2017-18 SEASON IN REVIEW

2017-18 SEASON IN REVIEW Purdue wrestling

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS / CLEVELAND, OHIO

Luke Welch (125), Nate Limmex (141), Dylan Lydy (174) and Shawn Streck (285) secured their first NCAA Championships appearance with their performances at the Big Ten Championships and an automatic bid, while Christian Brunner automatically qualified for his second NCAA trip at 197 pounds.

Ben Thornton received one of five at-large bids that were awarded at 133 pounds, while Jacob Morrissey received one of the four available bids at 165 pounds to qualify for his second national championships appearance.

Shawn Streck snapped a 14-year absence of a Purdue heavyweight at the NCAA Championships, the last being Israel Blevins in 2004.

Luke Welch became the first Boilermaker to qualify at 125 pounds since Camden Eppert in 2012.

Four Boilermakers were seeded in their respective brackets: Luke Welch (14), Nate Limmex (15), Dylan Lydy (15) and Christian Brunner (16) ... the four seeded wrestlers matched a program high and were the most for Purdue at the NCAA Championships since 1950.

Luke Welch and Dylan Lydy finished one match shy of earning All-America honors, falling in the round of 12 ... Shawn Streck knocked the No. 13 seed out in the first round and nearly upended fourth-seeded Jacob Kasper of Duke in sudden victory, but lost 4-2 ... Streck finished two matches out from becoming an All-American.

WATCH | Luke Welch pin Kyle Norstrem of Virginia Tech

Purdue Results

Purdue improved its finish in the team standings from 20017 by 22 spots.

Brackets

BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIPS / EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN

Purdue sent six wrestlers to the podium, the most since 2012 ... Luke Welch and Nate Limmex placed fourth at 125 and 141 pounds, respectively, to lead the way for the Boilermakers ... Dylan Lydy (174) and Christian Brunner (197) placed fifth ... Shawn Streck (285) was seventh and Ben Thornton (133) rounded out the placewinners by taking eighth.

Luke Welch wrestled above his No. 6 seed with his fourth-place performance, the best showing by a Purdue 125-pounder since Chris Fleeger won it all in 2003 ... Nate Limmex finished above his No. 5 seed by taking fourth, the best showing at 141 since Brandon Nelsen was fourth in 2013 ... Christian Brunner placed fifth to became a two-time Big Tens placewinner while extending Purdue’s presence on the 197-pound podium to 15 straight years ... it was the best showing for a 197-pounder since 2009 when Logan Brown placed fifth.

WATCH | Shawn Streck beat Minnesota's Rylee Streifel 10-3 in the seventh-place match to become the first Purdue heavyweight earn Big Ten hardware since Chris Kasten placed eighth in 2009

Purdue Results

Brackets

DUAL SEASON OVERVIEW

Purdue posted an overall record of 9-7, including upsets of No. 22 North Carolina (31-6) and No. 18 Wisconsin (25-15) ... the Boilermakers faced nine nationally ranked teams, three of which were ranked in the top eight ... the nine nationally ranked opponents are the most on their schedule facing 11 ranked teams in 2014-15.

The Boilermakers finished the season ranked No. 21 in the final USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll ... it is the highest final ranking for fourth-year head wrestling coach Tony Ersland and the highest final ranking since the 2012-13 Boilermakers finished the season ranked 14th.

Purdue was ranked throughout the regular season, a span of 14 polls, for the first time since 2012-13 ... it was also just the fourth time in the program’s history a team has been ranked throughout the regular season (2012-13, 1998-99, 1991-92).

DUAL HIGHLIGHT VIDEO CLIPS

WATCH | No. 15 Dylan Lydy upsets No. 6 Myles Amine of Michigan 6-4

WATCH | Max Lyon comes from behind to defeat Northwestern's Mitch Sliga 6-5

WATCH | Nate Limmex blasts Javier Gasca of Michigan State with a double-leg to win 7-5 in sudden victory

WATCH | Jacob Morrissey gets back points in an 11-5 upset of North Dakota State's No. 17 Andrew Fogarty

Ben Thornton led the way with 48 dual points scored (8 D, 1 MD, 2 TF, 1 F) while putting together a 13-2 dual record at 133 pounds.

Luke Welch and Devin Schroder combined for the most dual points scored in a weight class with 52 and paired for a 13-3 record (6 D, 3 MD, 2 TF, 1 FOR) at 125 pounds.

Purdue hammered Indiana 34-3 to extend its winning streak over the Hoosiers to eight straight.

WATCH | Griffin Parriott suplex

The 31-point spread 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.

WATCH | Jacob Aven takes Fletcher Miller down to seal 6-2 decision

The 34 dual points were 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.

In the regular season finale, Griffin Parriott’s 3:17 pin of No. 14 Andrew Crone and an 11-0 major decision by No. 18 Luke Welch highlighted the Boilermakers’ seven wins in the 25-15 victory at No. 18 Wisconsin ... it was Purdue’s first win at Wisconsin since Jan. 20, 2012.

