College News

107 articles in this category

828
Zach Tanelli Added to Purdue Staff
Aug. 13, 2014
 
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue head wrestling coach Tony Ersland has assembled another piece of his staff with the hiring of Zach Tanelli as an assistant coach. Tanelli, who is no stranger to the Big Ten Conference as a 2009 All-American at Wisconsin, joins the Boilermaker wrestling program after a five-year coaching stint at Hofstra.
 
"I was really impressed with Zach when he talked about the importance of being in a role of mentoring and guiding young men," Ersland said. "He's got the right mindset as a coach and we're very much in line with the school of thought in mentoring. A coaches' role goes beyond wrestling. With him, it's always about the student-athletes first. It's about serving them and I have a sense that is very important to him.
 
"Zach has had to wear a lot of different hats at Hofstra and has done a lot of different things. He's been put in a lot of different situations and scenarios during his coaching career. That's what I also like about him. His experience is going to be invaluable to us moving forward.
 
"We now have a staff with goals and expectations for this program to take it to the next level," Ersland said. "There's no doubt that Tyrel [Todd], Zach and I are all on the same page and are going to put in the work necessary to get there. I'm excited to get to work with these guys."
 
 
During his tenure at Hofstra, Tanelli worked his way up the coaching ranks and most recently served as interim head coach. He was the head assistant coach for the two previous seasons after spending his first three years as an assistant coach with the Pride.
 
The former Badger made an impact throughout Hofstra's lineup, particularly in the lower weights. Tanelli coached four All-Americans in Steve Bonanno (125), Lou Ruggirello (133), Justin Accordino (149) and P.J. Gillespie (165). The Pride won three-straight Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) team titles (2011-13) before moving to the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) in 2013-14, where they placed fourth with two finalists, including the 165-pound champion, Joseph Booth.
 
While in the CAA, seven Hofstra grapplers claimed tournament crowns under the guidance of Tanelli, including a pair of two-time champs in Bonanno and 184-pounder Ben Clymer. Jamie Franco (133), Luke Vaith (141), Gillespie (149), Ryan Patrovich (174) and Paul Snyder (HWT) were also titlists for Tanelli.
 
Tanelli wrestled the first three years of his Badger career at 133 pounds and bumped up to 141 for his senior campaign in 2009. He was a two-time NCAA qualifier at 133 and earned a spot on the 141 podium with a fourth-place finish for All-America accolades. During his senior season, Tanelli went on a blaze, owning a 31-6 record, including a spotless 7-0 mark against Big Ten foes. He was ranked No. 1 at his weight for the second half of the 2008-09 season after winning the 141-pound Midlands Championships title and was bestowed with the Champion of Champions Award.
 
Tanelli was a three-time Big Ten Championships placewinner and improved upon his finish each year. As a sophomore, he placed eighth at 133, followed by a fifth-place finish as a junior. Tanelli then took second at 141 as a senior.
 
During his career at Wisconsin, Tanelli compiled an 88-31 record with a blistering .967 winning percentage. He won 44 percent of his matches with bonus points, registering 15 major decisions, 13 falls and 11 technical falls.
 
A native of Milburn, N.J., Tanelli earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Wisconsin in 2009 and his master's degree in higher educational leadership and policy studies from Hofstra in 2012.

900
Wabash Wrestling Tabbed Third in Preseason Poll
Wrestling | 11/5/2014 5:17:00 AM
| Brent Harris
 
Wabash is ranked third nationally in the 2014-15 preseason rankings released by the National Wrestling Coaches Association.

While appreciative of earning a place in the top-three positions, this Little Giant team has only one spot that on their mind --- finishing as national champions.

"I think the number-three ranking says we're doing the right things as a program," Wabash head coach Brian Andersonsaid. "Our expectation this year is to get a qualifier to nationals in all 10 weight classes. If we do that and compete the way I expect us to, we could bring a very special trophy back to this school. We need to stay focused on our efforts week in and week out by making progress individually. If we do that, everything else will take care of itself."

Wabash received 28 total points in the preseason poll conducted the NWCA. The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater was the top selection with 31 points. Messiah College earned 29 points for second. Delaware Valley College sits in fourth with 27 points, followed by Coe College in fifth with 21 points. The Little Giant wrestling team's social media efforts continue to be rewarded, as well. Wabash ranks 22nd in the first NWCA/Elite Level Sports Marketing Best of Brand Rankings.

Last year Wabash sent six wrestlers to nationals, including four returning competitors who are listed in the top-10 individual rankings to open the season. Tommy Poynter is ranked ninth at 125 pounds to open the year. Conner Lefever is listed third at 174 pounds. Reece Lefever, who earned All-America honors for the second consecutive season with a fourth-place finish at 157 pounds, is ranked third in that weight class to open the season. Riley Lefever claimed the first national championship for a Wabash wrestler by winning the 184-pound weight class in his freshman season. He earned d3wrestle.com Freshman of the Year honors and is picked number one in the preseason rankings at 184 pounds.

"Having four returning wrestlers who competed at nationals sets a great tone for our team," Anderson said. "The other wrestlers on our team realize qualifying for nationals is an attainable goal."

Wabash finished ninth overall in the team scoring at last year's national championship meet. Reece Lefever knows this year's preseason ranking is more tribute than reality.

"It's cool to be ranked third and receive that type of recognition for what we accomplished last year," Reece Lefever said. "But our goal this year is not to get third, it's to finish first. That's what we're training for this season. We know we wrestle against top-level competition every week. That will help us get ready for nationals this year, as well."

Reece's twin brother, Conner, and younger brother, Riley, understand the tone the veteran members of the team need to provide to the team if the Little Giants are going to achieve their goal of ten qualifiers.

"I'm trying to lead by example this year," Conner Lefever said. "I'm not the type of guy who talks a lot, but I want to work hard in practice and do the extra things that are necessary to qualify for nationals and earn a place on the podium as a national champion."

"Our motto this year is 'One Vision'," Riley Lefever added. "The fact we're ranked third changes nothing. It's definitely a sign of respect for what we accomplished as a team last season, but this is a new season. The coaches have stressed having the veteran wrestlers work with the younger wrestlers to show them the level of effort it takes to earn that place at nationals."

Poynter expects nothing to be easy this season as he charts a course to return to nationals and a chance to earn All-America honors and a national title in his senior season.

"I need to keep working hard this year just like I did last year," he said. "I'm working to be a good student-athlete here at Wabash, represent the College and our team both academically and on the mat. I feel a tremendous responsibility. I am trying to do all the right things to show hard work and perseverance can help achieve those goals."

The path back to nationals starts next Thursday when the Little Giants face Olivet College. The dual meet will take place at Carroll High School in Fort Wayne at 7 p.m. Prior to the official start of the season, the Little Giants will compete in the annual Red-White duals Friday night at 6:30 p.m.

477
Wabash Wrestling Makes Solid Service Finalist List
Brent Harris
5/20/2014 3:03:00 PM
 
The National Wrestling Coaches Association and Elite Level Sports Marketing announced six finalists for the Best of Brand "Solid Service" Award, which included the Wabash College wrestling program.
 
The Little Giants made the finals list along with Indiana Tech, Johns Hopkins, North Carolina, Ouachita Baptist, and Wayland Baptist. The "Solid Service" Award recognizes wrestling programs which created videos that highlight community service outreach during the season.
 
"I am excited for Wabash wrestling to be named a finalist for this 'Solid Service' Award because it will help bring more attention to JDRF (formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), which was one of our overall goals for the 2013-14 season," said Little Giant head coach Brian Anderson.
 
"Our guys put forth tremendous effort in raising money and awareness for JDRF," assistant coach and social media coordinator Danny Irwin added. "We hope through our video helps get that message out and strengthens the impact we have as a program with JDRF."
 
Wabash has participated in JDRF walks the past two season, working as "Team Kelsey." Anderson's daughter, Kelsey was diagnosed with diabetes over two years ago. Wabash wrestler Conner Lefever, a 2014 Midwest Regional champion and NCAA Division III national qualifier at 174 pounds, is also a diabetic. The wrestling team provided additional support for JDRF by creating an Outdoor Takedown Tournament in the fall of 2013. The team moved wrestling mats on the Mud Hollow Stadium soccer and lacrosse field and raised money through donations throughout the tournament held prior to a home Wabash football game.
 
