Down a pair of starters due to injuries, the Boilermakers rallied with a pair of wins over ranked opponents and secured six of the 10 weights to top Illinois for the first time since 2010.
"It was a great team win," said Ersland. "Our guys fought hard top-to-bottom in the lineup and they went out there and fought for each other. It was a great way to finish our dual season."
Action started at 125 pounds Sunday and junior Devin Schroder continued his winning ways with his 26th victory of the season as he topped No. 21 Justin Cardani 3-0. After no scoring through two periods, as Cardani chose neutral in the second, Schroder took the lead with an escape and the outscrambled the Illini rookie for a takedown late to seal the win.
Illinois answered with a win at 133 pounds, but the Boilermakers would take the next two as sophomore Parker Filius and junior Griffin Parriott came up with wins to take a 9-3 edge. Filius had a monster win, using a six-point move in the second period to record an 8-7 victory over No. 13 Dylan Duncan at 141 pounds. After scoring a takedown for an early lead, Filius gave up a takedown and trailed 3-2 going to the second. Duncan's lead grew to 4-2 with an escape in the second, but Filius caught the Illinois junior in a shot and whipped him to his back for six points and an 8-5 lead going to the third. Filius was hit for stalling twice in the third and surrendered a riding-time point, but still finished off win No. 17 on the season and his second over a ranked opponent.
Parriott followed up with a workmanlike 6-2 decision at 149 pounds, scoring takedowns in the first and third periods to pick up his 14th win over the season. Illinois took the team lead at the next two weights, taking a 4-2 win at 157 pounds and an 18-2 technical fall at 165 to make it 11-9.
Senior Dylan Lydy picked up his seventh overtime win of the season and 20th of his career as he went into the eighth minute before finishing a double-leg shot to secure a 3-1 win over No. 23 Joey Gunther. Lydy improved to 28-1 overall and earned his 108th career win, moving to within one of Logan Brown for 11th in program history, and regained the team lead 12-11.
Junior Max Lyon continued the run at 184 pounds, picking up a signature win with a 6-2 decision over No. 14 Zac Braunagel. Lyon got to the Illinois rookie's legs continually through the match, managing to finish shots in the first and third periods as he pushed the Boilermakers' lead to 15-11 and earned his 16th win of the year.
Illinois pulled within one with a 5-3 decision at 197 pounds, putting the dual on the line at heavyweight as Purdue freshman Thomas Penola faced Illini freshman Luke Luffman. Penola came out fast and furious, pummeling Luffman's head and then snaring an ankle-pick finish for the early lead. With things tied 2-2 going to the third, Penola escaped and then countered a Luffman shot for a finish to seal the team victory.
The Boilermakers are now off until the Big Ten Championships, scheduled for March 7-8 at Rutgers. Tournament seeds and schedules will be available the week of the sold-out event, which will be held at the Rutgers Athletics Center in Piscataway, New Jersey.
Results:
125: No. 6 Devin Schroder (PUR) def. No. 21 Justin Cardani (ILL), D 3-0
133: No. 7 Travis Piotrowski (ILL) def. Travis Ford-Melton (PUR), D 8-2
141: Parker Filius (PUR) def. No. 13 Dylan Duncan (ILL), D 8-7
149: No. 19 Griffin Parriott (PUR) def. Mousa Jodeh (ILL), D 6-2
157: Eric Barone (ILL) def. Nate Limmex (PUR), D 4-2
165: No. 15 Danny Braunagel (ILL) def. Tanner Webster (PUR), TF 18-2 (6:19)
174: No. 4 Dylan Lydy (PUR) def. No. 23 Joey Gunther (ILL), SV 3-1
184: Max Lyon (PUR) def. No. 14 Zac Braunagel (ILL), D 6-2
197: Matt Wroblewski (ILL) def. Jared Florell (PUR), D 5-3
285: No. 25 Thomas Penola (PUR) def. Luke Luffman (ILL), D 5-3
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