Wrestling squad finishes weekend with win against Purdue, loss at Illinois

An unlikely sight was on display Friday night as Hoosier and Boilermaker fans sat side-by-side in the tight quarters of University Gym. The 2,500-seat gym was sprinkled with crimson and gold as patrons watched IU defeat Purdue 25-12 and improve to 10-0 on the season. \nNot less than two days after knocking off their in-state rivals, the wrestling squad lost to No. 16 Illinois on Sunday afternoon, 22-9.\nOn Friday, No. 9-ranked Angel Escobedo silenced Purdue fans quickly as he helped the No. 15 Hoosiers get off to a fast start against Purdue (10-1). Escobedo notched a 21-6 technical fall against Purdue's Brandon Tucker in the 125-pound match. \nEscobedo said that he has known about the rivalry his whole life and his first taste of Big Ten action was exactly what he anticipated. \n"I expected a heated battle and it was great to get my first Big Ten win against Purdue," Escobedo said.\nEscobedo set a winning tone for his teammates and gave a performance that he thought was beyond his years.\n"I think it showed a lot of maturity on my part in the way I performed," he said. \nThe Hoosiers won six of 10 matches, and after Escobedo's performance there was a string of close matches that were decided by one point. All of the one-point matches ended in Purdue's favor. Coach Duane Goldman said the Hoosiers performed well but still have to improve.\n"When IU and Purdue compete, all the statistics go out the window," Goldman said. "We did a nice job but need to work on turning around some of the close matches."\nGoldman went on to say that the tough practices and a good schedule helped them to come into the dual healthy and with some good competition under their belts.\nJuniors Brandon Becker and Marc Bennett pulled the dual out for the Hoosiers. The crowd cheered both wrestlers on when they won their respective matches with arms raised to the sky. \nNo. 7 Becker nabbed a 9-1 win when he earned a major decision over Jake Murphy of Purdue in the 157-pound match. He hadn't performed Dec. 29 at the Midlands Championships and said it felt good to be back and that he expected a victory.\n"Winning is what I work for, so I expect it every time out," Becker said. "This was definitely a great one to come back for and this was probably the best turnout since I've been here."\nAs the only active senior, No. 12 Bennett is one of the leaders and proved it with a win in the 184-pound match where he gained his fifth fall of the season and improved to 26-4.\n"This win was a great way to get some momentum heading into the rest of the Big Ten season," Bennett said. "This dual was way too close and I knew we were the better team so I didn't want to give the guy a chance." \nAgainst the Illini, Escobedo lost his first match since early December when Illinois' Gabe Flores built on his undefeated record. The Hoosiers earned two victories from Bennet and senior Josh Buuck.