Criteria for determining the "Solid Service" Award recipient includes a panel of judges assessing video performance (70 percent) and an online voting competition (30 percent). The online voting component will include 15 percent allocated to the actual vote totals and 15 percent to the creativity of the campaign during the Battle Round voting. The quarterfinal round of voting begins at noon on June 9 and runs until 9 p.m. (EDT). Voting information can be found at http://www.nwcaonline.com/nwcawebsite/best-of-brand-battle-rounds.

756
Wabash Little Giants Bring in Stellar Freshmen Class
From Wabash Athletics
 
Wabash College head coach Brian Anderson has announced the addition of twenty-eight student-athletes who will join the Little Giants wrestling program in the fall. The twenty-eight wrestlers come from five different states with the majority coming from Indiana. This is a big class of freshmen coming in that will provide depth from top to bottom. 10 out of the 28 wrestlers competed at their state tournament at least once, with another 16 of them falling in the state qualifying tournament. On top of the athletic accomplishments of these individuals, this class comes in with an average grade point average of 3.4.
 
Wabash started seven underclassmen this past season with four of those being freshman. This incoming class will make a strong impact on the 2009-2010 starting line-up, one which will see a heavy dose of youth again. The youth of this team will look to the two returning senior starters, Michael Burke at 197 and Rob Arnett at 285. Both seniors bring great leadership and plenty of mat experience to anchor down this young team.




Name
High School
Weight Class
State Finishes


Chad Barrett
Greentown, IN
141/149
3x State Qualifier (6th '08, 3rd '09)


Julian Cernuda
Hickory, NC
285



Patrick Clegg
Clarendon Hills, IL
285
6th @ State 2009


Willy Costakis
Merriville, IN
125
Semi-State Qualifier


Winston Craft
Attica, IN
125
2x Semi


Johnny Dillon
Hobart, IN
141/ 149
3x State Qualifier (5th '08)


Jordan Dulaney
Muncie, IN
149/ 157
2x State Qualifier (8th '09)


Jeramey Hicks
West Lebanon, IN
133/ 141
2x Semi-State Qualifier


Quinten Hizey
Nipomo, CA
125
Masters Qualifier


Martin Lantz
Goshen, IN
184/ 197
State Qualifier 2008


Ryan Lutz
Sacramento, CA
165/ 174
Masters Qualifier


Tyler McCoy
Lafayette, IN
165/ 174
State Qualifier 2009


Austin O'Neal
Griffith, IN
184
Semi-State Qualifier


Alex Orton
Clarendon Hills, IL
133
2x Sectional Qualifier


Garrett Payne
Michigan City, IN
141
3x Semi-State Qualifier


Corbin Richards
Avon, IN
149/ 157
2x Semi-State Qualifier


Derek Rowe
Logansport, IN
184
2x Semi-State Qualifier


Daniel Sandberg
Indianapolis, IN
184/ 197
Semi-State Qualifier


Jeromy Sisk
Peru, IN
133/ 141
State Qualifier 2007


Drew Spriggs
Thorntown, IN
133



Zach Stone
Elkhart, IN
285
Semi-State Qualifier


Jacob Strausbaugh
Orrville, OH
133
3x State Place Winner (6th, 4th, 5th)


Oscar Trujillo
Lafayette, IN
125
State Qualifier 2009


Gabe Watson
Columbus, IN
165/ 174
2x Semi-State Qualifier


Ryan Wells
Grove City, OH
165
2x District Qualifier


Ethan Wilson
Indianapolis, IN
157
Semi-State Qualifier


Bill Wood
Palos Heights, IL
133/ 141
3x State Qualifier


Devan Young
Chino Hills, CA
285
Masters Qualifier


2078
Wabash Fourth At National Duals, Second at Manchester
By Brent Harris
 
Wabash captured fourth place on the final day of the 2015 National Duals, while the remainder of the Little Giant team took second place at Saturday's Spartan Mat Classic.

Wabash advanced to Saturday's showdown of nationally-ranked Division III teams in the semifinals and finals of the National Wrestling Coaches Association's showcase event at the Allen County War Memorial. The Little Giants, ranked third in the latest NWCA poll, lost to second-ranked Wartburg 34-9 in the semifinals. Fourth-ranked Concordia-Moorhead edged Wabash in the finals 21-19 to take third place. Wartburg went on to defeat number-one ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater 20-13 to claim its fourth consecutive Duals title and ninth championship overall.
 
Wabash scored three decisions against Wartburg in Saturday's semifinals, with all three wins coming from the Lefever brothers. Reece Lefever, ranked fifth at 157 pounds by the NWCA, fought to a 4-3 victory over fourth-ranked Drew Wagenhoffer in their second meeting of the season. Wagenhoffer scored a 9-6 win earlier this season against Lefever at the Concordia Open.

"It's nice to avenge my only loss to another Division III competitor from earlier in the season," Lefever said. "Defeating Wagenhoffer shows I'm improving and doing the right things every day."

Twin brother Conner Lefever, ranked second at 174 pounds, scored an equally impressive win with a 7-6 decision against fifth-ranked Brandon Welter. Younger brother Riley Lefever scored a 6-3 win against Devin Peterson at 184 pounds.

The Little Giants battled back and forth against Concordia-Moorhead in the finals before the deciding final bout. The Cobbers opened with three consecutive wins before Nick Bova scored a pin at 2:31 of his 149-pound bout against Yonas Gebreab. Reece Lefever added four more team points to the score with an 11-1 major decision at 157 pounds versus Ben Cousins. Conner Lefever's 5-3 victory against Sebastian Gardner at 174 pounds put Wabash up a point at 13-12. Riley Lefever scored six points for the Little Giants when his opponent at 184 pounds, Dane Ringquist, was unable to continue their match due to an injury. However, the Cobbers scored nine points in the final two bouts to take the two-point victory and third place overall.

"I always look forward to wrestling talented competition, and every team at the National Duals is tough," Riley Lefever said. "I don't necessarily know each and every opponent I wrestle or their ranking, but I step on the mat with the same mindset --- to beat my opponent physically and mentally in order to score as many points possible. Looking back, you can always learn things from any match, but you learn more when you wrestle tougher opponents."

"While we would have preferred placing higher, we're happy to have improved from our fifth-place finish last year," Conner Lefever said. "All of the teams here are top-notch. We lost against two of the best teams in the nation. We look to get better so we can avenge these losses later in the season."

Wabash head coach Brian Anderson echoed his senior wrestler's comments.

"We learned quite a bit from last year's fifth-place finish and used that to perform better this year. While it's nice to know this year's team produced the highest finish in Wabash history at the National Duals, I know we are not satisfied with the overall result.

"This was a big weekend for many reasons but most important was putting these guys in the toughest situation possible to know exactly where we are at as a team. We know our weaknesses and our strengths after the last two days of battle which we will use to keep building toward our goals in March as individuals and as a team. Several different individuals stepped up in each of the duals, however all three Lefevers showed why they will be contending for individual national titles at the end of the year."

While several of the Wabash wrestlers competed at the National Duals in Fort Wayne, another portion of the Little Giant team wrestled at the Spartan Mat Classic at Manchester University. The Spartans won their home tournament with a total of 131 points, while Wabash took second with 87.5 points in the five-team event.

Pat Parham won the 149-pound individual title with a 3-0 record, opening with a pin at 2:04 against Manchester's Ryan Gossett. Parham fought to a 2-1 victory against Luis Godines from Mount St. Joseph University in round two before defeating teammate Mack Neal in the final by a score of 8-3. Neal took second with a 12-2 major decision over Paul Mikesell from Manchester before his loss to Parham in the finals. Jeremy Chen scored a 12-0 major decision against Gossett in the finals to take fifth place.

Christian Rodriguez won the 157-pound weight class with a 9-2 win over Alex Arney from Manchester before picking up a 5-4 victory over fellow Wabash wrestler Chance Brown in the finals. Brown advanced to the finals after scoring a 5-4 victory against teammate Jeff Mucha in the semifinals. Mucah took fifth place, scoring a pin a at 48 seconds in first match of the day against Joe Kammerer from Mount St. Joseph before adding a pin at 2:35 in the final versus Arney.

Jacob Cottey won a round-robin matchup at 133 pounds with three victories. He scored an opening round 4-2 decision over Chase Wilson from Manchester, followed by a pin at 4:48 versus Brennen Storey of Manchester in round three. A final pin round five gave Cottey the first place finish. Robbie Carter posted a pair of wins in the weight class to finish fourth overall. He pinned Storey at 3:45 in the second round before handing Cottey his only loss by a score of 5-2 in round four.

