In 2023, the Hoosiers snapped their 12-match losing streak against Purdue. With their victory over the Boilermakers on Jan 27, the Hoosiers have begun a streak of their own. Indiana has now defeated Purdue in two straight seasons — last year by a narrow 17-16 margin and this year by 22-9 in front of its home crowd at Wilkinson Hall.
Indiana took seven of 10 bouts from the Boilermakers, outscoring them 51-36. Wrestlers from both teams got ranked wins — the Hoosiers scored two ranked wins including one upset, and the Boilermakers scored two upsets over ranked IU opponents.
A top-20 matchup came between Indiana No. 20 senior Brayton Lee and Purdue No. 18 freshman Joey Blaze — each at 157 lbs. Blaze came into the match fresh off the biggest win of his young career over Nebraska’s No. 3 junior Peyton Robb by fall. Lee, an All-American himself, iced the match by finishing a sweep single-leg takedown with approximately 30 seconds to go in the bout to win 4-2. This was Lee’s first ranked victory as a Hoosier, improving his record to 3-0.
Now this is what we love to see. ?#IUWR | @brayton_lee4 pic.twitter.com/Mk14ewYIJ0
— Indiana Wrestling (@IndianaWR) January 28, 2024
Purdue Redshirt sophomore Stoney Buell breathed a little life back into the Boilermakers after he took out Indiana No. 22 redshirt freshman Tyler Lillard at 165 lbs. Tensions were running high leading up to the 174 lbs bout in Wilkinson Hall. The atmosphere intensified with wrestlers and coaches jawing at officials and each other. The Boilermakers’ No. 32 redshirt freshman Brody Baumann was looking to make it back-to-back upsets for Purdue as he quickly finished a double leg on Indiana No. 10 redshirt senior D.J. Washington to go up 3-0 in the opening seconds of the match. Washington responded with a couple takedowns of his own to get the gritty 9-4 decision and bring the team score to 16-6.
Other IU winners included graduate students Cayden Rooks, Dan Fongaro, Nick Willham and redshirt sophomore Roman Rogotzke. Rogotzke won a 6-3 thriller in sudden victory over Purdue to lock up the dual victory for the Hoosiers.
Indiana will be back in action at noon Sunday against Michigan State in Wilkinson Hall.
Follow reporter Aidan Pollitt (@pollitt_52) for updates throughout the Indiana wrestling season.
