Michigan State University
Purdue
No. 13 Spartan Wrestling Falls To No. 24 Purdue
1/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Jan. 26, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - No. 24 Purdue (12-1, 2-0 Big Ten) defeated No. 13 Michigan State (3-4, 0-1 Big Ten), 24-10, Saturday afternoon (Jan. 26) at Jenison Field House. MSU fell behind 15-0 early but came back with a 10-point run before losing the last three matches in the loss.
The match began at 197 pounds, with Jon Bush of Purdue defeating No. 16 John Wechter (Jr., Saginaw), 10-6.
In the heavyweight matchup, No. 6 Jacob Vercelli pinned Michael Keenan (So., Columbus, Ohio) in 34 seconds to extend Purdue's lead to 9-0.
In a battle of top-ranked wrestlers at 125 pounds, No. 4 Chris Fleeger edged No. 20 Chris Williams (Sr., Perry) in a hotly contested match, 7-2, putting the score at 12-0 Purdue.
At 133 pounds, there were several lead changes in a high scoring affair, but Purdue's Rene Hernandez held off Scott Pushman (Fr., Fenton), 12-10, to increase the lead to 15-0 in favor of Purdue.
MSU got on the scoreboard in the 141 match as Charles Sageman (Jr., Saginaw) dominated Randy Pursley, 8-1, cutting the lead to 12 points heading into intermission.
No. 11 Karl Nadolsky (Jr., Holland) continued the MSU comeback in the 149 match with a 20-11 major decision over Dan Jankowski, slicing Purdue's lead to eight.
MSU won its third consecutive match and cut the score to 15-10 when No. 7 Gray Maynard (Jr., Las Vegas) defeated Brad Harper, 8-4, at 157 pounds.
Purdue's Oscar Santiago ended MSU's 10-point run with a 5-3 win over Anton Hall (Jr., Ada) in the 165 pound match, giving the Boilermakers an 18-10 advantage.
At 174 pounds, No. 11 Ryan Lange edged Rashad Evans (Jr., Niagara Falls, N.Y.) in a tiebreaker, 3-1.
In the last match of the afternoon at 184 pounds, Jon Fitch topped Nathaniel Mesyn (So., Clinton Twp.), 4-1.
MSU returns to action tomorrow (Sunday, Jan. 27) to face No. 1 and defending NCAA Champion Minnesota. The match will begin at 1 p.m. in Jenison Field House.
NOTE: Team rankings according to the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Individual rankings according to Amateur Wrestling News.
MATCH SUMMARY:
Wt. Winner Loser Score Team Score197 Jon Bush (PU) No. 16 John Wechter (MSU) 10-6 PURDUE, 3-0HWT. No. 6 Jacob Vercelli (PU) Michael Keenan (MSU) Fall, 0:34 PURDUE, 9-0125 No. 4 Chris Fleeger (PU) No. 20 Chris Williams (MSU)7-2 PURDUE, 12-0133 Rene Hernandez (PU) Scott Pushman (MSU) 12-10 PURDUE, 15-0141 Charles Sageman (MSU) Randy Pursley (PU) 8-1 PURDUE, 15-3149 No. 11 Karl Nadolsky (MSU) Dan Jankowski (PU) Major, 20-11 PURDUE, 15-7157 No. 7 Gray Maynard (MSU) Brad Harper (PU) 8-4 PURDUE, 15-10165 Oscar Santiago (PU) Anton Hall (MSU) 5-3 PURDUE, 18-10174 No. 11 Ryan Lange (PU) Rashad Evans (MSU) 3-1, Tiebreaker PURDUE, 21-10184 Jon Fitch (PU) Nathaniel Mesyn (MSU) 4-1 PURDUE, 24-10