Mak Maldonado earned a third-place finish at 174 pounds, opening the tournament draw with a pin at 3:21 versus Taylor Ferrill from Manchester. After a two-point loss in the semifinals, Maldonado rallied for a 16-1 technical fall against Jack Knoll of Heidelberg before a forfeit by teammate Luke Davis provided the final victory. Davis advanced to the finals after a 9-5 win against Ferrill and an 8-6 decision over teammate Grant Gough in the consolation semifinals. Gough won his opening bout by a major decision of 13-2 against Knoll, then defeated him for a second time in the finals by a score of 7-0 to finish fifth.

Corey Hawk added a third-place finish in the round robin 141-pound weight class after scoring an 18-1 technical fall in the opening round versus Clayton Capes from Manchester. Nolan Fenwick won 7-6 in the consolation semifinals at 197 pounds on the way to a fourth-place finish.

The Little Giants return to action Saturday when Wabash will serve as host for the annual Max Servies Duals. Competition begins at 9 a.m. at Chadwick Court.

465
Wabash College Announces 2010 Recruiting Class
From Wabash Athletics
 
Wabash College head coach Brian Anderson has announced the addition of nineteen student-athletes who will join the Little Giants wrestling program in the fall. The nineteen wrestlers come from seven different states with the majority coming from Indiana. This class of freshmen coming in will provide depth from top to bottom. 7 out of the 19 wrestlers competed at their state tournament at least once, with another 9 of them falling in the state qualifying tournament. On top of the athletic accomplishments of these individuals, this class comes in with an average grade point average of 3.41.
 
Wabash started seven underclassmen this past season with four of those being freshman. The 2009-2010 team finished 11-4 in duals and had two individuals at the national tournament. This incoming class will make a strong impact on the program over the next four years that will take Wabash to new heights. The youth of this team will be able to look to a number of different upper classmen who are getting it done in the classroom and on the mats.
 
Kahlil Carazo Roanoke, VA 125 State Champ/3x Placer (4th, 2nd, 1st)
James Caum North Vernon, IN 285 2x Semi-State Qualifier
Aaron Davis Indianapolis, IN 125 2x Semi-State Qualifier
Marc Escobedo Schererville, IN 125/ 133 2x Semi-State Qualifier
Jordan Fenton Findlay, OH 165 2x District Qualifier
Holden Fudurich Sullivan, IN 165 2x State Qualifier
Chris Hurst S. Putnam, IN 285 Semi-State Qualifier
Jimmy LaRowe Churubusco, IN 157 2x State Qualifier (7th)
Dylan McBride Crawfordsville, IN 197 2x State Qualifier (6th)
Jose Perez Crown Point, IN 133
Bobby Perry Bluffton, IN 133 2x Semi-State Qualifier
Josh Sampson Charlestown, IN 141/ 149 State Placer (7th)
Charles Smothers Jackson Co, GA 184 2x State Qualifier (2nd)
Drew Songer Huntingburg, IN 174 2x Semi-State Qualifier
Dalton Stanley Topeka, KS 165/174 3x State Qualifier (5th, 3rd)
Andrew Stegelman Goshen, IN 149 Semi-State Qualifier
Justin Taylor  Pike Road, AL 141
Von Wasson New Castle, IN 157/ 165 2x Semi-State Qualifier
Patrick Williams Baroda, MI 197

822 1
University of Indianapolis to Host 2025 DII Nationals
Today the NCAA announced the championship locations for events from 2023 through 2026 for all of their championship sports in all three divisions. It was announced that the 2025 NCAA DII Championships will be held in Indianapolis. The University of Indianapolis will be the official host of the event that will take place at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum(better known as the Pepsi Coliseum). The wrestling portion of the DII championships will be a part of the DII Winter Sports Festival that will include championships in indoor track and field along with swimming championships in the Indianapolis area.
 
We will keep you posted on exact dates and ticket information as it becomes available.

1881
UIndy places seven at Trine Invitational
Jackie Paquette, Asst. AD for Student Support & Sports Information
ANGOLA, Ind.- The Greyhound wrestling team opened its 2014-15 season Saturday at the Trine Invitational, with five UIndy grapplers earning runner-up finishes, and another two taking fourth place on the day.
 
Nick Crume (3-1) was the first Greyhound runner-up, taking second in the 133 bracket. The redshirt freshman opened his season with a 15-0 tech fall over Olivet's Dean Roberts, added a major decision in the quarterfinals and took an 8-3 decision in the semifinals. Crume stumbled in the bracket final, falling via pin to Indiana Tech's Mitch Pawlak.
 
True-freshman Angelo Robles (3-1) also took second, in the 141-pound bracket. The Decatur Central product earned a trio of decisions en route to the final match, where he fell to Muskegon's Zachary Cooper 12-2.
 
Barry McGinley (3-1) opened his day with a fall in 1:23 over Trine's Adam Boles, then took a pair of wins in the quarter and semifinals before falling to Jordan Victor of John Carroll by a score of 12-6 to take second in the 157 weight class.
 
Also taking second was sophomore Shelden Struble (3-1). After a first round bye, Struble opened the season with a 9-3 win over North Central's Matt Marcotte in round two. He then took a win in the quarterfinals, and pinned his John Carroll opponent in 2:13 to earn a berth in the championship match. The Bryan, Ohio native fell in a close 6-4 match to John Carroll's Tyler Hardtke.
 
Brian Snyder (3-1) earned three wins in his first three bouts, outscoring his opponents 18-5. He then fell to Trine's Mackenzie Green 4-0 in the final match to take his second-place finish at 285.
 
Mason Meling (3-2) and Brian Wagner (3-2) both took fourth place in the 141-pound and 197-pound weight classes, respectively.
 
The Greyhounds continue their season next Saturday, heading to St. Charles, Mo. for the Lindenwood Open.

857
Tyrel Todd Announced as Purdue Assistant Coach
Today new Purdue coach Tony Ersland announced that former Michigan Wolverine standout Tyrel Todd will be joining him on staff. Todd comes in with a wealth of success at the NCAA and Olympic levels. Todd was a two-time All-American at 197lbs including winning the B1G championship as a senior.
 
Click here for a link to Todd's bio on Purdue's website.

397
Tsirtsis Commits to Wrestle for Northwestern
IndianaMat.com has learned that Crown Point Bulldog and #1 ranked Jason Tsirtsis has verbally committed to continue his wrestling career at Northwestern University.  In the end the decision was between Northwestern and Oklahoma State.  Tsirtsis cited Northwestern's great academics and proximity to home as key reasons for the decision. 
 
Even before the beginning of his senior year, Tsirtsis has left quite a mark on Indiana wrestling. He will be gunning for his fourth state title to join very exclusive company. Added to his in-state success is numerous national accolades including a Junior National Freestyle championship this summer. He has also placed highly at the FILA Junior Freestyle championships defeating many collegiate freshmen and sophomores in the process. Look for him to have an immediate impact at Northwestern.
 
Congratulations to Jason and best of luck pursuing an NCAA championship.

693
Trine Thunder Announces Class of 2013
Head Coach Dan Callahan has announced the class of 2013 for Trine University in Angola, Indiana. Callahan will be bringing in 24 new wrestlers into the four year old wrestling program with wrestlers representing Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois. The headliner of the group is Illinois 3A(big school) state champion Elias Larson of Marian Catholic just outside of Chicago. Larson is projected to wrestle 149 or 157lbs. The class also includes 11 other state qualifiers and placers including Hoosier natives Trace Hall and Tyler Lymburner of South Bend Riley, Will Sheets of Bellmont, Nick Odom of Warren Central, and Forest Romer of Ben Davis. The Thunder also will receive the services of two wrestlers transfers in Caleb Norville formerly of Mishawaka and Dylan Forbes formerly of Prairie Heights. Out of state wrestlers that will be wrestling for Trine next year include Michigan state runner-up Jeffery Nofzinger, Michigan 3rd place finisher Ben Wines, Ohio 8th place finisher Robert Blake and Michigan state qualifier Nathan Strickland.
 
