Nov. 22, 2013
MINNEAPOLIS - Camden Eppert won at 125 pounds, but the No. 20 Purdue wrestling team fell to second-ranked Minnesota, 35-3, Friday in the Sports Pavilion. The loss evens the Boilermakers' record at 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten. It was the first dual of the season for the Golden Gophers (1-0, 1-0).
The Big Ten opener started at 125, where Eppert posted a 5-2 decision over Sam Brancale. Eppert wasted no time getting after the redshirt freshman, striking for a takedown and two-point nearfall midway through the first period. After a scoreless second period, Brancale opted to start the closing two minutes from neutral. The Golden Gopher was able to take Eppert down, only to have him escape seconds later for the final point.
Redshirt sophomore 141-pounder Danny Sabatello nearly upended fifth-ranked Chris Dardanes, dropping a 2-1 decision. Dardanes got the only takedown of the match at the 1:30 mark in the opening period. He opted to start from the bottom and Sabatello was able to keep him down the entire second period. With the roles reversed to start the final period, Sabatello escaped within 10 seconds, but was unable to get the winning takedown.
The Boilermakers will look to rebound when they travel to the Vadalabene Center in Edwardsville, Ill., to battle SIU-Edwardsville at 2 p.m. CT. Live stats will be available on TrackWrestling.
No. 2 Minnesota 35, No. 20 Purdue 3
125: No. 18 Camden Eppert (Purdue) dec. Sam Brancale (Minnesota), 5-2
133: No. 8 David Thorn (Minnesota) maj. dec. Kyle Ayersman (Purdue), 15-5
141: No. 5 Chris Dardanes (Minnesota) dec. Danny Sabatello (Purdue), 2-1
149: No. 4/3 Nick Dardanes (Minnesota) dec. Alex Griffin (Purdue), 8-4
157: No. 4/3 Dylan Ness (Minnesota) pin Doug Welch (Purdue), 6:01
165: No. 12/16 Danny Zilverberg (Minnesota) maj. dec. Chad Welch (Purdue), 10-2
174: No. 5 Logan Storley (Minnesota) maj. dec. Andy Hoselton (Purdue), 18-4
184: No. 18 Brett Pfarr (Minnesota) maj. dec. Tanner Lynde (Purdue), 12-2
197: No. 2 Scott Schiller (Minnesota) maj. dec. No. 16/17 Braden Atwood (Purdue), 15-7
285: No. 1 Tony Nelson (Minnesota) dec. Alex White (Purdue), 4-0