WATCH | Griffin Parriott react to his pin of No. 14 Andrew Crone

WATCH | No. 17 Luke Welch major decision Johnny Jimenez

TEAM, INDIVIDUAL TOURNAMENTS

Seven Boilermakers combined to capture 10 tournament titles during the 2017-18 season ... Luke Welch (125), Devin Schroder (125) and Kobe Woods (197) each won two tournaments ... Jacob Aven (285), Mario Leveille (165), Max Lyon (184) and Ben Thornton (133) and each captured a title ... Purdue wrestlers placed a total of 34 times.

36TH ANNUAL CLIFF KEEN LAS VEGAS COLLEGIATE WRESTLING INVITATIONAL

Dylan Lydy (174) and Shawn Streck (285) entered the tournament unseeded and came out with hardware after two days of wrestling.

Shawn Streck needed just 33 seconds to pin fourth-seeded and eighth-ranked Ryan Solomon of Pitt, upsetting the Panther for a second time in as many days, in the fifth-place match ... Streck became the first Purdue heavyweight to place at the tournament since Jake O’Brien was fifth in 2004.

Dylan Lydy's bracket contained a tournament-high 14 nationally ranked wrestlers, including seven of the top 10 ... with an eighth-place finish, he became the first Boilermaker 174-pounder to place at the tournament since Luke Manuel was eighth in 2010.

55TH KEN KRAFT MIDLANDS CHAMPIONSHIPS

A program-record seven wrestlers placed at Midlands, crushing the previous high of four from 2008, 2006 and 1990 ... as a team, the Boilermakers totaled 84 points to place seventh ... the 84 points were the most they have ever scored at Midlands, topping 2008’s performance of 82.5 points ... they combined to score 367 total match points, which was the fifth most among all teams.

Seventh-seeded Dylan Lydy and eighth-seeded Christian Brunner placed third at 174 and 197 pounds, respectively, marking the first time in nearly a decade that Purdue has had a pair of wrestlers place third or higher at Midlands.

Dylan Lydy became the fourth 174-pounder to place at Midlands ... his third-place finish matches Luke Manuel (2009) for the highest placing at the weight for the Boilermakers.

Christian Brunner added to Purdue’s success at 197 by becoming the fifth to place and the first since Braden Atwood was the runner-up in 2013.

Unseeded Nate Limmex’s fourth-place performance was the best showing ever for a Purdue 141-pounder and he’s the first to place at the weight since Juan Archuleta was seventh in 2009.

Luke Welch and Devin Schroder become the third and fourth Boilermakers to place at 125 pounds ... Welch defeated Schroder in a tournament-placing match for a second time this season to take seventh—they also squared off in the Michigan State Open finals.

With a seventh-place showing, Jacob Morrissey became the second 165-pounder to place in the last three years, the last being Chad Welch, who won the title in 2015.

Shawn Streck became just the third Purdue heavyweight to ever place at Midlands by taking seventh ... he was the first Boilermaker heavyweight to place since an eighth-place finish by Roger Vukobratovich in 2011.

True freshmen competed unattached in eight open tournaments, advancing to the finals eight times and placing a total of 24 times ... Parker Filius captured the 141-pound Freshmen/Sophomore Division title at the Eastern Michigan Open and made the finals of three other tournaments ... David Eli (197) made the Greyhound and Purple Raider Open finals ... Tanner Webster was the 174-pound runner-up at the Greyhound Open and Anthony Falbo was the 174-pound Freshmen/Sophomore Division runner-up at the Eastern Michigan Open.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

Four wrestlers ended the season nationally ranked among the top 20 in their respective weight class: Luke Welch (15), Nate Limmex (13), Dylan Lydy (14) and Shawn Streck (20).

Prior to the Feb. 6 edition of rankings, it had been five years since Purdue had four ranked wrestlers in its lineup: Camden Eppert (125), Cashé Quiroga (133), Ivan Lopouchanski (149) and Braden Atwood (197) ... those four were ranked for the entire 2012-13 season.

Luke Welch’s span of 17 straight weeks in the national rankings was the longest for a Purdue wrestler since older brother Chad was ranked in 13 of the 2015-16 season’s 19 polls ... Luke was ranked as high as No. 12 (1/16).

In all, six wrestlers appeared at least once in the national rankings throughout the season: Luke Welch, Ben Thornton, Nate Limmex, Dylan Lydy, Christian Brunner and Shawn Streck ... the six ranked Boilermakers are the most since 2011-12 when six were ranked at least once throughout the season.

Three wrestlers won 30+ matches for the first time since 2009-10: Dylan Lydy, Luke Welch and Shawn Streck.