Trine graduated their first class of wrestlers this past season and will be looking to replace Seniors Louis Posa, Bryan Wight, and Kyle Pittman. The Thunder will return starters Brandon Harvey at 125lbs, Tye Bowman at 133lbs, George Markou at 157lbs, Kyle Long at 165lbs, Nick Kraus at 174lbs, Alex Fleet at 197lbs and Mike Tees at heavyweight. This recruiting class along with all of the returning wrestlers, many of whom hail from Indiana, will help to contribute to a great 5th season for the Thunder wrestling program.




Name
High School
Weight Class
State Finishes


Elias Larson
Marian Catholic, IL
149/157
SQ '07, 6th '08,1st 2009 IL AAA



Trace Hall
SB Riley
141/149
4th, 4th & 7th IN


Jeffrey Nofziger
Morenci, MI
149/157
2nd 2009 MI Div 4


Ben Wines
Pittsford, MI
184/197
3rd 2009 MI Div 4


Will Sheets
Bellmont
133
4th 2008 IN


Caleb Norville
Mishawaka
165/174
6th 2008 IN


Robert Blake
Tinora, OH
197
8th 2009 OH



Nick Odom
Warren Central
141/149
8th 2008 IN


Tyler Lymburner
SB Riley
149/157
SQ 2009 IN


Forest Romer
Ben Davis
133/141
SQ 2009 IN


Nathan Strickland
Grosse Pointe MI
184/197
SQ 2009 MI Div I


Dylan Forbes
Prairie Heights
285
SQ 2008 IN


Henry Waring
East Noble
165/174



Dustin Kern
Peru
157/165




Elliott Corner
Peru
149/157



Alan McNeal
Southport
157/165



Brett Worden
Peru
184/197



Kyle Ullery
SB Riley
165/174



Jame Green
Cloverdale
125/133



Alex Bailey
Jeffersonville
157/165



David Waldroup
New Palestine
141/149



Aaron Overbey
Ben Davis
125/133



Andrew Leis
Elida, OH
141/149



Jay Dee Schmucker
Westview
285



513
Tony Ersland Named Purdue Head Wrestling Coach
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue athletics director Morgan Burke has announced the hiring of Tony Ersland as head wrestling coach. Ersland takes the helm of the Boilermaker program with extensive Division I coaching experience and success in the Big Ten, Big 12 and Mid-American conferences.
 


" data-width="466"> Post by Purdue Wrestling. "We had many qualified candidates, but in the end it was clear that Tony had emerged as our No. 1 choice," Burke said. "He presented a comprehensive plan for moving our wrestling program forward both in the Big Ten and nationally. His resume as a coach and as a student-athlete is impressive, and it is clear he knows the look and feel of a championship-caliber program. I congratulate our search team, led by Calvin Williams, for selecting an outstanding head coach."
 
"I'd like to thank Calvin Williams, Morgan Burke and the entire search committee that I dealt with during hiring process," Ersland said. "Being named head wrestling coach at Purdue means a lot to me. I've been coaching for 17 years, and I got into this business to lead young men. I know the path I have taken to get to this point and the individuals that I have worked with have prepared me to create an elite program at Purdue. I'm thankful Purdue has put its trust in me to lead the wrestling program."
 
Ersland comes to Purdue after serving as an assistant coach at Nebraska for the past eight seasons. While on staff, the Huskers have tallied a 102-41-2 dual record, seven top-20 team finishes at the NCAA Championships and grapplers have earned 17 All-America honors. Ersland, who primarily worked with the upper weights, coached three-time All-American, two-time NCAA finalist and 2009 Big 12 champion and Outstanding Wrestler of the Meet Craig Brester at 197 pounds. He also coached four-time qualifiers in Josh Ihnen (184) and Tucker Lane (285).
 
During his 17 years, Ersland has played an integral role in developing student-athletes that are accomplished on the mat and nationally recognized. He has had 86 wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Championships, with 28 earning All-America honors and four finishing at the top of the podium. Two of his pupils, Jordan Burroughs and Jake Herbert, earned the highest honor a collegiate grappler can receive in the Dan Hodge Award. Ersland continued to develop Burroughs on the international stage as he claimed the 2011 and 2013 World titles at 74 kg. In 2012, Burroughs claimed Olympic gold in London.
 
"Tony has been associated with winning programs and has significant experience in the Big Ten Conference," associate athletics director Calvin Williams said. "He brings a level of maturity and focus that will be conducive to taking our wrestling program to the next level. We believe very strongly that he is the right choice for Purdue University."
 
Prior to his post at Nebraska, Ersland coached the Cyclone Wrestling Club in Ames, Iowa. Ersland worked with Iowa State NCAA champions Trent Paulson (157) and David Zabriskie (285) among other multiple NCAA qualifiers and All-Americans.
 
His familiarity with the Big Ten extends beyond his time at Nebraska. From 2000-2005, Ersland was the head assistant wrestling coach at Northwestern, and he also served as a coach and board member for the Wildcat Wrestling Club.
 
He was the head assistant wrestling coach at Northern Illinois in 1999 and 2000 after getting his start as a graduate assistant at Central Michigan from 1997 to 1999.
 
On the mat, Ersland wrestled for the University of Iowa under legendary coach Dan Gable and was a part of three-straight NCAA team championships (1995-97) and four Big Ten Championships (1994-97). During his senior season in 1997, Ersland finished one match shy of All-America honors at 177 pounds.
 
The Humboldt, Iowa, native excelled in the classroom as a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and Board of Control Athletics Award winner, and was bestowed with Iowa wrestling's J. Donald McPike Award, given to the senior on the team with the highest grade-point average.
 
Ersland earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Iowa (1997) and a Master of Arts in athletic administration from Central Michigan (1999).
 
Ersland and his wife, Carolyn, have twin sons, Mason and Jaxon.

1118
Thunder Swept on Day One of Budd Whitehill Duals
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.-- Trine dropped three matches on the opening day of the Budd Whitehill Duals, hosted by Lycoming College.
The Thunder were defeated by the 30th-ranked College of New Jersey 41-9, fell to Thiel 37-12 and concluded the day with a 42-3 defeat at the hands of SUNY-Oswego. Michael Conner (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) provided a bright spot for Trine by winning all three of his matches at 197-lbs. Jeffrey Helm (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) added a victory in the 141-lb class. Trine falls to 1-6 in duals this season.
All three of Conner's victories were by decision. The junior started his day with a 3-2 win over Sigala Fosam (TCNJ), earned a 5-0 victory over Ryan Kenski (Thiel) and closed out with a 6-5 victory over Joe Gorusch (SUNY-Oswego). Conner improved his record to 15-6 on the season.
Helm added a convincing victory over Thiel's Nick Hart by a 9-2 decision. Helm now has nine wins in his freshman campaign.
The Budd Whitehill Duals will wrap up tomorrow. Trine's opponents will be determined when matches conclude today.
Box scores of all three matches can be found below.
The College of New Jersey 41, Trine 9
125- David Corrigan (TCNJ) over David Moore, Dec. 8-1
133- James Goldschmidt (TCNJ) won by forfeit
141- Ryan Budzek (TCNJ) over Jeffrey Helm, Maj. 9-0
149- Dylan Thorsen (TCNJ) over Cody Konieczki, Fall 4:53
157- Antonio Mancella (TCNJ) over Adam Boles, Fall 2:08
165- Kellen Whitney (TCNJ) over Jaycee Jensen, Maj. 14-4
174- Zach Zotollo (TCNJ) over Kerry Raab, Fall 1:07
184- Brandon Simon (TCNJ) won by forfeit
197- Michael Conner (Trine) over Sigala Fosam, Dec. 3-2
285- Lazarus Conley (Trine) won by forfeit
Thiel 37, Trine 12
125- David Moore (Trine) won by forfeit
133- Lance Waters (Thiel) won by forfeit
141- Jeffrey Helm (Trine) over Nick Hart, Dec. 9-2
149- Nick Sutton (Thiel) over Cody Konieczki, Maj. 12-4
157- Chris Nuss (Thiel) over Adam Boles, Dec. 9-3
165- Brandon Collins (Thiel) over Jaycee Jensen, Fall 3:34
174- Jordan Powell (Thiel) over Kerry Raab, Fall 2:36
184- Jerrold Roosa (Thiel) won by forfeit
197- Michael Conner (Trine) over Ryan Kenski, Dec. 5-0
285- Blake Heim (Thiel) over Lazarus Conley, Fall 0:21
SUNY-Oswego 42, Trine 3
125- James Ronca (SUNY-O) over David Moore, Maj. 11-3
133- Kevin Ramkishun (SUNY-O) won by forfeit
141- David Almaiva (SUNY-O) over Jeffreh Helm, Tech Fall 19-2
149- Mark Milisci (SUNY-O) over Cody Konieczki, Dec. 4-3
157- Abubakarr Sow (SUNY-O) over Adam Boles, Fall 3:22
165- Tyler Silverthorn (SUNY-O) over Jaycee Jensen, Tech Fall 19-3
174- Sean Maloney (SUNY-O) over Kerry Raab, Maj. 14-5
184- Scott Bova (SUNY-O) won by forfeit
197- Michael Conner (Trine) over Joe Gorusch (SUNY-O), Dec. 6-5
285- Dillon Hudson (SUNY-O) over Tyler Prater, Dec. 3-2

