Jan. 26, 2007
Complete Results | Photo Gallery 
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue University wrestling team was nearly blanked by the visiting fifth-ranked University of Iowa on Friday night, 36-3. Fourteenth-ranked senior Nathan Moore prevented the shutout, winning his sixth straight match at 197 pounds and improving to 28-6 on the season and 3-0 in Big Ten competition.
The Hawkeyes moved to 11-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play as they won the first eight matches of the evening. No. 13 sophomore Charlie Falck opened the night with a 17-9 major decision over Purdue junior Brandon Tucker, and senior Mario Galanakis stretched the Iowa lead to 10-0 as he pinned Purdue junior Sean Schmaltz at 2:48. First-year Boilermaker Nick Bertucci failed to beat sixth-ranked junior Alex Tsirtsis for the second time this season, falling by major decision at 141 pounds, 20-10.
Purdue's 11th-ranked 149-pound sophomore Jake Patacsil tried to rally from behind against senior Alex Grunder, reversing him and scoring a three-point nearfall with less than a minute to go. However, Grunder's six-point lead proved insurmountable as he hung on for the 7-5 victory. The Boilers lost another close one at 157 pounds as sophomore Jake Murphy was clipped by 17th-ranked freshman Ryan Morningstar 3-1. Murphy nearly put Morningstar on his back twice in the final 30 seconds, but Morningstar was able to fend him off for the win.
The Iowa advantage was stretched to 29-0 at 165 pounds as fourth-ranked junior Mark Perry pinned Purdue freshman Justin Fraga in 2:27, and Boilermaker freshman Jason Martin lost a war at 174 pounds as he was upended by second-ranked senior Eric Luedke.
The Boilermakers nearly jumped on the board at 184 pounds as senior Nick Skinner entered the final period tied with Hawkeye freshman Phillip Keddy, 2-2. However, Keddy sprung free of Skinner's top position nine seconds into the frame and neither grappler was able to take the other down as the bout ended 3-2 in Iowa's favor.
Moore finally drew blood for the Boilers at 197, blanking freshman Rick Loera, 6-0. Moore added a pair of takedowns to increase his team-leading total to 66 on the year, and Loera was unable to mount any offense in the decision.
Sixth-ranked Iowa junior heavyweight Matt Fields closed out the match for the Hawkeyes, posting a 14-4 major decision over Purdue freshman David Pisarcik.
Purdue continues its quest for a conference victory on Sunday at 2 p.m. as the Boilers travel to the Twin Cities to face the top-ranked University of Minnesota.