March 21, 2013
DES MOINES, Iowa - The Purdue wrestling team was 1-4 in the opening session of the 2013 NCAA Championships on Thursday morning, led by senior Ivan Lopouchanski's victory at 149 pounds. Sophomore Braden Atwood was in one of the more controversial matches of the afternoon as a last-second takedown was nullified by a video review in his first-round match at 197 pounds.
Lopouchanski put together his usual steady performance, holding solid position throughout his 3-0 decision over Bloomsburg's Josh Roosa. The Boilermaker senior's points came on a second-period escape and a takedown in the waning seconds as he improved to 28-2 on the year and earned his 118th career victory. He advances to face the No. 7 seed at 149 pounds, Oregon State's Scott Sakaguchi, in tonight's session.
Trailing 3-2 in the waning seconds to 11th-seeded Blake Rosholt of Oklahoma State, Atwood got in on a shot and was awarded the takedown by the official just before time expired. The Oklahoma State coaches challenged the call and the officials went to the monitor and subsequently overturned the takedown. Atwood will face a familiar foe tonight as he's set to wrestle Mario Gonzalez of Illinois.
Sophomore Brandon Nelsen, senior Tommy Churchard and freshman Chad Welch were all sent into the wrestlebacks with first-round losses. Nelsen gave up a pair of early takedowns in a 6-3 loss to 12th-seeded Chris Mecate of Old Dominion, Churchard suffered a 16-0 technical fall loss at the hands of fifth-seeded James Fleming of Clarion and Welch surrendered four third-period points on a reversal and takedown in a 5-3 defeat to Ohio's Cody Walters.
Tonight's session is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. and will include the championship second round and a round of consolation matches.
Purdue Results
141 Pounds - Brandon Nelsen
First Round - lost to #12 Chris Mecate (Old Dominion), D 6-3
Conso. First Round - Pat Greco (Northwestern)
149 Pounds - #10 Ivan Lopouchanski
First Round - def. Josh Roosa (Bloomsburg), D 3-0
Second Round - #7 Scott Sakaguchi (Oregon State)
157 Pounds - Tommy Churchard
First Round - lost to #5 James Fleming (Clarion), TF 16-0 (4:44)
Conso. First Round - Cody Pack (South Dakota State)
174 Pounds - Chad Welch
First Round - lost to Cody Walters (Ohio), D 5-3
Conso. First Round - Ian Korb (Penn)
197 Pounds - Braden Atwood
First Round - lost to #11 Blake Rosholt (Oklahoma State), D 3-2
Conso. First Round - Mario Gonzalez (Illinois)