1687
Thunder Split on Final Day of Budd Whitehill Duals
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.-- Trine split a pair of duals to finish 14th in the Budd Whitehill Duals, hosted by Lycoming College.
The Thunder defeated Case Western Reserve, 28-21, before dropping their final match of the tournament to Rochester Institute of Technology, 39-9. Michael Conner (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsvile) won both of his matches to finish the weekend a perfect 5-0. David Moore(Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion), Jeffrey Helm (Westfield, Ind./Westfield), Cody Konieczki(Jackson, Mich./Michigan Center) and Jaycee Jensen (Burns Harbor, Ind./Chesterton) added wins. Trine concluded their performance in the tournament 1-4. The Thunder are now 2-7 in duals this season.
Conner earned a convincing win by major decision, and prevailed 10-9 in a hotly-contested match over RIT's Jake Swearingen to wrap up an undefeated weekend. The junior is now 17-6 on the season. His performance in the Budd Whitehill Duals included four wins by decision, and one by major decision.
Helm and Jensen each added pins. Helm's performance in the Budd Whitehill Duals included two wins. Jensen's pin was the first of his collegiate career, and came shortly into the second period.
Moore and Konieczki each picked up victories. Moore's win came by 12-6 decision, while Konieczki controlled the entirety his match with a 7-0 decision.
Trine returns to action to action next Saturday, Jan. 17 at Elmhurst College's Al Hanke Invitational.
Box scores from both of today's matches can be found below.
Trine 28, Case Western Reserve 21
125- David Moore (TRINE) over Nate Lee, Dec. 12-6
133- Josh Hall (CWR) won by forfeit
141- Jeffrey Helm (TRINE) over Travis Alexander, Fall 5:24
149- Cody Konieczki (TRINE) over Kenny Gironda, Dec. 7-0
157- Adam Boles (TRINE) won by forfeit
165- Jaycee Jensen (TRINE) over Nick Tommas, Fall 3:22
174- Nick Lees (CWR) over Kerry Raab, Fall 1:35
184- Ahmid Katib (CWR) won by forfeit
197- Michael Conner (TRINE) over Cito Balsells, Maj. 10-2
285- Nate Lewis (CWR) over Tyler Prater, Dec. 7-3
Rochester Institute of Technology 39, Trine 9
125- David Moore (TRINE) won by forfeit
133- Kevin Palmeri (RIT) won by forfeit
141- Jake Sepor (RIT) over Jeffrey Helm, Dec. 8-4
149- Brad Maybille (RIT) over Cody Konieczki, Fall 1:18
157- Wonsik Kim (RIT) over Adam Boles, Dec. 10-4
165- Nicholas Greenquist (RIT) over Jaycee Jensen, TF 19-4
174- Tory Cain (RIT) over Kerry Raab, Fall, 1:56
184- Nick Fisk (RIT) won by forfeit
197- Michael Conner (TRINE) over Jake Swearingen, Dec. 10-9
285- Sam Weinger (RIT) over Tyler Prater, Maj. 8-0

1458 1 7
The Bailey’s find a home at UIndy
By Drew Hughes
 
Breyden Bailey has been on the move most of his college career but has finally found his home at the University of Indianapolis. After high school Breyden started his career at Northern Illinois University but after the first semester transferred to the University of Indiana. He then spent the next year and a half at IU where he compiled a 17-12 record. After his second year of college, he transferred one last time to where he currently is at UIndy. 
 
When asked on how he decided on UIndy Breyden said “I decided on University of Indianapolis because it was close to home and I really liked the culture that was being built and the family atmosphere. I felt as if I fit in well and I could trust the coaching staff and what they were saying and were striving for.”. 
Breyden redshirted his first year at UIndy where he compiled a 21-1 record. Currently a Redshirt Junior Breyden is 2-0 on the season with both of his wins being falls. He is also ranked 7th in the country.
 
Logan Bailey is just starting his college career with the Greyhounds after an impressive high school career that ended with a 150-15 record and a state runner-up finish his senior year. Logan is off to a great start with the Greyhounds where he is currently 4-0 with 3 of those wins being bonus point victories.
 
The brothers are back on the same team for the first time since Breyden’s senior year and Logan’s freshman year of high school. “Wrestling has created a bond with us over the years and brings us closer and there isn’t anyone else I would rather be a teammate with than him. It’s awesome to see us as a 1-2 punch in the lineup this year.” Said Breyden. 
     
Along with Breyden and Logan’s success so far this year with the Greyhounds the team itself is a dominate 4-0 so far with their last win coming of 8th ranked Tiffin. When talking about his team Breyden said “UIndy this year is going to be a force to be reckon with and we have a great team. Don’t be surprised when nationals come around in March when we bring home a team trophy. UIndy is on the rise and I believe is a great place for good Indiana wrestlers to come and succeed.”. 
 
While Breyden’s professional plans for after college are still undecided, he is certain that coaching wrestling will be a part of it. With Breyden’s dad running one of the most successful youth clubs in the state, the Indiana Outlaws, Breyden hopes to help play a role in the clubs continued success when he is finished competing. 
 
Now for the real question that everyone wanted answered, who would win in a match between the two brothers. Breyden stated that “This is an answer that will never change, no doubt I’m winning. Spread -3.5.” But if I had to make a prediction, I would take the younger Bailey by at least 4.

1000
Ten More Added to 2014-15 Greyhound Wrestling Incoming Class
Jackie Paquette, Asst. AD for Student Support & Sports Information
 
INDIANAPOLIS- In a second wave of additions, UIndy Wrestling Head Coach Jason Warthan has announced another 10 new Greyhounds for the 2014-15 season. The 10 new grapplers bring the incoming class for next season to 17 members.
 
Joining the UIndy roster in the fall will be Keith Bachert, Taylor DeLong, Jeff Dixon, Dylan Faulkenberg, Johnnie Foster, Mitch Goldbach, Justin Halaska, Brandon Hannigan, Jake Rickenbaugh and Alex Riegel. Three of the newcomers will be transfers into the Greyhound program, with the remaining seven coming on as true freshmen in August.
 
Bachert, a Crete-Monee (Illinois) product, will come to UIndy as a 165. He earned eight total letters for the Warriors, in wrestling, baseball and cross country. Bachert was a three-time all-conference selection on the mat and was team MVP as a junior, while leading the team in wins as a senior.
 
DeLong is a transfer to the Greyhounds as a 184 from NAIA Indiana Tech. The Westfield, Ind. native was an NAIA National Qualifier at Indiana Tech, and placed eighth in the state of Indiana as a senior in high school. He was also a member of the Indiana/Illinois All-Star team as a senior, and set both Westfield HS and county records for most pins.
 
Dixon will come to UIndy from Fishers, Ind. and Hamilton Southeastern High School. The 197 or heavyweight earned four letters for the Royals on the mat, and was a two-time semi state qualifier as a prep.
 
Faulkenberg, a three-sport student-athlete at Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, will wrestle heavyweight as a Greyhound. He placed fourth in the state as a senior, and went 47-1 as a junior. The 12-time letter winner also helped CRHS to a football state title as a junior and a runner-up finish as a senior.
 
Foster, the second of three incoming Illinois natives, will come to UIndy from Bloom Trail HS as a 184. He was a state placer in Illinois last year, taking sixth. He also played football for the Trailblazers, and was an honor roll student as a prep.
 
