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Logan Brown shakes hands with Purdue Coach, Scott Hinkle.
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JANUARY 30, 2009 - PURDUE
Logan Brown, a 2006 Covington High School graduate and sophomore wrestler for Purdue University, made his national television debut as the 25th ranked Boilermakers hosted the 7th ranked Fighting Illini from Illinois in a dual on the Big Ten Network on Friday.
And Brown didn't disappoint as he captured a first period fall over Jacob Norman in 2:35 - one of just two victories for the Boilermakers in the dual. The only other Purdue wrestler to capture a win was no. 7 ranked 149 pounder Jake Patacsil, who put on a tilting display in tech-falling Eric Terrazas 17-0 in 3:36.
Logan started the match with aggression as he attempted his patented double-leg, only to be warded off by the Illini grappler.
Each wrestler then received a stalling warning moments later as neither could find an opportunity to attempt a shot.
But the Purdue sophomore immediately found and opening on the restart and executed a beautiful single-leg - pulling his opponent to the center of the mat to set up a finish to the move.
With his leg highly tucked under Brown's arm, Norman attempted to turn the tables by reaching for Logan's far ankle. Brown took advantage of the opportunity by catching the Illinois wrestler and turning him to his back for the pin.
"It was sweet to see," said Logan's father Randy Sargent, who was on hand with his wife Karen to watch their son. "There was a huge crowd, the biggest I've seen at Purdue, and the crowd went nuts when Logan stuck him."
The victory was bittersweet for Brown as he anticipated facing a familiar nemesis in Patrick Bond, who was pulled out of the line-up due to illness.
Bond had defeated Logan twice a year ago - once at the Big Ten Championships - and Brown was looking to use a rubber match as a barometer as to how far he has progressed over the past year.
"Logan's disappointed," said Sargent. "Here he is getting a win in the Big Ten on national television and he's not happy because he wanted Bond. Right before the match Bond was there with his headgear on, but they (Illinois) decided to pull him out at the last minute. That's the way it goes, I guess."
Still, Brown's victory was significant as he improved to 2-0 in Big Ten duals and pushed his record to 23-7 on the season.
The impressive victory followed a 14-4 victory over Penn State's J.R. Brown last Saturday in what was the beginning of the Big Ten schedule for the Boilermakers.
Ranked 13th nationally at 197 pounds, Brown looks to continue to test the Big Ten waters next Friday as Purdue travels to face Indiana in a dual.
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