Dec. 14, 2009
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Purdue wrestling team saw a wealth of success with just a limited group, placing four of their six entries in the Cleveland State Open on Sunday. Senior Sam Patacsil led the Boilermakers, winning the tournament championship at 149 pounds with a perfect 5-0 mark, while sophomores Bill Putman and Jake Fleckenstein and freshman Cashé Quiroga joined him on the podium.
Patacsil rolled through the 149-pound bracket, posting his second career fall and a technical fall in the first three rounds, followed by back-to-back decision wins over Ohio State's Jared Kusar and Collin Palmer.
Quiroga posted his second placewinning effort in as many open tournaments, taking second place at 125 pounds with a 3-1 mark. He notched his first career technical fall in the opening round, following up with a 7-0 decision over Central Michigan's Joe Rot, and downing freshman teammate Camden Eppert in the semifinals, 7-1. His only loss of the day came at the hands of two-time All-American Brandon Precin of Northwestern, falling by decision, 8-3, in the finals.
Fleckenstein was the iron man of the day, wrestling eight matches and taking third place at 141 pounds with a 7-1 showing. After falling to tournament champion Nick Nelson of Virginia in the second round, he bounced back with six straight wrestle-back wins for the bronze. He scored his first two technical falls of the season and knocked off Buffalo's Chris Conti and Michigan's Mike Hillock on the day.
Putman notched a 5-2 mark on the day en route to a fifth-place showing at 133 pounds. He pinned a pair of opponents, including Northern Illinois' Chris Smith in the consolation quarterfinals and Pat Zanaria in the fifth-place match. He also posted wins over Central Michigan's Justin Zimmerman and Indiana's Geno Capezio.
Sophomore Tommy Churchard and freshman Adam Walls competed for the Boilermakers as well, but medically withdrew from the tournament after first-round losses.
The Boilermakers return to action on Sunday, Dec. 20, hosting four opponents in the Purdue Duals. Purdue will start the day against the College of Mount Saint Joseph at 10 a.m., and you can follow the Boilermakers online all day at the Purdue Wrestling Twitter page.