MADISON, Wis. -- The 18th-ranked Wisconsin wrestling team made it two in a row Sunday, winning their second consecutive home meet by taking down No. 25 Purdue 19-15 in front of 821 fans at the UW Field House. Wisconsin improves to 9-7-0 overall, 3-4 in Big Ten duals while Purdue drops to 11-6-1, 0-5-1.
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The Boilermakers started out the meet with a 6-0 advantage, but the Badgers used a win at 141 and a pin at 149 lbs. to claim the lead. The match had three ties, including a 15-15 tie heading into the final bout of the afternoon at heavyweight. Wisconsin senior Kyle Massey won a 10-2 major decision over Chris Kasten of Purdue to provide the final 19-15 margin in favor of Wisconsin.
Purdue used victories in the 125 and 133 lbs. weight classes to start off the meet. Matt Fields of Purdue knocked off Drew Hammen 7-4 at 125 lbs. and Carson Beebe defeated the UW's Tom Kelliher 4-2 at 133 lbs.
Senior and No. 1 ranked Zach Tanelli extended his winning streak to 16 matches with an 8-4 win over Purdue's Juan Archuleta. Tanelli had two takedowns, an escape, a point for Purdue stalling and 3:38 of riding time in the win.
One of the marquee matches took place at 149 lbs. with No. 5 Kyle Ruschell matching up against No. 8 Jake Patacsil from Purdue. Ruschell scored an early takedown at 1:46 and shortly after, rolled Patacsil for the pin in 1:54. It was Ruschell's second pin of Patacsil this season and he leads the season series 2-1 against the Purdue grappler.
Ruschell's win gave the Badgers the 9-6 advantage but Purdue got even before the break with a win at 157 lbs. Purdue's Nick Bertucci registered a 6-0 decision over the UW's Ben Jordan.
True freshman Andrew Howe got the Badgers back in front with a 9-3 decision over No. 16 Luke Manuel. Howe, who is ranked No. 8 for 165 lbs. had the 5-1 lead heading into the third period and scored a takedown and had 1:07 of riding time in the third for his 10th-straight victory.
Purdue tied the score yet again and took the 15-12 lead with wins at 174 lbs. and 184 lbs. Nick Corpe knocked off the UW's Travis Rutt 5-1 at 174 lbs. UW sophomore Eric Bugenhagen wrestled 14th-ranked A.J. Kissel tough at 184 lbs. but fell in the 1-0 decision. Kissel scored an escape with 1:58 left in the third for the win.
The Badgers then tied the score for the final time and took the lead with wins at 197 lbs. and heavyweight. Third-ranked Dallas Herbst knocked off No. 13 Logan Brown with a 2-0 decision. Herbst registered his ninth-straight win with a third period escape and 1:12 of RT.
Finally, Massey gave the Badgers the 19-15 win with the 10-2 major decision over Chris Kasten at heavyweight. Massey had the 6-1 lead after the second period and never looked back, scoring a takedown, was awarded a point for Purdue stalling in the third and h ad 4:02 of riding time.
Wisconsin closes out the 2008-09 dual season at home next Sunday when No. 6 Ohio State comes to the UW Field House for a noon matchup. Sunday's bout will air live on the Big Ten Network.