Dylan Lydy’s 35 wins are the most for a Purdue wrestler since Luke Manuel won 41 matches during the 2009-10 season ... he landed on the season records list in a five-way tie for 12th ... Lydy finished with a mark of 35-14.

Luke Welch won a career-best 32 matches in a 32-11 campaign.

WATCH | No. 18 Luke Welch knocks off No. 9 Drew Mattin of Michigan 11-7

As a redshirt freshman, Shawn Streck went 30-15, posting the most wins for a true or redshirt freshman since 2007-08 when Luke Manuel had 29.

His six pins were the most for a Purdue wrestler since Drake Stein had eight during the 2015-16 season ... four of Streck's pins came in the first period.

WATCH | Shawn Streck pin Princeton's Michael Markulec

Four wrestlers finished with more takedowns than any Boilermaker since Cashé Quiroga had 94 in 2013-14: Shawn Streck (89), Dylan Lydy (85), Luke Welch (77) and Nate Limmex (75).

Luke Welch earned a spot on Purdue's career takedowns list, ranking 18th with 227.

After a 12-15 rookie campaign at 149 pounds, Nate Limmex dropped to 141 this season and turned his career trajectory around ... Limmex was 26-16, with 72 takedowns, which doubled up on his total from last season ... he scored 107 more points and improved in nearly every statistical category.

Dylan Lydy blew up his stats and made a name for himself nationally at 174 pounds after wrestling at 165 last season ... compared to last season, he more than doubled his win total (35-16), takedown total (85-38) and increased his overall point total by 128 ... he improved in nearly every statistical category.

Max Lyon (184) major decisioned four straight opponents early in the season, becoming the first Boilermaker to record three-or-more consecutive major decisions since Chad Welch had four straight in January 2016 ... Lyon majored his three opponents at the Journeymen/MyHouse Northeast Duals and blanked Columbia’s Andrew Psomas in the opening round of the Navy Classic ... outscored those four opponents 41-7.

Lyon finished his rookie campaign with a dozen major decisions, the most since Chad Welch had 12 in 2015-16.

This season Jacob Morrissey tied for seventh on Purdue's season reversals record list with 17 and his 96 back points ranks 12th.

For his career, Morrissey moved into a six-way tie for seventh on the career reversals list with 36 ... his 272 back points ranks sixth all-time.

Final Season Stats

Eight wrestlers were named Academic All-Big Ten: Jacob Aven, Nate Limmex, Dylan Lydy, Jon Morales, Jacob Morrissey, Ben Thornton, Luke Welch, Cole Wysocki.

Morrissey is the 11th four-time honoree since the award began in 1986-87.

SENIORS: LUKE WELCH, JACOB MORRISSEY

Over half of Jacob Morrissey's career wins resulted in bonus points (8 MD, 11 TF, 16 F) ... he was 67-47 during his time as a Boilermaker.

Luke Welch finished with a career record of 78-52.

LOOKING AHEAD TO 2018-19

The Boilermakers return five NCAA Championships qualifiers to the lineup as well as six wrestlers that started at least one dual ... the five returning NCAA qualifiers are the most since five in 2012.

With the graduation of Luke Welch, Devin Schroder eyes to take over at 125 ... Schroder turned in a 19-6 record as a redshirt freshman ... he averaged 8.9 points per match and was the team leader in technical falls (6), shutouts (7) and back points (120).

With 120 back points, Schroder earned the No. 7 spot on the season record list.

He had four wins over 2018 NCAA qualifiers (Ryan Millhof, Arizona State - 12-2; Ibrahim Bunduka, George Mason - 8-0; Christian Moody, Oklahoma - 7-1; and Michael McGee, Old Dominion - 8-1) ... he had two narrow losses to two-time All-American and 2015 runner-up Zeke Moisey of West Virginia (7-2) and All-American Sebastian Rivera of Northwestern (3-1).

Wrestling unattached, true freshman Parker Filius (141) reached the finals in four of the six tournaments he competed in this season ... Filius was listed as the No. 47 overall recruit in the class of 2017 by FloWrestling.

NEW FACES: INCOMING BOILERMAKERS

The signing class of 2018 features a pair of top-100 recruits that are nationally ranked in the top 10 of their respective weight class ... (left) Kendall Coleman (South Holland, Illinois / Mt. Carmel) is seventh at 145 pounds and (right) Emil Soehnlen (Canton, Ohio / Massillon Perry) is No. 6 at 170 ... Ersland has now inked nine top-100 recruits in his four years at Purdue.

Coleman and 138-pounder Zach Melloh (Indianapolis, Indiana / Cathedral) (left) were runners-up at their respective high school state tournaments ... Soehnlen and 195-pounder Thomas Penola (Zionsville, Indiana / Zionsville) (right) each placed third ... the four-member class combined for a record of 169-17 (.909) during their senior seasons.

READ | Wrestling Signs 4 to Class of 2018

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