Goldbach, also a transfer to UIndy, will make the move from NC State to the Greyhounds. A four-time conference champion and state qualifier in North Carolina as a prep, Goldbach will wrestle 133 for UIndy. The Wake Forest, NC native placed twice in his prep career, taking second as a sophomore and fifth as a senior, en route to a 147-20 high school record.
 
Halaska is the third transfer to join the Greyhounds, coming from Heidelberg University. The 197 earned seven letters as a prep for Parma, Ohio HS, placing twice at state. He took eighth as both a junior and a senior, earning All-Conference accolades and All-Ohio honors both seasons.
 
Hannigan also comes to UIndy via Illinois' Crete-Monee HS. The 174 was a state qualifier as a senior, earning the Warriors' MVP award in his final season. He was also a two-time All-Conference selection, as well as a three-sport athlete during high school.
 
Rickenbaugh is a two-time state qualifier from Heritage Hills High School. The 174 took eighth in the state as a junior, and was a two-time Pocket Athletic Conference champion. He also won a pair of regional and sectional titles, en route to a 114-10 career record for the Patriots over three varsity seasons. Rickenbaugh set the Heritage Hills single-season record for pins with 37 as a senior as well.
 
Riegel rounds out the newcomers, hailing from Evansville Reitz, which also produced two-time UIndy All-American and current assistant coach Alex Johns. Riegel, who will come to UIndy as a 157, was a team captain of a senior and posted a career record of 89-32 in earning three letters in wrestling at Reitz.
 
Kyle Keller, Brendon Kelley, Heath Lange, Tyler Scott, D.J. Smith, Brian Wagner and J.D. Waters round out the newcomers for 2014-15, with their accomplishments archived in an earlier release, found here. The Greyhounds lost seven of their 10 starters from last year's eighth-place finishing team at the NCAA Division II National Championships to graduation or exhaustion of eligibility.

5703 2
Steven Bradley Named First Coach at Marian University
INDIANAPOLIS - Former three-time Indiana state wrestling champion and Beech Grove standout Steven Bradley has been named the first-ever head wrestling coach at Marian University, director of athletics Steve Downing officially announced on Thursday.
 
"We are excited to have Steven join our staff," said Downing. "We believe he will bring energy to the department and will build the program exactly how we want it built. Steven will bring in quality student-athletes who will perform on the field and in the classroom."
 
"I am very excited about this opportunity to create and enviroment that breeds success on and off the wrestling mat," said Bradley. "I look forward to having a positive influence on the lives of these young men on a daily basis. This wrestling program is a great addition to the high-quality athletics at Marian University as well as to Indiana wrestling as a whole. I would like to thank President Elsener and Mr. Downing for hiring me and having faith in me to run this program with the utmost integrity."
 
Bradley brings a wealth of experience within the wrestling world. In his 10 seasons as a collegiate coach, he has helped guide 33 all-americans, 73 national qualifiers and three national champions.
 
In his first head coaching job, Bradley spent three seasons at Lincoln College in Illinois. From 2012-14, he earned back-to-back regional coach of the year accolades after guiding his team to a pair of team regional championships in 2013 and 2014. In his three seasons, he coached 12 NJCAA All-Americans, 26 national qualifiers, two national champions and had a 21-9 record in dual matches. In his first season, he guided the team to a third-place finish at the 2012 NJCAA National Championship. He was also the director of the Lincoln College Fitness Center during his time as head coach.
 
Bradley spent 2008-11 as assistant coach at Lincoln before being elevated in 2012. During his time as an assistant, he worked with 10 all-americans, 28 national qualifiers and one national champion.
 
His first college coaching stop was as assistant coach at the University of Indianapolis from 2005-08. In his four seasons as an assistant at UIndy, he worked with 11 all-americans and 19 national qualifiers.
 
In 2008, Bradley was inducted into the Indiana Wrestling Hall of Fame as a wrestler.
 
Bradley began his collegiate wrestling career at Lincoln College and was a NJCAA national runner-up in 2000. He graduated from Lincoln in 2000 and continued his studies at UIndy where his career was cut short due to injury. He took up coaching with the Greyhounds and earned his bachelor of science in 2005. He completed his master of coaching education from Ohio University in December of 2013.
 
He resides in Indianapolis and will guide the Knights into their first season as a NAIA program beginning this fall.

1768
Stevan Micic wins co-Big Ten Wrestler of the Week
Michigan and Ohio State Share Wrestler of the Week Honor

Wolverines’ Micic claims honor after picking up two wins; Buckeyes’ Tomasello earns plaudit after claiming top-five victory

Co-Wrestlers of the Week
Stevan Micic, Michigan
133 pounds – Fr. – Cedar Lake, Ind. – Hanover Central

Led the Wolverines with a pair of individual wins, helping Michigan defeat Maryland
Eighth-ranked Micic claimed a 11-4 win over Billy Rappo of Maryland and a 13-7 victory over third-ranked Eric Montoya of Nebraska
Earns the second Wrestler of the Week Award of his career
Last Ohio State Wrestler of the Week: Kyle Snyder (Nov. 22, 2016)

Nathan Tomasello, Ohio State
133 pounds – Jr. – Parma, Ohio – Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy

Helped lead the Buckeyes to a win over No. 12 Illinois
The second-ranked wrestler picked up a 12-4 major decision over No. 4 Zane Richards of Illinois
Remains unbeaten on the year, sporting a 9-0 record
Earns the first Wrestler of the Week Award of his career
Last Michigan Wrestler of the Week: Logan Massa (Dec. 6, 2016)

 
2016-17 Wrestlers of the Week
Nov. 8: Connor Medbery, Sr., WIS
Nov. 15: Connor Medbery, Sr., WIS
Nov. 22: Kyle Snyder, Jr., OSU
Nov. 29: Brett Pfarr, Sr., MINN
Dec. 6: Logan Massa, Fr., MICH
Dec. 13: Anthony Rubinetti, Fr., NU
Dec. 20: Drew Hughes, Fr., MSU
Jan. 3: Thomas Gilman, IOWA
Ethan Lizak, MINN
Jan. 10: Jason Nolf, PSU
Jan. 17: Stevan Micic, Fr., MICH
Nathan Tomasello, Jr., OSU

1232
Spartans turn in strong results at Washington & Jefferson
WASHINGTON, PA. – A pair of top eight placings from sophomore 174-pounder Dylan Lauffer (Fairfield, Ohio) and freshman 184-pounder Alex Roberts (Winslow, Ind.) guided Manchester University Saturday, Nov. 8.
 
Lauffer worked his way into the championship quarterfinals before Waynesburg College's Abu Kaba stopped him 4-1. He rallied with a major decision victory in the consolation quarterfinals before being sent into the 5th-place battle where the sophomore claimed fifth.
 
Roberts produced three decisions on his way into the top eight. He narrowly missed joining Lauffer in the top six with a hard-fought 5-1 loss in the consolation quarterfinals.
 
Freshman 149-pounder Eric Dan (Knox, Ind.) and freshman heavyweight Nick Joyner (Bedford, Ind.) also compiled multiple-win days with 2-2 records. MU's top squad finished their day at the Washington and Jefferson Open with 34 points which put them in the top 15.
 
The Spartans continue open competition Saturday, Nov. 15, at Trine University.

401
Sean McMurray Commits to Michigan State
Two-time state champion Sean McMurray has announced that he will attend Michigan State University to wrestle next year.  He will join former Mishawaka state champions Ian Hinton and Josh Harper on the Spartan squad.  More will be coming later.

2235
Sabatello Wins Roadrunner Open
Complete Results // TrackWrestling
 
FRESNO, Calif. - Eleven Purdue wrestlers placed at the Roadrunner Open, highlighted by a championship outing from Danny Sabatello (133) and a runner-up performance from Nick Lawrence (141), Sunday inside Selland Arena. The Boilermakers additionally earned a pair of third-place finishes, one fourth and three fifth- and sixth-place finishes. Together the 13 grapplers in action posted a 54-18 record at the event, while winning 25 of their 54 matches via bonus points (4 TF, 6 MD, 15 F).
 
After receiving a first-round bye, Sabatello went on an offensive tear by winning back-to-back bonus point matches. The redshirt junior began the day by building a 10-0 lead on Jack Hogan of Peninsula Grapplers before pinning him early in the second period (3:39). He then disposed of Appalachian State's Vito Pasone with a 13-3 major decision.
 
