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Logan Brown shakes hands with Purdue Coach, Scott Hinkle.
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November 1, 2008 – EASTERN MICHIGAN
2006 Covington graduate and red-shirt sophomore Logan Brown of Purdue University got his season off to a fast start by claiming the 197-pound championship at the Eastern Michigan Open on Saturday.
"It was a good way to start the season (winning the tournament championship), but I think I could have wrestled a little better than I did," Brown said. "I'm setting up my shots better, but I still make some mistakes that I need to correct. I'll keep working and continue to get better though."
Brown, who entered the season ranked 13th in the nation by InterMat/NWCA, needed just three wins to claim the championship as he received a first-round bye.
After waiting his turn to wrestle the quarterfinals, Brown defeated Heath Luckacs of Mount St. Joseph via fall in 4:17.
He then advanced to the finals by making quick work of Tyler Dickenson of Michigan State in the Semifinals. Brown stuck the Spartan wrestler in 1:00.
In the championship match, the Purdue sophomore went the distance with Josh Ohl of Ashland, who took fifth in the nation in Division II last year. But Brown was able to dominate and cruised to a 6-1 decision.
"I placed third here last year, so to come out on top was pretty gratifying," Brown said. "This was a good tournament to see where I'm at right now and what I need to work on."
Two other Purdue wrestlers claimed championships as well with sophomore Luke Manual claiming a title at 165 and freshman Jake Fleckenstein taking the 133-pound title.
Other Boilermakers climbing the podium at the day's end were 125-pounders Akif Eren and Matt Fields, 141-pounder Juan Archuleta, seventh-ranked 149-pounder Jake Patacsil, 165-pounders John Doyle and Jason Martin, 11th-ranked 184-pounder A.J. Kissel and heavyweight Chris Kasten.
Eren knocked off the nation's 16th-ranked 125-pound grappler twice on his way to a third-place showing, while Fields fell to Eren in the consolation semifinals before taking home fifth. Archuleta battled back from a career-opening loss to win his next six consecutive matches and take third at 141 pounds, while Patacsil rallied from a loss in the 149-pound semifinals to post technical falls over his next two opponents and claim the bronze.
Doyle and Martin were fifth and sixth at 165 pounds, and Kissel snagged the bronze at 184 pounds with his first three pins of the season. His career count climbs to 22 falls, moving him up to a tie for ninth place all-time at Purdue. Kasten rallied back to take fifth place at 285 pounds, earning a trio of wins on the day.
"We did really well as a team," said Brown. "It's awesome to see how everyone is working hard and doing the things we need to do to get better. I think we're going to surprise some people this year because of our work ethic."
The Boilermakers host the Purdue Challenge on Saturday, November 15th as Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois and Cambellsville come to town.
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