WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- In a dual that promised exciting toss-up matches, the Wisconsin wrestling team delivered just that as the Badgers muscled their way to a 22-12 victory over Purdue on Friday evening in the Holloway Gymnasium.
The No. 18 Badgers (4-5 overall, 2-5 Big Ten) tallied six wins against a tough Purdue (8-7, 3-6 Big Ten) team that refused to go down without a fight.
Senior
TJ Ruschell earned the Badgers' first bonus-point win with a 16-0 tech fall of Mario Leveille. The 157-pounder got things going in the second period and asserted his dominance throughout to pick up another impressive Big Ten victory.
Second-ranked
Connor Medbery set the pace against heavyweight Tyler Kral early and stayed true-to-form to record the 18-3 tech fall.
149-pounder
Andrew Crone pulled off a 5-4 decision over Nate Limmex in thrilling fashion. After Crone gained a 5-1 lead in the third period, Limmex recorded a reversal as time wound down to make things interesting. Despite the crowd's excitement for a possible comeback, Crone maintained control to get his hand raised.
In a feisty 184-pound matchup,
Hunter Ritter got on the board quickly against Tanner Lynde to set the pace and two second-period takedowns brought the score to 6-4. To start the third period, a quick takedown by Lynde looked to quell Ritter's momentum, but Ritter regained his composure to walk away with the 12-7 decision.
125-pounder
Johnny Jimenez put Wisconsin on the board first by earning a 4-1 decision over Ben Thornton. In true
Isaac Jordan-fashion, third-ranked Jordan remained calm throughout to pick up an 8-3 decision over 165-pounder Dylan Lydy.
133-pounder
Eli Stickley entered the third period up 5-2 against Luke Welch but a ruling reversal cut Stickley's lead to 5-4 with just two seconds remaining. After riding time sent the match into overtime, Welch relied on his momentum to pull off the 7-5 SV-1 decision.
In the 141-pound bout,
Cole Martin started strong but a big second period by Cody Pae gave the Boilermakers the 6-0 decision. Eleventh-ranked
Ricky Robertson recorded one escape but couldn't get on the offensive against 197-pounder Christian Brunner, while
Ryan Christensen (157) dropped a tough 4-0 match to Jacob Morrissey.
Next up, the Badgers return home to face No. 14 Michigan for a noon matchup in the Field House on Sunday, Feb. 12.
125:
Johnny Jimenez dec. Ben Thornton 4-1
133: Luke Welch dec.
Eli Stickley 7-5 (SV-1)
141: Cody Pae dec.
Cole Martin 6-0
149:
Andrew Crone dec. Nate Limmex 5-4
157:
TJ Ruschell tech fall Mario Leveille 16-0 (6:05)
165:
Isaac Jordan dec. Dylan Lydy 8-3
174: Jacob Morrissey dec.
Ryan Christensen 4-0
184:
Hunter Ritter dec. Tanner Lynde 12-7
197: Christian Brunner dec.
Ricky Robertson 4-1
HWT:
Connor Medbery tech fall Tyler Kral 18-3 (7:00)