A first-period takedown and penalty point, combined with 1:07 of riding time gave Sabatello a 4-1 decision over Ian Nickell of Cal State Bakersfield to move into the finals for a battle against Joey Palmer. Sabatello shut his unattached opponent out, 6-0, behind takedowns in the first and third periods, an escape in the final period and racked up 2:51 of riding time. With a 4-0 mark on the day, the Long Grove, Ill., native pushed his season record to 7-1.
 
Like Sabatello, Lawrence went on an offensive tear in his first two matches at 141 pounds. The redshirt senior took down his first two opponents a dozen times in a 13-4 major decision of Peter Russo, who was wrestling unattached, and a 20-5 technical fall of Cal State Bakersfield's Adrian Panduro. Lawrence needed just 5:33 for the tech fall, his first since Feb. 2, 2013.
 
In the quarterfinals, Lawrence scored a 7-1 decision of Appalachian State's Mike Longo with a single takedown in each period and had an escape to start the second period. Even though Troy Heilmann of North Carolina held the riding time advantage (1:23), Lawrence defeated the Tar Heel 3-2 thanks to an early takedown and escape in the second. He went up against another North Carolina opponent in the title match, 14th-ranked Joey Ward, and suffered a 5-2 loss. Ward took the Boilermaker down twice and escaped in the second to win the match. With a 4-1 outing, Lawrence's season mark moved to 8-3.
 
Fellow redshirt senior Brandon Nelsen took third at 149 pounds while moving up the Purdue wrestling history charts. Nelsen pinned his first two opponents, Daniel Avalos of Fresno State Wrestling Club and San Francisco State's Dylan Furtado, in 2:25 and 3:27, respectively, to get into the semifinals. He then 7-2 decision to Stanford's Garrett Schaner, but fell to Illinois' Kyle Langenderfer, 8-4, in the semifinals.
 
He picked up where he left off in the consolation semifinals, taking just 90 seconds to stick AJ Fierro of Cal State Bakersfield. The third pin of the day lifted his career total to 28 and moved him in to the No. 6 spot in program history. Nelsen collided with teammate Alex Griffin in the third-place match, with a first-period takedown and an escape in the second serving as the deciding factor in a 3-1 decision for the veteran. The Indianapolis, Ind., native now owns a record of 9-2 with five of his nine victories coming by way of fall.
 
Pat Robinson captured third-place honors 165 pounds with an exclamation point, pinning Nick Kee of Appalachian State in 3:41. To get there, he first held off Justin Lozano of Peninsula Grapplers for a 10-8 decision and followed with a 5-3 win over Menlo's Eric Lopez.
 
Neither Robinson nor No. 14 Jim Wilson of Stanford scored in the first period of their semifinal matchup. Wilson got on the board with an escape to start the second period and Robinson struck with the takedown. Wilson eluded Robinson's hold and tied the bout at 2-2 with two minutes to go. Starting the third period from bottom, Robinson took a 3-2 edge with an escape, but it didn't hold as Wilson got the decisive takedown and the 4-3 win.
 
In the consolation semifinals, the redshirt senior edged North Carolina's Ethan Ramos, 9-7. Robinson holds a 5-1 record after his season-opening weekend in California.
 
Three other Purdue wrestlers registered multiple pins. The first of Chad Welch's two pins was a dramatic one as he upset No. 20 John Michael Staudenmayer of North Carolina with the horn sounding at the end of the first period. He pinned the Tar Heel again in 6:54 to place fifth at 174 pounds.
 
In the 184-pound wrestlebacks, Patrick Kissel stuck unattached wrestler Dylan Bollinger in 4:44 and followed with a 39-second fall of Appalachian State's Dominick Vetell. The 39-second pin is the fastest of the redshirt senior's career. Kissel (9-3) placed fifth.
 
Ninth-ranked Braden Atwood used 3:27 to pin Andrew Teats of Sierra (1:09) and Marcus Haughian of Grand Canyon (2:18). The two falls by the redshirt senior pushed his career total to 26 and now ranks ninth all-time in program history.
ROADRUNNER OPEN PLACEWINNERS 133 // Danny Sabatello // 1st 133 // Kyle Ayersman // 5th 141 // Nick Lawrence // 2nd 149 // Brandon Nelsen // 3rd 149 // Alex Griffin 4th 157 // Doug Welch // 6th 165 // Pat Robinson // 3rd 174 // Chad Welch // 5th 184 // Patrick Kissel // 5th 197 // Braden Atwood // 6th 285// Tyler Kral // 6th The Purdue wrestling team will host Indiana Tech and No. 17 Northern Iowa in its first home duals of the season inside Holloway Gymnasium on Nov. 23. Action starts at 1 p.m. ET with the Boilermakers taking on Indiana Tech, followed by Northern Iowa at 2:30 p.m. Northern Iowa and Indiana Tech will also dual at 4 p.m.
 
1443 8
Red doing big things for the Big Red
By Drew Hughes
 
Anyone that has been around Indiana wrestling in the last decade probably knows the
name Chad Red. In high school Red had about as good of a career as anyone could ask for
winning 4 state titles and going a perfect 183-0. Along with this he won 3 of the toughest off-
season tournaments in the country; Fargo, Super 32, and FloNationals. He finished his high
school career ranked #1 in the country at 132lbs along with being ranked #8 out of all seniors in
his graduating class.
 
Being one of the most sought after recruits Red decided on Nebraska as his college
destination. Red said “I chose Nebraska because of Jordan Burroughs and the coaching staff is
very helpful, and my family thought they were the best coaches for me.”.
 
Red has very well in college so far where he has become a 2 time All-American as well
as a Big Ten finalist. He has had some great matches in his college career with one of the best
coming in the blood round of NCAA’s his freshman year. In this match Red pinned the two-time
defending National Champion Dean Heil in the first period to become an All-American. Red also
placed 3rd at last year’s Big Ten championship and qualified for the cancelled 2020 NCAA
championships where he was named a NWCA first team All-American.
 
This season Red is off to a great start with a 4-1 record and his lone loss coming from
Iowa’s Jaydin Eierman. Red is currently ranked 6 th in the country at 141 and in the upcoming
weeks will get the chance to wrestle #1 ranked Sebastian Rivera before the Big Ten tournament.
Now the big question that people are asking right now for most college seniors are if they
will be returning for a 6 th year. Due to Covid the NCAA has made it so this year does not count
towards your eligibility giving athletes the chance to compete for an extra year. With that being
said Red is planning on wrestling next season and will still have a shot at being a 4 time All-
American and possibly a National Champion.
 
After college Red plans to stay in Nebraska and wrestle for the NWTC where he would
compete internationally in an attempt to make world and Olympic teams. He also plans on
coaching and we could see that being anywhere from the college level to even coming back to
Indiana to coach at Red Cobra Wrestling Academy where his father, Chad Red Sr., is the coach.
Looking far down the road we could also see him coaching his little brother to 4 high school
state titles but that wouldn’t be until at least 2034.

444
Quiroga Receives Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Achievement Award
Boilermaker will be recognized at the N4A National Convention in Orlando, Fla., on June 7.
 
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Cashé Quiroga has been named a 2014 recipient of the prestigious National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics (N4A) Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Achievement Award, honoring the Boilermaker for overcoming great personal, academic and/or emotional odds to achieve academic success while participating in intercollegiate athletics. Quiroga, who recently graduated with a bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership and Supervision, will be recognized at the N4A National Convention in Orlando, Fla., on June 7.
 
Quiroga is the fourth Purdue student-athlete to receive the N4A Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Achievement Award, joining fellow wrestler Akif Eren (2011), Kevin Hough (1993, men's golf) and John Reeves (1998, football) as recipients.
 
The four-year letterwinner has experienced the highs and lows of being a student-athlete. As an unseeded true freshman, Quiroga earned All-America honors at 125 pounds, a feat only five other Boilermaker grapplers had ever accomplished. He qualified for a second NCAA appearance as a redshirt sophomore, but didn't get on the podium. The next year he didn't even qualify.
 
Quiroga met some of the nation's toughest competition in the middle of the mat on a weekly basis, but it was the trials and tribulations off the mat that loomed the heaviest in the opposing corner.
 
For years, Quiroga has dealt with the horrors of drug abuse amongst his immediate family. Not only was he balancing an academic workload along with high wrestling goals, but he was learning how to cope with a wide-range of emotions. He knew that at any moment his phone could ring and he had to be ready for what he was about to hear.
 
