March 18, 2006
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - In Session V of the 2006 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at the Ford Center, Purdue's Ben Wissel captured a seventh-place finish with a 8-2 win over Penn State's Eric Bradley.
Wissel became the 11th multi-time All-American in Purdue history, and is the fourth consecutive Boilermaker All-American to earn at least two spots on an NCAA podium. Wissel finished eighth at the NCAA Championships one year ago.
Other recent multi-time All-Americans are Chris Fleeger (2002, 2003 and 2006), Ryan Lange (2003 and 2004) and Jacob Vercelli (2001 and 2002)
Ben Wissel, Purdue / Big Ten / Sr. / Richmond, Ind. / 37-6
vs.
Eric Bradley, Penn State / Big Ten / Sr. / Plaistow, N.H. / 14-5
Ben Wissel moved up a spot on the podium from his 2005 NCAA finish, defeating Big Ten foe Eric Bradley of Penn State for seventh place 8-2. The two wrestlers fought a scoreless first period, and then the Boilermaker took command of the match.
Tied 0-0 after three minutes, Bradley started the second period on bottom and took a 1-0 lead with an escape 10 seconds into the stanza. Wissel's offensive attack against the slower Bradley opened 20 second later with a takedown for a 2-1 lead. Bradley tied the score before the 4:00 mark with an escape, but the pace of the match was being dictated by Wissel. A few shots later, Wissel got back in on the legs of the Lion grappler, taking him down and riding him for the last 25 seconds of the second period.
Wissel chose bottom to start the third and immediately added the escape point, building his lead to 5-2. Another takedown by the Boilermaker put the match completely out of reach, and a riding time point sealed the deal for Wissel.
Wissel finishes his final season in a Purdue singlet with a seventh-place finish at the NCAA Championships and a 38-6 season record.
Wissel, a product of Richmond High School in Richmond, Ind., was a four-time NCAA qualifier and a two-time All-American. His name will be peppered throughout the Purdue record books:
~ The 38 wins by Wissel this season rank fourth on the all-time list, tied with Frank Laccone (1996) and Matt Lindley (1991).
~ Wissel's .864 winning percentage this season (38-6) ranks 10th on the single-season list.
~ Wissel reached a goal he set at the start of the season, setting a new takedown record with 188 this season. Wissel broke the record of 182 established by Ryan Lange in 2003.
~ His 115 career wins ties him for third on the Purdue career list with Tony Vaughn (1993-96).
~ Wissel had a career winning percentage of .701 (115-49), which sits as the 19th-best winning percentage in Purdue history.
~ Wissel became just the second Purdue wrestler to reach the 400 takedown plateau in his career, joining Lange with that honor. Wissel's 406 career takedowns are second on the record list to Lange's 523.
~ Wissel recorded 31 reversals in his four-year career, tying him with Dan Jankowski (2001-04) for eighth on the career list.
Ben Wissel (3 seed), 184 Pounds
Round 1: Joseph Maroney, Rider ... won by technical fall, 20-5 (7:00)
Round 2: Greg Gifford, Fresno State ... won by major decision, 14-6
Quarters: #6 Pete Friedl, Illinois ... lost by decision, 3-1 in sudden victory
Cons. Rd. 4: Alex Clemson, Edinboro ... won by decision, 7-2
Cons. Quarters: #10 C.B. Dollaway, Arizona State ... lost by decision, 7-4
7th Place: #8 Eric Bradley, Penn State ... won by decision, 8-2