Indiana Falls to Rival Purdue, 18-14

Sunday, February 7

Bloomington, Ind.

1:00 PM

Indiana University

Purdue

2/7/2016 5:41:00 PM | Wrestling

Four Hoosiers earn bout wins, two with bonus points

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana wrestling team competed for in-state supremacy on Sunday afternoon with a home dual against the Purdue Boilermakers. Indiana prevented Purdue from picking up bonus points in any bout wins, but their five consecutive bout wins in the middle of the dual sealed IU's fate.

Official Results: Purdue 18, No. 16 Indiana 14
Sunday, February 7, 2015 • 1:00 p.m. ET
University Gymnasium • Bloomington, Ind.

125: #19 Elijah Oliver (IU) maj. dec. Luke Schroeder (PU), 19-8 // IU, 4-0
133: Luke Welch (PU) dec. Alonzo Shepherd (IU), 5-2 // IU, 4-3
141: Danny Sabatello (PU) dec. Tommy Cash (IU), 8-7 // PU, 6-4
149: #19 Alex Griffin (PU) dec. Luke Blanton (IU), 8-4 // PU, 9-4
157: #17 Doug Welch (PU) dec. Jake Danishek (IU), 5-4 // PU, 12-4
165: #7 Chad Welch (PU) dec. Eric Roach (IU), 3-0 // PU, 15-4
174: #11 Nate Jackson (IU) maj. dec. Jacob Morrissey (PU), 15-4 // PU, 15-8
184: Tanner Lynde (PU) dec. Matt Irick (IU), 6-4 // PU, 18-8
197: Jake Masengale (IU) dec. Drake Stein (PU), SV-1 6-4 // PU, 18-11
285: Garret Goldman (IU) dec. Tyler Kral (PU), 3-2 // PU, 18-14

The Hoosiers struck first on the team scoreboard as Elijah Oliver (125) returned to his winning form. Oliver quickly gained a read on his opponent, Purdue's Luke Schroeder, and dropped the Boilermaker to the mat five times in the first period. The 19^th-ranked true freshman earned two more takedowns in the second period for a 14-7 lead heading into the final stretch. At the final buzzer, Oliver picked up a point from his three minutes of riding time for the major decision win.

Indiana's other ranked wrestler, No. 11 Nate Jackson (174), had a similar return to the win column with a major decision over Purdue's Jacob Morrissey. Jackson secured two takedowns in the first two minutes, and nearly picked up back points before slipping away from the edge. He ended the first period with a 6-2 lead.

Jackson followed with a dominating run through the final four minutes. He had two takedowns in the second while building his riding time to 2:10, and closed the door with a takedown and a pair of back points in the third.

"It was an important match," head coach Duane Goldman said of his highest-ranked grappler. "He's struggled a bit lately against some very tough opponents, but he had the capability of winning those matches and most of them were close. It was important for him to win today and to get the major decision."

The Hoosiers battled for two more bout wins to close the dual. Jake Masengale (197) won his decision in sudden victory, and Garret Goldman (HWT) grinded to a 3-2 decision win.

"The strength of our lineup is in our mid-weights regarding potential and national recognition, but a lot of those guys struggled today," Goldman said. "To have guys like Jake and Garret go out against Purdue and get wins, that's a really special and important moment for them. In doing that, they're doing their part for the team and it helps our other guys keep pushing through the season."

Tied after two periods, Masengale and Purdue grappler Drake Stein had fans at University Gymnasium on their feet during the ninth bout of the afternoon. Stein took a point lead with an escape from the referee's position. The Hoosier sophomore saw his opportunity and took Stein to the mat with 30 seconds remaining, taking a 4-3 lead. Stein's escape in the closing seconds forced a sudden victory period, when Masengale got the takedown in the first 20 seconds.

Goldman picked up his fourth Big Ten dual win of the season with a victory over Purdue's Tyler Kral. Goldman's takedown at the outset of the bout made the difference for the redshirt senior.

"It's always a fun one to win," Garret Goldman said. Purdue are our biggest rivals, and they've gotten us on team score the past couple years. But we're coming up and getting there."

Up Next: IU Wrestling Senior Night
No. 16 Indiana (6-5, 3-5 Big Ten) vs. No. 12 Rutgers (13-5, 3-4 Big Ten)
Friday, February 12, 2016 • 7:00 p.m. ET • Bloomington, Ind.

The Hoosiers will bring their regular season to a close on Friday night against No. 12 Rutgers. Indiana will honor their senior class of 2016—Alex Gregory, Garret Goldman, Trevor Moody, Eric Roach, and Alonzo Shepherd—with Senior Night festivities. In addition to the celebration, Indiana will have another chance for a dual win against a nationally-ranked team.

"Rutgers has some very talented wrestlers at the weights where we have seniors, but I think senior night is more than that," Goldman said. "It's not just about going out with a win, it's more of an opportunity to look back at all they've done, what they've endured, and put it all together. We'll try to keep their minds focused, and we're really appreciative of all they've done for us."