Ersland, Purdue poised to become a top 10 program

Don’t be surprised if the Purdue University wrestling team ends up in the top 10 next season.

The Boilermakers, coached by Humboldt native Tony Ersland, saw their greatest gain this past season in Ersland’s sixth season leading the program.

Purdue, ranked as high as 13th in the nation this past season, finished the year ranked 15th and posted an overall dual record of 12-5, including 5-4 in the rugged Big Ten Conference. All of its losses were to highly ranked teams.

“It was a bit of a breakthrough year for us during my tenure and even for Purdue in its overall history. Our kids did some things that hadn’t been done going back 50 years,” Ersland said.

“For us it was great that we finished in the top half of the Big Ten Conference. That hasn’t been done since 1992 at Purdue. I was in high school the last time Purdue finished that high,” said Ersland, a 1992 Humboldt High School graduate.

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