Triggas records his team-best 10th fall

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The sixth-ranked Ohio State wrestling team won seven bouts, including a pin, forfeit and major decision, to down Purdue, 28-10, Sunday in St. John Arena, improving to 3-1 in the Big Ten and 12-2 overall.

Senior Jason Johnstone posted a 14-3 major decision at 157, 184-pounder Mike Pucillo scored six points in a forfeit and lightweight Nikko Triggas pinned Boilermaker Akin Eren in 2:01 to help the Buckeyes secure their second league win of the weekend after downing Penn State, 33-7, Friday on the road.

A matchup of nationally ranked grapplers opened the meet at 149 pounds. Ohio State’s No. 4 Lance Palmer delivered No. 7 Jake Patacsil his fourth loss, recording an 8-5 decision in a heated match. The Lakewood, Ohio, native improved to 20-2 on the season, including a 4-0 Big Ten ledger.

Next at 157, an energized Johnstone, No. 17 in the nation, dominated Purdue’s Colton Salazar, earning a 14-3 major decision. The senior posted four takedowns and two 2-point nearfalls en route to his 19th victory of the season (eight losses) while Salazar drops to 11-8 on the year.  

No. 2 Colt Sponseller held off No. 16 Luke Manuel, 3-1, in the 165 weight class division to earn his 25th victory (three losses) and fourth Big Ten dual win of his sophomore campaign. Ohio State held a 10-0 advantage over Purdue after three bouts.

After Dave Rella fell, 6-4, to Purdue’s Nick Corpe at 174, second-ranked Pucillo earned six points for the Buckeyes as the Boilermakers forfeited the 184 bout. The Buckeyes entered halftime with a 16-3 lead.

The 197 matchup pitted Buckeye Jason Cook vs. No. 13 Logan Brown. With the match tied 4-all heading into the third, neither wrestler was able to score a point in the final stanza but Brown took the match, 5-4, with a 2:01 riding time advantage.

Still up 16-6, Ohio State’s Corey Morrison met Chris Kasten in the heavyweight division. Morrison and Kasten were tied 1-1 late into the final period, but the Buckeye remained focused, earning a takedown with 15 seconds remaining to take the decision, 3-1. Continuing to press on, sophomore Triggas pinned Akif Eren in 2:01 at 125, upping the Ohio State lead to 25-6. The fall was his 10th of the season, a Buckeye high. The Moraga, Calif., native has five pins under the two minute mark in his sophomore campaign.

Although Purdue’s Carson Beebe earned a 9-0 major decision over Buckeye Owen Schaefer at 133 for the Boilermakers, Ohio State jumped right back into it at 141 with senior All-American J Jaggers facing Matt Hemry. The final bout of the day saw Jaggers improve to 16-5 with a 7-4 decision, giving the Scarlet and Gray the 28-10 win. 

Notes
- Attendance was 3,146 Sunday afternoon in St. John Arena.
- Sponseller has tallied 115 takedowns, an Ohio State high in the 2008-09 season.
- Triggas leads the Scarlet and Gray with 10 falls this season, including five under the two-minute mark.

Final Results
149: No. 4 Lance Palmer (OSU) dec. No. 7 Jake Patacsil (Purdue); 8-5, 3-0
157: No. 17 Jason Johnstone mdec. Colton Salazar (Purdue); 14-3, 7-0
165: No. 2 Colt Sponseller (OSU) dec. No. 16 Luke Manuel (Purdue); 3-1, 10-0
174: Nick Corpe (Purdue) dec. Dave Rella (OSU); 6-4, 10-3
184: No. 2 Mike Pucillo (OSU) forfeit (Purdue); 6-0, 16-3
197: No. 13 Logan Brown (Purdue) dec. Jason Cook (OSU); 5-4, 16-6
285: Corey Morrison (OSU) dec. Chris Kasten (Purdue); 3-1, 19-6
125: Nikko Triggas (OSU) pin Akif Eren (Purdue); 6-0, 26-6
133: Carson Beebe (Purdue) mdec. Owen Schaefer (OSU); 9-0, 25-10
141: No. 14 J Jaggers (OSU) dec. Matt Hemry (Purdue); 8-4, 28-10