Jan. 14, 2011
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The 21st-ranked Purdue wrestling team was the victim of a seven-match run on Friday night, falling at 11th-ranked Michigan at Cliff Keen Arena, 28-13. The Boilermakers fall to 3-4-1 in dual meets, including a 0-2 Big Ten mark, while Michigan improved to 5-2 and is not 1-0 in conference action.
The Boilermakers got things going early as 12th-ranked junior A.J. Kissel and No. 10 senior Logan Brown posted back-to-back wins to open the meet. Kissel needed just 2:06 to stick Michigan sophomore Hunter Collins, hitting a takedown within the first 10 seconds of the match and running a bar for his sixth pin of the season and 42nd of his career. Brown followed up with a hard-fought 7-4 decision over 13th-ranked senior Anthony Biondo at 197 pounds, using takedowns in the first 10 seconds and last 10 seconds to earn the victory. Biondo had an opportunity to take an advantage in the second period as he earned his lone takedown of the match, but Brown scrambled to a reversal in the last 15 seconds and even the count at 4-4. Brown's win made him the 16th wrestler in Purdue's history to earn 100 career victories, joining Boilermaker head coach Scott Hinkel and senior teammate Luke Manuel. Brown's two takedowns in the match move his career total to 299, surpassing Eric Douglas for sixth in Purdue history. He'll look to become just the sixth wrestler in school history to hit the 300-career takedown mark tomorrow in Ashland, Ohio.
The tide turned at 285 pounds as Michigan's 10th-ranked sophomore Ben Apland rolled to a 21-4 technical fall over Purdue junior Roger Vukobratovich. Apland caught Vukobratovich in a pair of cradles and turned him again in the third period to pick up five team points. The Wolverines continued at the top of the lineup as sophomore Sean Boyle used a few early takedowns to ride out an 8-6 decision over Boilermaker freshman Camden Eppert. Eppert rallied in the third period, tying the match at 6-6, but as Boyle had the riding-time point locked up, Eppert cut him loose and was unable to come up with another takedown. Michigan took an 11-9 lead to the intermission as junior Zac Stevens posted a 7-4 decision over Boilermaker senior Akif Eren at 133 pounds. Similar to the 125 bout, the Wolverines scored two takedowns in the first period and rode the lead to the finish.
The Wolverines continued their run after the break, following the lead of top-ranked junior 141-pounder Kellen Russell. Russell needed just 4:09 to rack up a 20-4 technical fall over Purdue junior Jake Fleckenstein. Michigan freshman Eric Grajales followed with a 6-1 decision over senior Sam Patacsil, again scoring takedowns early and holding off any Purdue scoring late. The dual was sealed at 157 pounds as freshman Brandon Zeerip stuck 19th-ranked Boilermaker senior Colton Salazar in 5:27. Salazar looked great early, taking Zeerip down twice quickly, but Zeerip turned the tables, taking Salazar to his back for a five-point play and 8-6 lead. Salazar fought off his back and reversed his opponent, but gave up the escape and a takedown to end the first period, 11-8. After an escape and Salazar takedown in the second, the match went to the third at 12-10, and Salazar quickly escaped to make it 12-11. Looking to regain his early lead, Salazar shot early and often, nearly scoring twice, but Zeerip was the one who ended up scoring a takedown and then Salazar was caught on his back, trying to Granby roll out of the takedown.
The Wolverines seventh and final win of the evening came at 165 pounds as freshman Dan Yates scored a 6-0 win over Purdue freshman Kyle Mosier. Mosier went to the second trailing, 2-0, but put forth a dominant ride in the second, keeping Yates down the entire period and forcing the Michigan rookie to take injury time between the periods. The extra rest seemed to help Yates as he found enough energy to reverse Mosier and turn him for two points in the final period.
Manuel, ranked 11th in the nation at 174 pounds, closed out the match on a high note for the Boilermakers with a 27-12 four-point technical fall over Michigan sophomore Mark Boyer. It was a catch-and-release stream for Manuel as he rolled out 13 takedowns and pushed his career total to 247, climbing to 13th in Purdue history in the category.
Purdue returns to action tomorrow, traveling to Ashland, Ohio for the 22nd-annual Wendy's Classic. The Boilermakers open the day with Gardner Webb University at 10 a.m.