BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Purdue wrestling extended its winning streak over Indiana to eight straight while tying the second-largest margin of victory in the series, hammering the Hoosiers 34-3 at University Gym on Sunday. The 24th-ranked Boilermakers won nine weights, earning bonus points in four matches, for its second win of the weekend. The win lifted their record to 8-6 overall and 2-5 in Big Ten Conference duals. Indiana dropped its eighth consecutive dual to go to 6-9 overall and remained winless in conference duals.
“I thought we competed really well up and down the lineup,” Purdue head wrestling coach Tony Ersland said. “Everybody showed up, competed hard and gave a great effort. When we are healthy and everyone is in the lineup, we have a very good team that is capable of scoring a lot of points. We talked about making a statement as the season is coming to a close. What we did this weekend sets a very good tone for how we are going to finish.”
The 31-point spread is tied for the second largest margin of victory for the Boilermakers in the series; Purdue also won by 31 in a 36-5 dual on Feb. 14, 1988. The Boilermakers’ largest margin of victory in the series came in a 43-0 shutout on Jan. 9, 1991. Additionally, the 34 dual points are the most scored in the series since Purdue won 39-15 (12/4/1984); the seventh most points scored by either team in the series; and the second highest total for the Boilermakers in their 39 wins in the series.
More often than not it’s the heavyweights that close out the dual, but Sunday it was the big men that started the dual. Jacob Aven answered the call to step into the lineup and set Purdue’s tone for the dual, downing Fletcher Miller 6-2. A takedown late in the third off of a Fletcher shot locked up the first Big Ten dual win for Aven.
“Jacob found out this morning that he was going to have to step up for us today,” Ersland said. “For him to do that on short notice and get the win was great. He took advantage of the opportunity that was given to him.”
After a major decision from 13th-ranked Luke Welch (125) and a decision from Ben Thornton(133), Nate Limmex took to the mat looking to avenge a 7-2 Midlands semifinal loss to Indiana’s Cole Weaver. Limmex got his revenge, upsetting the 13th-ranked Hoosier 4-2.
“Today I was able to get off of the bottom twice; I’ve been doing a lot better job with that,” Purdue’s 141-pounder said. “I also knew that, defensively, with my head position, I could stop his high-crotch shots and he didn’t get to that shot this match.”
Limmex evened the match at 2-2 with an escape at the top of the third period. In a match that saw limited scoring opportunities, the Boilermaker capitalized with a short-time takedown and strong mat returns to secure the upset. With a pair of wins this weekend, the redshirt sophomore pushes his record to 21-12.
“It was a really good weekend,” Limmex said. “I thought I wrestled really well on my feet in both matches. My focus has been getting to my attacks. It feels really good to avenge a loss like that towards the end of the season. Next month with Big Tens and NCAAs, all that matters is that I am wrestling my best towards the end of the year.”
Austin Nash posted a decision at 149 and fireworks ensued in the next three matches. Griffin Parriott, who made his return to the lineup Friday after missing four duals, showed his explosive offense in a 3:42 pin of Austin Holmes. The 157-pounder built a 12-4 lead thanks to six rapid-fire takedowns not even halfway through the second period before throwing Holmes and getting the fall.
“It felt good to get a pin, it’s been a while,” Parriott said. “It has been a long process of getting back and healthy. I see today’s pin as a jump starter for me going into the last couple of duals, Big Tens and NCAAs.”
The pin is the third of the New Prauge, Minnesota, native’s rookie campaign and he matched his season high of points scored in a match.
“The coaches have really been preaching about getting my offense going and I’ve really been on my attacks in practice lately,” Parriott said. “I need to translate that into my matches and not worry so much about the wins or the losses, just scoring points.”
Jacob Morrissey added to the bonus point wins with a 13-2 major decision of Dillon Hoey at 165. In the dual’s only matchup between ranked grapplers, No. 12 Dylan Lydy dealt 18th-ranked Devin Skatzka an 8-5 loss. Two monstrous takedowns broke open a 5-5 bout in the final frame. It’s the second time in as many meetings this season that Lydy has defeated Skatzka. The win lifted Lydy to 27-10 in his redshirt sophomore season.
Christian Brunner closed out the dual by making a statement in a 17-2 technical fall of Jake Kleimola at the 5:54 mark. The technical fall is the fourth of the season for Brunner, whose record now stands at 18-6.
The Boilermakers’ marquee event of the season is next on the horizon. On Friday they will invade Mackey Arena for their home finale against Northwestern. The dual will be aired live on the Big Ten Network and is set for a 7 p.m. ET start. Admission to Mackey Mayhem is free.