REPORT: Purdue’s Joey Blaze upsets top-ranked Penn State wrestler at NCAA Wrestling Championships…….
At the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships, Purdue University’s sophomore Joey Blaze delivered a remarkable performance by defeating Penn State’s top-seeded Tyler Kasak in the 157-pound quarterfinals. Entering the tournament as the No. 8 seed, Blaze secured a narrow 5-4 victory over Kasak, showcasing his resilience and skill on the national stage.
Blaze’s journey to the finals included a series of impressive wins. After shutting out North Carolina’s Sonny Santiago 7-0 in the opening round, he edged out Minnesota’s Tommy Askey with a 3-2 overtime decision. Following his upset over Kasak, Blaze continued his momentum by defeating Northwestern’s Trevor Chumbley 4-2 in the semifinals. In the championship match, he faced Nebraska’s No. 3-seeded Antrell Taylor for the fourth time in a month. Despite a valiant effort, Blaze fell short with a 4-2 decision, earning him a runner-up finish.
Blaze’s achievement marks him as Purdue’s youngest national finalist in at least 75 years and the university’s first true-sophomore finalist since 1950. His performance contributed significantly to Purdue’s 13th-place team finish, their highest since 1992.
