WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Head coach Tony Ersland announced the signing of Gavin Brown on Tuesday, bringing the total number of 2025 Purdue Wrestling newcomers to eight.
Brown, a transfer from Ohio State, holds a 16-12 collegiate record through three seasons with the Buckeyes. Projected to compete at 149 pounds for the Boilermakers, he has two more years of eligibility after redshirting his freshman season in 2022-23.
Brown was a key member of Ohio State's top-ranked 2022 recruiting class when he was considered a top-20 recruit in the nation.
Wrestling out of Lebanon, Ohio, Brown is a three-time Ohio state champion (2019, 2021, 2022) who compiled a 120-11 record in high school. If not for mass COVID-19 pandemic cancelations in 2020, he would have been a top contender to win a state title as a sophomore as well.
Brown joins a talented Purdue class of 2025 that features Aidan Costello (Hobart, Ind.), Ty Henderson (Evansville, Ind.), Vincent Paino (Emerson, N.J.), Adrian Pellot (Merrillville, Ind.), Brody Saccoccia (Steubenville, Ohio), Isaiah Schaefer (Evansville, Ind.) and Noah Weaver (Rossville, Ind.).
Brown is the only transfer among the current group with prior college wrestling experience. Pellot, Schaefer and Weaver each won Indiana state championships in February at the 2025 IHSAA state tournament. Saccoccia finished as the Ohio state runner-up as Henderson and Paino each won bronze medals in their respective tournaments.
Purdue looks to maintain momentum after a breakthrough 2024-25 season that featured the program's best finish at the NCAA Championships since 1992. Aside from two-time All-American and soon-to-be Purdue graduate Matt Ramos, the rest of the starting lineup figures to return in 2025-26.
Brown, a transfer from Ohio State, holds a 16-12 collegiate record through three seasons with the Buckeyes. Projected to compete at 149 pounds for the Boilermakers, he has two more years of eligibility after redshirting his freshman season in 2022-23.
Brown was a key member of Ohio State's top-ranked 2022 recruiting class when he was considered a top-20 recruit in the nation.
Ready to Hammer Down. ✍️ Gavin Brown is officially a Boilermaker!
— Purdue Wrestling (@PurdueWrestling) April 8, 2025
- Ohio State transfer
- 16-12 collegiate record
- 3-time Ohio state champion
- Former top-20 recruit
- High school record of 120-11
- Projected 149-pounder pic.twitter.com/FKqUnYGBMZ
Wrestling out of Lebanon, Ohio, Brown is a three-time Ohio state champion (2019, 2021, 2022) who compiled a 120-11 record in high school. If not for mass COVID-19 pandemic cancelations in 2020, he would have been a top contender to win a state title as a sophomore as well.
Brown joins a talented Purdue class of 2025 that features Aidan Costello (Hobart, Ind.), Ty Henderson (Evansville, Ind.), Vincent Paino (Emerson, N.J.), Adrian Pellot (Merrillville, Ind.), Brody Saccoccia (Steubenville, Ohio), Isaiah Schaefer (Evansville, Ind.) and Noah Weaver (Rossville, Ind.).
Brown is the only transfer among the current group with prior college wrestling experience. Pellot, Schaefer and Weaver each won Indiana state championships in February at the 2025 IHSAA state tournament. Saccoccia finished as the Ohio state runner-up as Henderson and Paino each won bronze medals in their respective tournaments.
Purdue looks to maintain momentum after a breakthrough 2024-25 season that featured the program's best finish at the NCAA Championships since 1992. Aside from two-time All-American and soon-to-be Purdue graduate Matt Ramos, the rest of the starting lineup figures to return in 2025-26.