2016-17 / AS A REDSHIRT SENIOR
- Stats
Awards & Honors
- Purdue Wrestling Most Improved Wrestler Award
Tournaments
- Eastern Michigan Open runner-up (11/5)
- Placed fourth at Roadrunner Open (11/20)
- Competed at Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (12/2)
- Competed at Midlands Championships as the No. 12 seed (12/29)
- Competed at Big Ten Championships (3/4)
Season Notes
- Boilermakers' starting heavyweight for third consecutive season.
- Had the best season of his career ... established highs across the board in all win types and stat categories, most notably: wins (21), shutouts (7), takedowns (14), back points (38), points per match (3.7), total points (136) and dual points (27) ... his seven shutouts are more than he had the three previous seasons combined.
- His 3-0 shutout of South Dakota State's Alex Macki was his 21st win of the season, matching his win total from the three previous seasons ... had a dozen more victories than he did in 2015-16.
- Posted a 7-4 mark in December ... knocked off seventh-seeded and 20th-ranked Jeramy Sweany of Cornell 7-4 in wrestleback action at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational ... his win over Sweany was his first-ever over a ranked opponent ... Kral followed with a major decision and then the first technical fall of his career ... he put 16 points up on Michigan's Dan Perry in 4:21.
- At SIU Edwardsville, Kral trailed the reigning Southern Conference Wrestler of the Week, Jake McKiernan, 4-2 heading into the third period ... Kral escaped and then in one motion, took the Cougar down and to his back for his first fall of the season at 6:14.
- Turned in the fastest pin of his career, sticking Alex Encarnacion-Strand of CSU Bakersfield in 1:03 in his first match at Midlands.
- Put an exclamation point on the Boilermakers' seventh straight win over their in-state rival by closing out the Indiana dual with a 3-1 win over Fletcher Miller in sudden victory ... he scored the winning takedown with seven seconds on the clock.
- Surpassed his win total from 2015-16 less than a month into the season, racing out to an 11-4 start ... won four straight matches during the stretch.
- Began the season with his best-ever showing at a tournament, taking second at the Eastern Michigan Open.
2015-16 / AS A REDSHIRT JUNIOR
- Stats
Tournaments
- Competed at Michigan State Open (unattached) (11/15)
- Competed at Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (12/4)
- Competed at Midlands Championships (12/29)
- Competed at Big Ten Championships (3/5)
- Competed in freestyle at University Nationals at 125 kg (6/4)
Season Notes
- Second season as the Boilermakers' primary heavyweight ... got the starting nod in 15 of the 17 duals
- Set career bests in overall wins (9), dual wins (7), Big Ten dual wins (2), decisions (7), takedowns (13), reversals (4) and back points (12)
- Tied for the most overtime matches on the team with four, going 2-2 in those matches
- Three of the four ranked opponents he went up against were ranked among the top 10
- Won the first Big Ten dual match of his career with a 7-4 decision over Penn State's Jan Johnson (1/8) and followed it up with a 6-0 shutout of Dimitrius Renfroe of Michigan State (1/15)
- Closed out the regular season with his first major decision, a 10-1 outing vs. Duke's Brendan Walsh, since a season-opening major decision in 2014-15
2014-15 / AS A REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE
Tournaments
- Competed at Michigan State Open (unattached) (11/2)
- Placed sixth at Roadrunner Open (11/16)
- Competed at Midlands Championships (12/29)
- Competed at Big Ten Championships (3/7)
- Competed in freestyle at University Nationals at 125 kg (5/30)
Season Notes
- First season as 285-pound starter ... appeared in 14 of 18 duals
- Of the 10 nationally ranked opponents faced, half of them were listed sixth or higher
- Began season with an 8-0 major decision over Arthur Bunce of Northern Illinois at Michigan State Open
- Rallied from first-round loss at Roadrunner Open to win four straight decisions on his way to a sixth-place showing
- Closed out 39-6 dual victory over Indiana Tech with his first career dual pin, sticking Kegan Clark-Sanchez in 2:15
- Clinched Purdue's 39-0 shutout of SIU Edwardsville with a come-from-behind a 4-3 decision over Chris Johnson in the final bout
2013-14 / AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN
Tournaments
- Competed at Michigan State Open (11/9)
- Competed at Concordia (Wis.) Open (11/23)
- Competed at Cleveland State Open (12/14)
Season Notes
- First career win was a 1:24 fall at Concordia (Wis.) Open
2012-13 / AS A FRESHMAN
- Redshirted
HIGH SCHOOL
- Earned 11 varsity letters at Crown Point ... three in football, four in wrestling, four in track & field
- Indiana High School Athletic Association 220-pound champion as a senior with a 44-2 record ... placed third at 215 as a junior
- Finished with a high school career record of 122-8
- Two-time academic all-state and four-year honor roll student
- Received Crown Point Blanket Award for students with at least a 3.0 GPA, seven letters and a championship award
- President of the Crown Point athletic counsel
- Eighth in state in the shot put as a senior ... all-state tight end as a junior and senior
PERSONAL
- Full Name: Tyler Michael Kral
- Major: Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Birthday: August 12, 1994
- City Born: Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Parents: Rand and Michele Kral
- Siblings: One brother, Morgan, and a sister, Reece
- Stats
Awards & Honors
- Purdue Wrestling Most Improved Wrestler Award
Tournaments
- Eastern Michigan Open runner-up (11/5)
- Placed fourth at Roadrunner Open (11/20)
- Competed at Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (12/2)
- Competed at Midlands Championships as the No. 12 seed (12/29)
- Competed at Big Ten Championships (3/4)
Season Notes
- Boilermakers' starting heavyweight for third consecutive season.
