Jan. 21, 2018 Results / Highlights / Photo Gallery
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. ââ'¬" The 24th-ranked Purdue wrestling team claimed four weights in in a 21-12 dual loss to No. 14 Illinois on Sunday at Holloway Gymnasium. Among the victors were ranked Boilermakers Dylan Lydy, Shawn Streck and Luke Welch, along with Austin Nash. The loss evened Purdue's overall dual record at 5-5 and 0-4 midway through the Big Ten Conference schedule. The Illini stand at 4-3 and 3-2 in the conference.
"Any match, you have to learn from it," Welch said. "Whether you win or lose, there's always something to be learned. We just have to take this in stride and have to get back to the room. We have to be tough. We have to take it one day at a time, one situation at a time and just keep focusing on getting better."
Illinois controlled the first half of the dual that started at 133 pounds, taking four of five bouts, including two with bonus points.
Nash was credited with getting the Boilermakers on the board. The 149-pounder from Florham Park, New Jersey, exploded off the whistle, driving Eric Barone to the mat. The takedown held and the redshirt sophomore received his final point after two stalling calls on the Illini on his way to a 3-2 decision. Both of Barone's points came on escapes.
Lydy showed why he is the team's takedown leader in a 10-3 win over David Riojas to start the second half of the dual. The 12th-ranked 174-pounder scored four takedowns, twice in the opening frame and once in each of the next two periods, to take his season total to 66. With the win, the Indianapolis, Indiana, native, pushed his redshirt sophomore record to 24-9 and 3-1 in Big Ten duals.
Streck and Welch posted back-to-back decisions at heavyweight and 125, respectively, to close out the dual. Streck, ranked 15th, put up a pair of takedowns in a 5-3 decision over Duece Rachal. The redshirt freshman heavyweight pushed his season mark to 22-10 with the win.
"Rachal was really short and stout, so it was kind of hard for me to get my offense going on him," Streck said. "I knew I had to hand fight him hard and get him tired. I also knew he was going to take bad shots. I would have liked to get to my offense a little bit more. I feel like overall I could work on opening up a little bit more and continue to push the pace."
After missing the last two duals, 12th-ranked Welch returned to the lineup and prevailed against No. 19 Travis Piotrowski 7-5. The opening stanza saw a lot of action from the two ranked grapplers and a knotted score of 4-4. Welch separated himself in the second with an escape and a takedown. Piotrowski was held to an escape in the third as the Boilermaker lifted his record to 22-4.
"I was looking forward to wrestling," Welch said. "Any time you get to put a singlet on and represent your school, it's a great feeling. Piotrowski was a good opponent. Anyone in the Big Ten is going to be tough. I think about getting after it out there, getting out on the mat and wrestling him hard. I thank God for the opportunity to be out there and wrestling."
Purdue returns to Holloway Gymnasium on Friday for a non-conference battle with North Dakota State at 7 p.m. ET. It will be Frats to the Mats night. During intermission, fraternities in attendance will have the opportunity to compete in an Arm Wrestle Royale for the chance to take home a championship belt. The Boilermakers will also be signing autographs at the conclusion of the dual.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. ââ'¬" The 24th-ranked Purdue wrestling team claimed four weights in in a 21-12 dual loss to No. 14 Illinois on Sunday at Holloway Gymnasium. Among the victors were ranked Boilermakers Dylan Lydy, Shawn Streck and Luke Welch, along with Austin Nash. The loss evened Purdue's overall dual record at 5-5 and 0-4 midway through the Big Ten Conference schedule. The Illini stand at 4-3 and 3-2 in the conference.
"Any match, you have to learn from it," Welch said. "Whether you win or lose, there's always something to be learned. We just have to take this in stride and have to get back to the room. We have to be tough. We have to take it one day at a time, one situation at a time and just keep focusing on getting better."
Illinois controlled the first half of the dual that started at 133 pounds, taking four of five bouts, including two with bonus points.
Nash was credited with getting the Boilermakers on the board. The 149-pounder from Florham Park, New Jersey, exploded off the whistle, driving Eric Barone to the mat. The takedown held and the redshirt sophomore received his final point after two stalling calls on the Illini on his way to a 3-2 decision. Both of Barone's points came on escapes.
Lydy showed why he is the team's takedown leader in a 10-3 win over David Riojas to start the second half of the dual. The 12th-ranked 174-pounder scored four takedowns, twice in the opening frame and once in each of the next two periods, to take his season total to 66. With the win, the Indianapolis, Indiana, native, pushed his redshirt sophomore record to 24-9 and 3-1 in Big Ten duals.
Streck and Welch posted back-to-back decisions at heavyweight and 125, respectively, to close out the dual. Streck, ranked 15th, put up a pair of takedowns in a 5-3 decision over Duece Rachal. The redshirt freshman heavyweight pushed his season mark to 22-10 with the win.
"Rachal was really short and stout, so it was kind of hard for me to get my offense going on him," Streck said. "I knew I had to hand fight him hard and get him tired. I also knew he was going to take bad shots. I would have liked to get to my offense a little bit more. I feel like overall I could work on opening up a little bit more and continue to push the pace."
After missing the last two duals, 12th-ranked Welch returned to the lineup and prevailed against No. 19 Travis Piotrowski 7-5. The opening stanza saw a lot of action from the two ranked grapplers and a knotted score of 4-4. Welch separated himself in the second with an escape and a takedown. Piotrowski was held to an escape in the third as the Boilermaker lifted his record to 22-4.
"I was looking forward to wrestling," Welch said. "Any time you get to put a singlet on and represent your school, it's a great feeling. Piotrowski was a good opponent. Anyone in the Big Ten is going to be tough. I think about getting after it out there, getting out on the mat and wrestling him hard. I thank God for the opportunity to be out there and wrestling."
Purdue returns to Holloway Gymnasium on Friday for a non-conference battle with North Dakota State at 7 p.m. ET. It will be Frats to the Mats night. During intermission, fraternities in attendance will have the opportunity to compete in an Arm Wrestle Royale for the chance to take home a championship belt. The Boilermakers will also be signing autographs at the conclusion of the dual.