March 3, 2007
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Purdue University freshman Justin Fraga became the lone Boilermaker to advance to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals, hosted by Michigan State University on Saturday afternoon, defeating third-seeded Tyler Safratowich in overtime, 6-4. The team stands in 10th place in the standings with 11 points overall.
Fraga drew first blood in the match, scoring a first period takedown to take a 2-0 lead. Safratowich rallied, escaping before the end of the first, escaping again at the start of the second, and scoring a takedown to gain a 4-2 advantage. Fraga slowly chipped away at the lead, escaping twice himself to even the count and force the sudden death session. In the overtime Fraga notched the two-point takedown to seal the win and advance in the 165-pound bracket.
Junior 125-pounder Brandon Tucker and sophomore 149-pounder Jake Patacsil both earned wins in their tournament-opening pig-tail matches as Tucker upended Michael Watts of Michigan, 5-3, and Patacsil posted an 18-9 win over Michigan State's Jeff Wimberly. However, the pair were both bounced from the championship bracket in the ensuing round as Tucker was pinned by top-seeded Jayson Ness of Minnesota, while Patacsil suffered a 6-2 loss to Wisconsin's Tyler Turner.
The second session is scheduled to begin tonight at 6 p.m.
Big Ten Tournament Results
125 pounds #8 Brandon Tucker
1st Round - Michael Watts (Michigan): won by decision, 5-3
Quarterfinal - #1 Jayson Ness (Minnesota): lost by pinfall, 2:11
1st Round Consolation - Collin Cudd (Wisconsin):
133 pounds Sean Schmaltz
1st Round - #8 T.J. Enright (Ohio State): lost by decision, 3-2
1st Round Consolation - #7 Mario Galanakis (Iowa):
141 pounds Nick Bertucci
1st Round - #8 Justin Chrzanowski (Michigan): lost by decision, 11-5
1st Round Consolation - #7 J Jaggers (Ohio State):
149 pounds #4 Jake Patacsil -
1st Round - Jeff Wimberley (Michigan State): won by decision, 18-9
Quarterfinals - #5 Tyler Turner (Wisconsin): lost by decision, 7-2
1st Round Consolation - Marty Gould (Northwestern):
157 pounds #7 Jake Murphy
Quarterfinals - #2 Brandon Becker (Indiana): lost by major decision, 9-0
1st Round Consolation -
165 pounds #6 Justin Fraga
Quarterfinals - #3 Tyler Safratowich (Minnesota): won by decision, 6-4 (OT)
Semifinals - #2 Mark Perry (Iowa):
174 pounds Jason Martin
1st Round - #3 Steve Luke (Michigan): lost by major decision, 12-2
1st Round Consolation - #5 Trevor Perry (Indiana):
184 pounds Nick Skinner
1st Round - #2 Roger Kish (Minnesota): lost by pinfall, 3:52
1st Round Consolation - #8 Trevor Brandvold (Wisconsin):
197 pounds #6 Nathan Moore
Quarterfinals - #3 Patrick Bond (Illinois): lost by decision, 8-7
1st Round Consolation - Nick Palmieri (Michigan State):
285 pounds David Pisarcik
1st Round - #7 John Wise (Illinois): lost by decision, 6-1
1st Round Consolation - #8 Corey Morrison (Ohio State):