Ohio (6-3, 4-1 Mid-American Conference) defeated Central Michigan (4-9, 2-1 MAC) 18-16 in a thrilling MAC matchup Sunday afternoon in The Convo.
“I think our guys have put in a few weeks of hard work,” Ohio coach Joel Greenlee said. “We talk a lot about believing that we're going to be great and believing that we're going to be a team to contend for the MAC title. I think we started believing a little bit."
The Bobcats headed into the matchup with a chip on their shoulder after last week’s 21-20 loss to NIU. The team struggled in their first three bouts before redshirt sophomore Derek Raike faced off against Kellan Aure.
Raike dominated his matchup, winning 22-4, where he executed a ride time of 1:59 in the first period and finished Aure off by technical fall. Raike’s victory brought him to 8-0 in team duels and a 5-0 record in conference duels.
“(Raike) gets bonus points, and we can’t give them up,” Greenlee said. “Derek went and got them. That’s five points instead of three.”
The win sparked life for the Bobcats as the team won three of the next four weight classes. Redshirt junior Jack Lledo (165) won 4-2, redshirt junior Garrett Thompson (174) defeated #9 Alex Cramer 13-1 and redshirt sophomore Jeremy Olszko (184) by 5-1 decision.
Raike came into the 2025 season with a sixth-place finish in the MAC championship, a third-place finish in the Southeast Open and a 17-13 record. This season, he’s flipped the script and is attacking the points.
“I’ve been talking with Greenlee, and we’re focused on scoring points,” Raike said. “Not worrying about winning and losing has benefited and helped me secure bonus points every day.”
Raike currently sits #74 in the nation for his weight class, but his 11-4 record shows he’ll rise the ranks quickly and be a tough competitor in the MAC Championships.
“Every time I wrestle, it’s seared into my brain that no matter whether I win or lose, I wrestle as hard as I can, and no matter what, I’m gonna be happy because I know good things will happen,” Raike said.
The Bobcats will look to continue this success for Senior Night against Kent State in The Convo Friday.
