Feb. 4, 2007
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue University wrestling squad fell to visiting 19th-ranked Big Ten foe Michigan State University on Sunday afternoon, 21-14. Four Boilermakers picked up wins on the day, including major decisions by 12th-ranked sophomore Jake Patacsil and freshman Justin Fraga.
With the loss, Purdue falls to 10-6 on the season and 0-6 in conference action, while Michigan State improved to 3-6 (2-2 Big Ten).
Opening the match at 157pounds, the Boilers jumped on top 7-0 as sophomore Jake Murphy earned his second Big Ten win of the season, while Fraga improved to 4-2 in conference play with his major-decision victory. Murphy toppled MSU senior Tony Greathouse, 8-4, avenging a 4-2 loss to the Spartan in last year's matchup. Murphy drew first blood in the match, securing a takedown 1:07 into the match and riding Greathouse out of the period. However, Murphy's lead was erased at the start of the second as Greathouse reversed the Boilermaker to event the count at 2-2. Murphy regained his composure, escaping to regain the lead and then taking Greathouse back to the mat to extend his advantage to 5-2 at the end of the second. After a neutral start to the final period, Murphy secured his win with a third takedown and a 7-2 advantage. Greathouse managed a second reversal in the waning seconds, but it was not enough and Murphy walked away with the victory.
Fraga's win over MSU sophomore Rex Kendle was also close early as he scored a match-opening takedown, but was reversed with just 24 seconds left in the first to lock up the count at 2-2. It was all Purdue the rest of the way as Fraga scored a second takedown and followed it up with a three-point nearfall, nearly pinning the Spartan. Fraga took a pair of stalling points and a riding-time point to seal up his sixth major decision of the season.
MSU got on the board at 174 pounds as junior Greg Goidosik earned a 10-3 decision over Purdue freshman Jason Martin. Goidosik nearly scored a major decision for the Spartans, but Martin was able to notch a reversal with just five seconds remaining to deny them the extra team point.
Tenth-ranked MSU junior Joe Williams pulled the Spartans within one point at 184 pounds, scoring an 11-4 decision to make it 7-6. Again, MSU nearly had a major decision, but Williams was tagged with a penalty with just 15 tics left on the clock to narrow the lead to six and deny himself the major.
Thirteenth-ranked Purdue senior Nathan Moore put the Boilers back on the winning track at 197 pounds, posting a 5-1 win over MSU freshman Nick Palmieri. Moore tallied his 200th-career takedown and his 32nd-career reversal in the match l, moving himself into 14th and sixth place, respectively on the Purdue all-time leaderboard.
Trailing 10-6, MSU began reversing its fortune as freshmen Alan O'Donnell and Franklin Gomez notched back-to-back major decisions to give the Spartans a 14-10 edge. O'Donnell posted an 11-3 win over Purdue freshman David Pisarcik, while Gomez, ranked fifth in the nation at 125 pounds, took down Boilermaker junior Brandon Tucker, 13-2.
The 133-pound matchup was tight the entire way as neither wrestler was able to score without the aid of the official. Purdue junior Sean Schmaltz was hit for a pair of stalling points, while MSU's top-ranked senior Nick Simmons was tagged for an excessive roughness call, continuing wrestling once the pair were clearly off the mat. Simmons was also giving a stalling warning in the closing seconds of the match as he spent most of the second and third period either wrestling from his knees or pushing Schmaltz off the mat. Schmaltz tried to push the tempo in the final minute, but Simmons was able to fight off his advances and cling to the narrow 3-1 win.
The Spartans grabbed another major decision and sealed up their victory at 141 pounds as fifth-ranked senior Andy Simmons posted a 10-1 win over Purdue freshman Nick Bertucci. However, Purdue managed to end the match on a high note as Patacsil won his second match in as many days, earning a 14-4 major decision over MSU sophomore Jeff Wimberley. Neither grappler could break the scoreless tie in the opening frame, but Wimberley broke it open in the second with a takedown. Once the match was on the ground it was all Patacsil as he quickly reversed Wimberley and stretched him to his back for a pair of nearfalls, nearly pinning him with the second. Patacsil continued to push his advantage in the final frame, starting on top and rolling his opponent to his back for six more back points. This increased his team-leading total to 148 and surpassed Chris Fleeger on the Purdue single-season leader list to take second-place all time. He is now just two back points shy of his father, Frank Patacsil's 1984 total of 150.
The Boilermakers will host the 11th-ranked University of Illinois next Friday in their final home dual of the season. Match time is set for 7 p.m.