One would think being 65 miles from home would allow Quiroga to mentally escape from the daily nightmare the drug abuse was exerting on him, but it wasn't. His four younger siblings were immersed right in the middle of it. They saw their big brother as their rock and when he'd make the drive home to Indianapolis, they didn't want to see him go.
 
The internal struggle Quiroga fought, "Do I stay at Purdue or do I go home, but if I go home, what sort of an example am I setting?" only added to the emotions he had to cope with. It was hard and wrestling was his release.
 
"There was a lot of pent up anger with stuff that was going on," Quiroga said. "Some days I would go in [to practice] and the coaches would tell me that I had to calm down. It definitely was a good release to be able to go in there and go hard and get it all out."
 
Early in the summer between his redshirt sophomore and junior seasons while attending a wrestling camp, Quiroga felt a few pains in his hip. He didn't think much of it until he woke up the next morning drenched in sweat, unable to move. Everything the doctors tested him for came back negative and he was sent home. One day of gut-wrenching pain turned into two, then three. Finally, the hospital admitted him and two days later it was discovered he had a severe staph infection in his blood stream.
 
The infection was so severe that the prognosis delivered by the doctors was bleak; "We hope that he will be able to recover and walk."
 
"When the doctor first said that stuff to me, it was...my stomach dropped, my heart dropped," Quiroga said. "In the back of my head, I knew I'd be fine. I knew it wasn't the end for me."
 
Quiroga spent the rest of the summer recovering at home learning how to walk while warding off future infections with heavy-duty antibiotics. Not to mention, he was doing all of this amongst the multitude of stresses exerted on the family by way of drug abuse. The end of summer couldn't come fast enough.
 
Five months after contracting staph, Quiroga was finally able to get back out on the mat, but it wasn't the same. He was plagued by injury after injury, proving that his body was not as resilient as it once was. Quiroga was in a dark place and there didn't seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel.
 
It's when all seems lost that things take a turn for the better.
 
As his final season at Purdue got underway, the demons Quiroga had fought for years were by no means gone, but they subsided enough to allow him to obtain what had always been the ultimate goal.
 
Knowing that the 2013-14 season was going to be his last, a fire was ignited. Quiroga went from unranked to one of the nation's top-10 133-pounders. He was relentless offensively with 10 victories resulting in bonus points. Along the way to an 18-8 record, he upended eight nationally ranked opponents, placed third at the Big Ten Championships and finished just one match shy of earning his second All-America honor.
 
A wrestler isn't satisfied with his performance unless he comes home with a title. Did the season end the way Quiroga wanted it to? He'll tell you no, of course not, but two months after the NCAA Championships he finally had the opportunity to bask in the personal satisfaction of all that he has conquered. Thanks to the unconditional support from his family, coaches and teammates, Quiroga achieved his greatest accomplishment: college graduate.
 
 
 
About the N4A Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Achievement Award: The N4A Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Achievement Award is intended to honor student-athletes who have overcome great personal, academic, and/or emotional odds to achieve academic success while participating in intercollegiate athletics. These young men and women may not be the best athletes or students, and therefore may not have been recognized by other organizations or awards. Nonetheless, they have persevered and made significant personal strides toward success. These are the students who benefit most from academic athletic advisement programs and represent our motivation and sense of satisfaction. We recognize them for their achievements with the N4A Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Achievement Award. The common thread for all the recipients of this award is motivation or drive to succeed and the work ethic that overcomes difficult situations. To read the Wilma Glodean Rudolph story, please click here.

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Purdue’s Chad Welch Takes Second in Las Vegas
Dec. 6, 2015
 
Complete Purdue Results / Tournament Central / Complete Tournament Results
 
#BoilerNotes
• Chad Welch was Purdue's first Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational finalist since Logan Brown at 197 pounds in 2010.
 
• Since 2002, six Boilermakers have advanced to the finals ... C. Welch becomes the 26th Purdue wrestler to have placed in the tournament ... the last 165-pounder to place for Purdue was Luke Manuel with a fourth-place finish in 2008.
 
• This was the fifth title match appearance of C. Welch's career and second of the season ... was the 165-pound runner-up wrestling unattached at the Michigan State Open.
 
• Nine of C. Welch's 13 wins this season are with bonus points (4 MD, 1 TF, 4 F) ... he has already matched career season-high marks in major decisions and pins ... in 15 matches wrestled, he has only given up five takedowns.
 
LAS VEGAS -- Purdue's Chad Welch closed out the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational on Saturday with a runner-up performance at 165 pounds. The Boilermakers finished the two-day tournament in the Cashman Center with 52 points to place 15th.
 
C. Welch, the tournament's No. 10 seed, suffered a 5-3 loss in the title match to top-seeded Isaac Jordan of Wisconsin. Jordan took C. Welch down in the first and made the most of a neutral start in the second. His fifth point came by way of 2:40 riding time. All three of the redshirt senior's points came on escapes, one in each period.
 
In his semifinal match, a first period takedown proved to be the winner for C. Welch in a 2-1 upset of third-seeded Clark Glass of Oklahoma. C. Welch held off a shot by the Sooner by getting hold of an ankle, to which he leveraged to turn Glass' hips and flatten him out on the mat. A few moments later he came around, gaining control and earning the two. Riding time ran in the Boilermakers' favor for 58 seconds to close out the period.
 
The score held at 2-0 through the second as Glass took a neutral start. His lone point came via riding time accumulated in the third with C. Welch on bottom.
 
During his tournament run, the two-time NCAA qualifier defeated the second-, third- and seventh-seeded wrestlers, all while lifting his season record to 13-2. C. Welch, who is currently unranked, pinned No. 4 Cooper Moore of UNI, decisioned No. 9 Glass and major decisioned No. 13 Seth Thomas of Oregon State. His now has a trio of wins over top-10 opponents in his career.
 
Markus Scheidel of Columbia denied Doug Welch from moving forward in the 157 wrestlebacks, dealing the second-seeded Boilermaker a 9-4 tournament-ending loss. Scheidel, the No. 9 seed, built an 8-1 lead through five minutes with a pair of takedowns, a reversal and a two-point nearfall. D. Welch escaped in the third and followed with a takedown, but it was too little too late.
 
The redshirt senior's record stands at 7-3 after a 2-2 showing at the tournament.
 
At 149 pounds, ninth-seeded Alex Griffin medically forfeited a consolation match to seventh-seeded Matt Kraus of Arizona State.
 
Missouri captured the team title with 154 points, followed by Cornell (113), Minnesota (105), Oklahoma (102) and Ohio State (96.5) to round out the top five.
 
The Boilermakers will be inactive until the end of the month when they travel to Evanston, Illinois, for the Ken Craft Midlands Championships Dec. 29 to 30.

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Purdue’s Lydy Earns B1G Wrestler of the Week Honors
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - After going three seasons without a weekly honor from the conference, the Purdue wrestling team has now seen an individual recognized in back-to-back weeks to open 2019-20 as senior Dylan Lydy was named the Big Ten Wrestler of the Week on Tuesday. Lydy posted a 3-0 mark at the Journeymen Duals on Saturday, including wins over a pair of top-15 ranked wrestlers to guide Purdue to a 2-1 dual record for the weekend.
Lydy opened his trip to New York with his third bonus-point victory of the season, a 12-3 major decision over Buffalo’s Jake Lanning. The Boilermaker senior followed with two wins in dramatic fashion, going to overtime for a 4-2 victory over No. 12 Kimball Bastian of Utah Valley and gutting out a 3-1 decision over No. 10 Anthony Valencia of Arizona State.
After trading escapes in regulation, and going scoreless through a minute of sudden victory, Lydy and Bastian went to a pair of 30-second tiebreaker rounds. Both wrestlers escaped quickly in their opportunities off bottom, but Lydy finished the second period with a takedown to account for the final difference.
Lydy’s final match of the day appeared to be headed in the same direction, sitting tied 1-1 after both wrestlers escaped to start the second and third periods. However Lydy began creating action in the final minute of the third, nearly getting a takedown in front of the Arizona State bench and beating the buzzer with a takedown on the edge to seal the win.
Following freshman teammate Kendall Coleman sharing Big Ten Wrestler of the Week honors last week, Lydy makes it two straight.
The Boilermakers continue dual action Sunday, heading to North Dakota State University for a 1 p.m. CT contest at the Scheels Center. The dual will air live on GoBison.com and FloWrestling.