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EAST LANSING, Mich.– The Ohio wrestling team opened their 2022-23 season at the Michigan State Open today (Nov. 5). The Bobcats dominated the freshman/sophomore division, with 11 Bobcats finishing in the top six of their weight class. The day was highlighted by first place finishes from freshman Derek Raike (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) at 149 pounds and redshirt freshman Peyten Kellar (Cutler, Ohio) at 157 pounds. 

Freshman Malachi O'Leary (Wyoming, Ohio) made a strong collegiate debut, finishing second at 125 pounds. In the 133 pound bracket, freshman Mason Brugh (Wadsworth, Ohio) finished sixth overall while freshman Pierce Taylor (Cincinnati, Ohio) also finished sixth after dropping the semifinal match at 141 pounds. 

At 149 pounds, Raike's path to the championship including two falls and a major decision. In the first place match, he pinned Michigan State's Braden Stauffenberg at 3:49, securing his victory. Three Bobcats placed at 157 pounds: freshman Will Collins (Glenview, Ill.) finished fifth, redshirt freshman Garrett Thompson (Murrysville, Pa.) finished second after wrestling teammate Kellar, who won by a 4-0 decision. Prior to the championship match, both Kellar and Thompson were dominant: Kellar recorded a fall and a technical fall while Thompson won with a fall and a major decision. 

Freshman Jack Lledo (Penn Valley, Pa.) finished second in the 165 pound bracket, falling the first-place match to Northwestern's Joseph Martin. At 184 pounds, freshman Charlie Heydorn (Lake Forest, Ill.) finished fourth while redshirt freshman Mason Clem (Springfield, Ill.) finished fifth with a 10-0 major decision. Freshman Austin Starr wrapped up the freshman/sophomore division with a third place finish in the 197 pound bracket. 

In the open bracket, sophomore Dan Segura (Columbus, Ohio) finished sixth at 157 pounds. Redshirt junior Sean O'Dwyer (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) placed fourth in the 165 pound bracket. On the day, O'Dwyer recorded four decision victories and one major decision. 

Up next, the Bobcats travel to Boone, N.C. for the Mountaineer Invitational on Saturday, Nov. 12. 

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