 pounds, using a pair of takedowns to seal his 11th win of the season, while freshman Drake Stein pushed the Purdue advantage to 29-3 at 174 pounds, sticking Wisconsin rookie Frank Cousins for his sixth fall of the year. Cousins countered a shot from Stein to take a 2-0 lead and appeared to be in firm control with over a minute of riding time, but Stein worked to his feet, grabbed a headlock and reversed Cousins to the mat in a huge throw. With plenty of time left in the period, Stein worked patiently for the fall and finally got the whistle at 2:10.
Freshman Braden Atwood defended his No. 18 national ranking at 184 pounds against Badger rookie Timmy McCall, outlasting McCall for a 6-0 decision. Both of the first two frames were scoreless, but Atwood got things going in the third, reversing McCall and then turning him for three back points to seal the contest and improve to 17-7 overall and 6-1 in conference matches.
With the team result secure, the return of Purdue senior 197-pounder A.J. Kissel to the mat was icing on the cake for the Old Gold and Black. Kissel spent just 1:47 on the mat in his return, quickly pinning Wisconsin sophomore Jackson Hein for his 46th career fall. Kissel matches Purdue great Dave Lilovich for second all-time at Purdue on the career falls list and is now just one shy of the Boilermaker record of 47, held by Hinkel.
Senior Roger Vukobratovich closed the dual with his career-best 16th win of the season, downing sophomore Cole Tobin by decision, 8-4. Vukobratovich scored two takedowns in the first period and picked up another in the third before giving up a score late as he chased the major decision.
The Boilermakers continue conference action Sunday at seventh-ranked Nebraska, facing the Cornhuskers for the first time in 20 seasons and for the first-time as a Big Ten opponent.
Results:
125: Camden Eppert (PUR) def. Austin Hietpas (WIS), TF 17-2 (6:32) (PUR 5 – WIS 0)
133: #9 Cashé Quiroga (PUR) def. Shane McQuade (WIS), TF 20-5 (5:00) (PUR 10 – WIS 0)
141: Brandon Nelsen (PUR) def. Thomas Glenn (WIS), Fall 5:32 (PUR 16 – WIS 0)
149: #15 Ivan Lopouchanski (PUR) def. #14 Cole Schmitt (WIS), MD 9-1 (PUR 20 – WIS 0)
157: Shawn Perry (WIS) def. Tommy Churchard (PUR), D 8-2 (PUR 20 – WIS 3)
165: Kyle Mosier (PUR) def. Alex Yde (WIS), D 5-0 (PUR 23 – WIS 3)
174: Drake Stein (PUR) def. Frank Cousins (WIS), Fall 2:10 (PUR 29 – WIS 3)
184: #18 Braden Atwood (PUR) def. Timmy McCall (WIS), D 6-0 (PUR 32 – WIS 3)
197: A.J. Kissel (PUR) def. Jackson Hein (WIS), Fall 1:47 (PUR 38 – WIS 3)
285: Roger Vukobratovich (PUR) def. Cole Tobin (WIS), D 8-4 (PUR 41 – WIS 3)
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