- Had the best season of his career ... established highs across the board in all win types and stat categories, most notably: wins (21), shutouts (7), takedowns (14), back points (38), points per match (3.7), total points (136) and dual points (27) ... his seven shutouts are more than he had the three previous seasons combined.
- His 3-0 shutout of South Dakota State's Alex Macki was his 21st win of the season, matching his win total from the three previous seasons ... had a dozen more victories than he did in 2015-16.
- Posted a 7-4 mark in December ... knocked off seventh-seeded and 20th-ranked Jeramy Sweany of Cornell 7-4 in wrestleback action at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational ... his win over Sweany was his first-ever over a ranked opponent ... Kral followed with a major decision and then the first technical fall of his career ... he put 16 points up on Michigan's Dan Perry in 4:21.
- At SIU Edwardsville, Kral trailed the reigning Southern Conference Wrestler of the Week, Jake McKiernan, 4-2 heading into the third period ... Kral escaped and then in one motion, took the Cougar down and to his back for his first fall of the season at 6:14.
- Turned in the fastest pin of his career, sticking Alex Encarnacion-Strand of CSU Bakersfield in 1:03 in his first match at Midlands.
- Put an exclamation point on the Boilermakers' seventh straight win over their in-state rival by closing out the Indiana dual with a 3-1 win over Fletcher Miller in sudden victory ... he scored the winning takedown with seven seconds on the clock.
- Surpassed his win total from 2015-16 less than a month into the season, racing out to an 11-4 start ... won four straight matches during the stretch.
- Began the season with his best-ever showing at a tournament, taking second at the Eastern Michigan Open.
2015-16 / AS A REDSHIRT JUNIOR
- Stats
Tournaments
- Competed at Michigan State Open (unattached) (11/15)
- Competed at Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (12/4)
- Competed at Midlands Championships (12/29)
- Competed at Big Ten Championships (3/5)
- Competed in freestyle at University Nationals at 125 kg (6/4)
Season Notes
- Second season as the Boilermakers' primary heavyweight ... got the starting nod in 15 of the 17 duals
- Set career bests in overall wins (9), dual wins (7), Big Ten dual wins (2), decisions (7), takedowns (13), reversals (4) and back points (12)
- Tied for the most overtime matches on the team with four, going 2-2 in those matches
- Three of the four ranked opponents he went up against were ranked among the top 10
- Won the first Big Ten dual match of his career with a 7-4 decision over Penn State's Jan Johnson (1/8) and followed it up with a 6-0 shutout of Dimitrius Renfroe of Michigan State (1/15)
- Closed out the regular season with his first major decision, a 10-1 outing vs. Duke's Brendan Walsh, since a season-opening major decision in 2014-15
2014-15 / AS A REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE
Tournaments
- Competed at Michigan State Open (unattached) (11/2)
- Placed sixth at Roadrunner Open (11/16)
- Competed at Midlands Championships (12/29)
- Competed at Big Ten Championships (3/7)
- Competed in freestyle at University Nationals at 125 kg (5/30)
Season Notes
- First season as 285-pound starter ... appeared in 14 of 18 duals
- Of the 10 nationally ranked opponents faced, half of them were listed sixth or higher
- Began season with an 8-0 major decision over Arthur Bunce of Northern Illinois at Michigan State Open
- Rallied from first-round loss at Roadrunner Open to win four straight decisions on his way to a sixth-place showing
- Closed out 39-6 dual victory over Indiana Tech with his first career dual pin, sticking Kegan Clark-Sanchez in 2:15
- Clinched Purdue's 39-0 shutout of SIU Edwardsville with a come-from-behind a 4-3 decision over Chris Johnson in the final bout
2013-14 / AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN
Tournaments
- Competed at Michigan State Open (11/9)
- Competed at Concordia (Wis.) Open (11/23)
- Competed at Cleveland State Open (12/14)
Season Notes
- First career win was a 1:24 fall at Concordia (Wis.) Open
2012-13 / AS A FRESHMAN
- Redshirted
HIGH SCHOOL
- Earned 11 varsity letters at Crown Point ... three in football, four in wrestling, four in track & field
- Indiana High School Athletic Association 220-pound champion as a senior with a 44-2 record ... placed third at 215 as a junior
- Finished with a high school career record of 122-8
- Two-time academic all-state and four-year honor roll student
- Received Crown Point Blanket Award for students with at least a 3.0 GPA, seven letters and a championship award
- President of the Crown Point athletic counsel
- Eighth in state in the shot put as a senior ... all-state tight end as a junior and senior
PERSONAL
- Full Name: Tyler Michael Kral
- Major: Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Birthday: August 12, 1994
- City Born: Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Parents: Rand and Michele Kral
- Siblings: One brother, Morgan, and a sister, Reece