Feb. 22, 2008
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Purdue wrestling team wrapped up its regular season with a 31-6 loss at the 10th-ranked University of Illinois on Friday night. The Boilermakers finish the regular season at 10-8 overall and 2-6 in conference duals.
The lone victory of the day for the Old Gold and Black came at 149 pounds, where 10th-ranked junior Jake Patacsil took an injury forfeit from freshman Grant Paswall. Patacsil improved to a team-best 24-6 on the season, and will be the Boilermakers' highest seed going into the Big Ten Championships in two weeks.
The Boilermakers surrendered four major decisions on the day, giving up four team points at 125, 133, 157 and 197 pounds. Purdue sophomore Justin Fraga and freshman A.J. Kissel dropped narrow defeats at 165 and 184 as Fraga fell to junior Roger Smith-Bergsrud on a riding-time point, 4-3, and Kissel lost in sudden victory to freshman Ben Friedl, 5-3.
The Big Ten Championships will be hosted by the defending national champion University of Minnesota Friday and Saturday, March 8-9.