GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 19 • 30
the wrestling team, the defensive end de-
feated Ohio State's Ray Gordon, 5-3 for the
first win of his collegiate career. Robinson,
a two-time state champion at Lake Central
High School, recorded a takedown 37 sec-
onds into the match to take a 2-0 lead. A
second-period takedown gave him another
two points and 1:03 of riding time sealed the
victory.
"Gelen's been with us for a very short
period of time and we're just trying to get
a gauge on what he brings to the table and
where he's at in his development," Ersland
said. "It's really still an evaluation time for
him but we're happy with how he's compet-
ed. He certainly has some things he needs
to work on, but he's out there working hard
and doing everything he can. He got a nice
win at Ohio State and that was a nice way to
start off."
Ersland and his staff explored the pos-
sibility of Robinson wrestling after football
season ended and had a conversation with
the football staff about it. Robinson began
practicing with the team about a month
later in early January.
"With me coming on board over the sum-
mer, it wasn't something I started on right
away," Ersland said. "I had heard that he was a
heck of a wrestler and still possibly interested.
It's been a fairly recent development."
Sabatello said the team welcomed Rob-
inson, who also throws the shot put on the
track and field team, and has been pleased
with his effort and attitude.
"He's the man," Sabatello said. "Coming
off of football season, we didn't know if he
was going to wrestle or not. Now that he's
here, he's great. He's really adapted to the
team. We're a really close team. He's doing
everything he's told, he's doing all the right
stuff. He's going to be a stud."
Nelsen thought Robinson was joining
the team immediately after football season
but Robinson then said he was going to fo-
cus on football. Nelsen said he's happy to
have Robinson on board for the latter por-
tion of the season.
"He's a freak athlete," Nelsen said. "I
think wrestling is going to
be great for that kid. He's
super athletic and I think
wrestling will definitely
help with football. Heavy-
weight wrestling is all
about hand position and
movement, which is what
is going to help him on the
football field. He's definite-
ly going to get a lot better
very quickly."
With only a few weeks
of practice under his belt,
Robinson has understand-
ably looked raw at times,
as evident in a 2-0 loss to Il-
linois' Brooks Black Sunday.
"Gelen had a tough
time on bottom (Sunday),
which is common for a lot
of young wrestlers," Ersland
said. "We're going to have
to work on his bottom po-
sitioning. He's athletic and
he's working out hard there
so we'll take it from there."
Ersland said he does not
anticipate any conflicts with
football. Purdue's last team competition, the
Big Ten Championships, takes place March
8-9, before spring football practice begins.
"We understand he's here to play foot-
ball and I completely understand Coach
(Darrell) Hazell's point of view that when
he needs him in the room or needs him to
workout, that's his guy," Ersland said.
j
Links
PurdueSports.com: Track and field wraps up Razorback Invite
PurdueSports.com: Swimming wraps Big Ten triple duals with five more wins
PurdueSports.com: Men's tennis stumbles in Louisiana
PurdueSports.com: Sabatello shocks No. 4 wrestler
PurdueSports.com: Welch wins sixth straight match, improves to 23-6
PurdueSports.com: Women's golf starts 2015 LPGA play Monday
Purdue
Three-sport athlete Gelen Robinson won his wrestling
debut with a 5-3 decision over Ohio State's Ray Gordon.
