MADISON, Wis. -- The Purdue wrestling team set a pair of team scoring records Friday night in a 41-3 Big Ten dual victory at Wisconsin.
The Boilermakers (7-7, 2-3 Big Ten) posted their highest team-point mark in a conference dual in school history and had their largest scoring margin in a Big Ten dual ever as well.
Purdue scored bonus points in bunches, picking up three falls, two technical falls and a major decision as they won nine of the 10 matches.
"I'm proud of our team for coming back strong after our last few outings and performing well in the national spotlight," Purdxue coach Scott Hinkel said of the match that was televised by Big Ten Network. "Things hadn't been going our way, but we know there's a lot of season left and time to turn things around. We have to keep things in perspective and get ready to keep going forward."
Sophomore Camden Eppert returned to the lineup in spectacular fashion, rolling out a 17-2 technical fall over Badger freshman Austin Hietpas at 125 pounds. Ninth-ranked classmate Cashé Quiroga followed Eppert's lead at 133 pounds, scoring a 20-5 technical fall over Wisconsin junior Shane McQuade in just two periods to give Purdue a 10-0 team advantage.
Freshman 141-pounder Brandon Nelsen matched senior Matt Fields for the team lead with his eighth fall of the season, sticking freshman Thomas Glenn in 5:32. Purdue's Ivan Lopouchanski was dominant in the night's only contest between two ranked individuals as the 15th-ranked Boilermaker junior scored a 9-1 major decision over No. 14 Badger junior Cole Schmitt at 149 pounds.
Sophomore Kyle Mosier grinded out a 5-0 victory over Wisconsin freshman Alex Yde at 165 pounds, using a pair of takedowns to seal his 11th win of the season, while freshman Drake Stein pushed the Purdue advantage to 29-3 at 174 pounds, sticking Wisconsin rookie Frank Cousins for his sixth fall of the year.
Freshman Braden Atwood defended his No. 18 national ranking at 184 pounds against Badgers freshman Timmy McCall, outlasting McCall for a 6-0 decision. Atwood broke a scoreless tie in the third period, reversing McCall and then turning him for three back points to seal the contest and improve to 17-7 overall and 6-1 in conference matches.
With the team result secure, the return of Purdue senior 197-pounder A.J. Kissel to the mat was a bonus. Kissel spent just 1:47 on the mat, pinning Wisconsin sophomore Jackson Hein for his 46th career fall. Kissel matches Dave Lilovich for second all-time at Purdue on the career falls list and is now just one shy of the Boilermaker record of 47, held by Hinkel.
Senior Roger Vukobratovich closed the dual with his career-best 16th win of the season, downing sophomore Cole Tobin 8-4.
The Boilermakers continue conference action Sunday at No. 7 Nebraska, facing the Cornhuskers for the first time in 20 seasons and for the first-time as a Big Ten opponent.
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