Jan. 11, 2013
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The 21st-ranked Purdue wrestling team suffered its second straight Big Ten loss on the road, suffering a 29-10 defeat at the hands of sixth-ranked Illinois University at Huff Hall on Friday Night. The Boilermakers won just three matches on the night, falling to 10-4 overall and 1-2 in conference duals, while Illinois remains undefeated at 5-0 (1-0 Big Ten).
The Fighting Illini got off to a fast start winning the first four matches of the dual to take a 16-0 lead. Fifth-ranked senior Jordan Blanton topped Purdue freshman Chad Welch at 174 pounds, 10-2, No. 13 junior Tony Dallago needed just 1:24 to pin Boilermaker sophomore Andy Wiseman at 184 pounds, seventh-ranked junior Mario Gonzalez earned an 11-4 decision over No. 14 Purdue sophomore Braden Atwood at 197 pounds and freshman Chris Lopez outlasted Purdue junior Alex White at heavyweight, 4-3.
Junior Camden Eppert righted the ship for the Boilermakers at the match went back to the top of the lineup, earning his team-best seventh major decision of the year, 12-4, over Illinois freshman Dominic Oliveri. Eppert added four takedowns to his season total in the match and marked the 28th reversal of his career, moving into a tie for 17th on the Boilermakers' all-time list.
The Boilermakers made it two straight wins at 133 pounds as freshman Danny Sabatello came out on top of several scrambles in an 11-4 decision over Illinois sophomore Logan Arlis. Sabatello picked up four points in a scramble in the first period, and added two more back points in a second-period roll through that almost saw him get reversed. Sabatello sealed the match in the third period with a second takedown and came up just shy of the major decision.
After Illinois picked up four more team points with a 13-5 major decision from third-ranked senior B.J. Futrell at 141 pounds, Purdue senior Ivan Lopouchanski picked up his 17th win of the season at 149 pounds. Lopouchanski used a second-period reversal, a stalling point and a riding-time point to remain undefeated on the season, dealing freshman Caleb Ervin a 4-0 loss and picking up the Boilermakers' final win of the night.
Things looked promising for the Boilermakers at 157 pounds as senior Tommy Churchard built a 3-0 lead on Illini freshman Matt Nora, but the tide turned quickly as Churchard found himself on his blades in a scramble and was called pinned at the 4:34 mark, sealing the match. Illinois' eighth-ranked senior Conrad Polz finished the bout at 165 pounds, scoring a 10-3 decision over Purdue sophomore Pat Robinson.
The Boilermakers return to action a week from Sunday, hosting two-time defending national champion Penn State at Holloway Gymnasium.
#21 Purdue 10 - #6 Illinois 29
174: Jordan Blanton (UI) def. Chad Welch (PU), MD 10-2 (PU 0 - UI 4)
184: Tony Dallago (UI) def. Andy Wiseman (PU), Fall 1:24 (PU 0 - UI 10)
197: Mario Gonzalez (UI) def. Braden Atwood (PU), D 11-4 (PU 0 - UI 13)
285: Chris Lopez (UI) def. Alex White (PU), D 4-3 (PU 0 - UI 16)
125: Camden Eppert (PU) def. Dominic Oliveri (UI), MD 12-4 (PU 4 - UI 16)
133: Danny Sabatello (PU) def. Logan Arlis (UI), D 11-4 (PU 7 - UI 16)
141: B.J. Futrell (UI) def. Brandon Nelsen (PU), MD 13-5 (PU 7 - UI 20)
149: Ivan Lopouchanski (PU) def. Caleb Ervin (UI), D 4-0 (PU 10 - UI 20)
157: Matt Nora (UI) def. Tommy Churchard (PU), Fall 4:34 (PU 10 - UI 26)
165: Conrad Polz (UI) def. Pat Robinson (PU), D 10-3 (PU 10 - UI 29)