Feb. 12, 2012
ITHACA, N.Y. - The Purdue wrestling team split a pair of bouts at the 2012 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) National Duals Regional, hosted by Cornell University at Newman Arena on Sunday. The Boilermakers knocked off No. 25 Central Michigan University (CMU) to open the day, 27-9, but fell in the regional semifinal to the top-seeded and third-ranked host Big Red, 29-6.
Purdue took seven of 10 against the Chippewas, defeating their second ranked opponent of the season and picking up its ninth dual win of the year. The Boilermakers took control of the match from the start, winning the first six weight classes and never looking back. No. 17 Central Michigan freshman Joe Roth failed to make weight for the event, starting the dual off with a forfeit victory for Purdue sophomore Camden Eppert and a 6-0 Boilermaker lead. Ninth-ranked Purdue sophomore Cashé Quiroga followed up with a 6-2 decision over CMU rookie Zach Horan at 133 pounds, and Boilermaker freshman Brandon Nelsen backed that up with a 4-2 decision against Chippewa sophomore Scott Mattingly at 141, giving Purdue a 12-0 advantage.
The run continued at 149 pounds where No. 11 junior Ivan Lopouchanski gave the Boilermakers a 7-5 victory over freshman Joey Kielbasa, and 157-pound Purdue junior Tommy Churchard took down CMU junior Donnie Corby for the second time this season, turning in a 7-2 decision to make it an 18-0 Boilermaker lead. Purdue sophomore Kyle Mosier came from behind to upset CMU freshman Mike Ottinger at 165 pounds, 5-4, and extend the Boilermakers' advantage to 21-0. Ottinger took a 4-2 lead to the third period, but Mosier escaped and then secured his only takedown of the match for his 13th win of the season.
The Chippewas got on the board at 174 and 184 pounds as freshman Anthony Bill downed Purdue rookie Drake Stein, 10-5, at 174 and fourth-ranked CMU junior Ben Bennett topped 19th-ranked Boilermaker sophomore Braden Atwood, 7-2. However, the tide quickly swung back the Boilermakers' direction as senior A.J. Kissel etched his name in Purdue history at 197 pounds. Kissel needed just 1:31 to stick Chippewa senior Chad Friend, earning his 47th career fall and tie his head coach Scott Hinkel for first-place all-time at Purdue. With the dual out of reach, 17th-ranked CMU senior Peter Sturgeon edged Purdue sophomore Alex White, 5-2, to close the match.
"It was a solid win for us, coming out and dominating a team that's been ranked all season," said Hinkel. "I couldn't be more excited for A.J. and his accomplishments, and it's been a long time coming for him to catch me on the career falls list. I have little doubt that he'll go on to break it and be the career record holder."
The Boilermakers were not as successful in their second dual of the day, falling to an outstanding Cornell team that took eight of 10 matches from the Old Gold and Black. Quiroga and Lopouchanski were the only two to win for the Boilermakers as Quiroga downed Big Red sophomore Nick Arujau at 133 pounds and Lopouchanski edged Cornell sophomore Chris Villalonga at 149. Quiroga had to come from behind, falling in a 4-2 hole before rallying in the third period. Arujau had the lone score in the first and then had a pair of escapes to counter Quiroga's takedown in the second and hold a lead. Quiroga took a neutral start in the third and scored a takedown and three back points to pull ahead of his Big Red opponent and seal the win. Villalonga took a matching 4-2 lead over Lopouchanski at 149 before the Boilermaker junior came storming back in the second with two takedowns and a pair of nearfall points for a 6-4 edge. The two wrestlers traded reversals to start the third, and then Villalonga escaped to make it 9-6 with over a minute of riding time in tow. However, Lopouchanski kept his distance in the closing seconds and held on for the win.
Other notable points in the match included a pair of near falls for Nelsen at 141 pounds against 16th-ranked Mike Nevinger and an incredible effort from Mosier against Marshal Peppleman at 165. Nevinger held top control over Nelsen for a bulk of the match at 141, but on multiple occasions Nelsen appeared close to a reversal and had Nevinger flat on his back. The official didn't seem to be looking for the defensive fall on either occasion, counting back points for the Big Red instead. Mosier was taken to his back in the first minute against Peppleman and showed an incredibly gutsy effort, fighting off his back and refusing to relinquish the pin for over two minutes. Mosier came back with a two-minute ride out in the second period and a pair of reversals in the third en route to a hard-fought 7-4 loss.
The Boilermakers have just one date left on their schedule before the Big Ten Championships, set to rematch CMU next weekend in Toledo, Ohio. Match details will be available this week at PurdueSports.com.
Purdue 27 - #25 Central Michigan 9
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Newman Arena - Ithaca, N.Y.
Quick Results
125: Camden Eppert (PUR) wins by forfeit (PUR 6 - CMU 0)
133: #9 Cashé Quiroga (PUR) def. Zach Horan (CMU), D 6-2 (PUR 9 - CMU 0)
141: Brandon Nelsen (PUR) def. Scott Mattingly (CMU), 4-2 (PUR 12 - CMU 0)
149: #11 Ivan Lopouchanski (PUR) def. Joey Kielbasa (CMU), D 7-5 (PUR 15 - CMU 0)
157: Tommy Churchard (PUR) def. Donnie Corby (CMU), D 7-2 (PUR 18 - CMU 0)
165: Kyle Mosier (PUR) def. Mike Ottinger (CMU), D 5-4 (PUR 21 - CMU 0)
174: Anthony Bill (CMU) def. Drake Stein (CMU), D 10-5 (PUR 21 - CMU 3)
184: #4 Ben Bennett (CMU) def. #19 Braden Atwood (PUR), D 7-2 (PUR 21 - CMU 6)
197: A.J. Kissel (PUR) def. Chad Friend (CMU), Fall 1:31 (PUR 27 - CMU 6)
285: #17 Peter Sturgeon (CMU) def. Alex White (PUR), D 5-2 (PUR 27 - CMU 9)
Purdue 6 - #3 Cornell 29
Quick Results
125: #5 Frank Perrelli (COR) def. Camden Eppert (PUR), D 8-3 (PUR 0 - COR 3)
133: #9 Cashé Quiroga (PUR) def. Nick Arujau (COR), D 7-5 (PUR 3 - COR 3)
141: #16 Mike Nevinger (COR) def. Brandon Nelsen (PUR), MD 12-2 (PUR 3 - COR 7)
149: #11 Ivan Lopouchanski (PUR) def. Chris Villalonga (COR), D 9-7 (PUR 6 - COR 7)
157: Chris Eifert (COR) def. Tommy Churchard (PUR), D 9-6 (PUR 6 - COR 10)
165: Marshall Peppleman (COR) def. Kyle Moiser (PUR), D 7-4 (PUR 6 - COR 13)
174: Billy George (COR) def. Drake Stein (PUR), D 5-2 (PUR 6 - COR 16)
184: #5 Steve Bosak (COR) def. #19 Braden Atwood (PUR), MD 10-0 (PUR 6 - COR 20)
197: #1 Cam Simaz (COR) wins by forfeit (PUR 6 - COR 26)
285: Maciej Jochym (COR) def. Alex White (PUR), D 6-1 (PUR 6 - COR 29)