Dec. 29, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Purdue University wrestling team completed the first day of competition at the 2006 Midlands Championships, hosted by Northwestern University, tied for 10th place with a team total of 28.5 points. Eighth-seeded sophomore Jake Patacsil and unseeded freshman Matt Redmond both advanced to the 149-pound semifinals and headline a list of five Boilermakers still alive in competition.
Iowa State University heads the team competition with 91.5 points on the day. Northwestern and Central Michigan follow in second and third with 68.5 and 67 points, respectively, while Iowa (65.5 points) and Indiana (63 points) round out the top five.
Both Patacsil and Redmond posted thrilling quarterfinal victories as Patacsil tilted No. 1 seed J.P. O'Connor of Harvard in the final 30 seconds to earn a 4-3 decision, while Redmond rode out fifth-seeded Cyler Sanderson of Iowa State through the second 30-second tiebreaker round after earning a one-point escape in the first 30 seconds for the 5-4 win. The two will face in tomorrow's 149-pound semifinal with the winner advancing to the championship match.
Fourth-seeded senior Nathan Moore was bounced to the consolation bracket at 197-pounds as he suffered a 14-8 decision at the hands of fifth-seeded Kurt Backes of Iowa State. He will begin his wrestleback for a shot at third place tomorrow afternoon.
The Boilermakers opened Friday's evening session with some up-and-down performances. Junior Sean Schmaltz advanced in the 133-pound consolation bracket with an 8-0 major decision over Eric Slabaugh of Wabash College, while freshmen Eric Howe and Justin Fraga both earned narrow victories over their respective opponents at 157 and 165 pounds. Howe posted a 3-1 tiebreaker victory over Michigan State's Rex Kendle, while Fraga slipped by Marcus Effner of Cleveland State, 3-2. Also advancing for the Boilers was 149-pound sophomore Mark Powell, who notched a 6-3 decision over Ryan Hurley of Cleveland State.
Purdue fell on hard times at 141 and 174 pounds as senior Jason Cook was forced to injury default to freshman teammate Nick Bertucci at 141, while sophomore Nick Corpe had to surrender a close match to sixth-seeded Nick Hayes of Northwestern after a knee injury. Purdue junior 125-pounder Brandon Tucker was also eliminated from competition after a 6-0 loss to Rollie Peterkin of Penn.
The Boilers were all but eliminated from the consolation brackets in the following round as Schmaltz, Howe, Powell and Fraga all suffered losses. Bertucci edged out Liberty's Tim Harner for an 8-7 win, continuing on to tomorrow's competition, while fellow freshman Chris Kasten kept his heavyweight hopes alive, topping Cleveland State's Rashard Goff, 2-1, and pinning Triton's Chris Schiewe in 5:21.
Former Purdue standout Ben Wissel supported his No. 1 seed with ease, rolling to the semifinals with a 16-1 technical fall over David Gilkey of Cleveland State.
Tomorrow's first session begins at noon, while the championship session to follow at 7 p.m.