CLEVELAND—The Ohio Bobcats wrestling team wrapped up day one of competition at the 2026 NCAA Championships on Thursday (Mar. 19), with redshirt seniors Sal Perrine (Northfield, Ohio) and Zayne Lehman (Akron, Ohio) getting opening round wins for the Bobcats.
 
Redshirt junior Derek Raike (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) and redshirt senior Garrett Thompson (Murrysville, Pa.) saw their seasons come to an end, each going 0-2 on Thursday.
 
Session I
At 157 lbs, 13^th seeded Derek Raike was the first Bobcat to take the mat, facing No. 20 Jimmy Harrington of Harvard in the opening round. Both wrestlers battled back and forth through a tense match that went to sudden victory tied at 1-1, but Raike was unable to convert, giving up a takedown to drop the match by 4-1 decision, moving to the consolation round.
 
Next, at 174 lbs. the 24^th seed Garrett Thompson faced Michigan's ninth-seeded Beau Mantanona. Thompson battled for all seven minutes but came up short, losing by 7-3 decision and moving on to the consolation bracket.
 
15^th seeded Sal Perrine was next on the mat for the Bobcats at 184 lbs, squaring off with 18^th seed Jake Daley of North Carolina. Perrine set the tone with an early first period takedown, lifting Daley off the mat for a mat return and three point takedown. Perrine was strong from the top position, recording an another takedown before the first period expired, taking a 6-1 lead in the match. Starting on bottom, Perrine recorded a quick escape point to begin the second period, before holding strong on top and building riding time. Perrine allowed Daley to earn an escape point to begin the third period, but successfully fended off offensive moved from Daley and secured a bonus point for riding time to secure the 9-3 decision victory, moving on to the second round in the championship bracket.
 
At 197 lbs, Zayne Lehman was the final Bobcat to take the mat in the opening session, battling the 15^th seeded Gabe Sollars of Indiana. Lehman went on the offensive early, reaching for a takedown late in the first period that Sollars defended, ending the period 0-0. Lehman fought through the second period from bottom, unable to escape and receiving a one point penalty for stalling. Facing a 2-0 deficit to begin the third period, Lehman roared to life, forcing Sollars off balance and grabbing a hold of both legs for the takedown, jumping to a 3-2 lead in the match. Lehman rode the momentum to another takedown in less than a minute, securing a come from behind 6-4 decision victory and a spot in the second championship round.
 
Session II
Derek Raike returned to the mat seeking to avenge his first round defeat, facing 29^th seeded Bryce Lowery of Indiana. After a minute of grappling, Raike successfully got in on a single leg and converted for the takedown, before holding Sollars in nearfall position adding four points. Raike gave up a takedown at the end of the period, leading 7-4 after three minutes of action. Sollars would get the fall in the second period, ending Raike's run at the NCAA Championships.
 
Garrett Thompson returned to the mat looking to bounce back from an opening round defeat, facing the 25^th seeded Sergio Desiante of Virginia Tech. Thompson fought hard but could not overcome Desiante, dropping by the match by 5-2 decision, concluding his run at the NCAA championships.
 
Perrine's opening round victory earned him a match with second seeded Aeoden Sinclair of Missouri. The two battled through a scoreless first period, before Sinclair recorded an escape point to begin the second. Perrine battled for all seven minutes, but could not overcome the #2 seed, eventually dropping a 4-0 decision. Perrine moves on to the 184 lb consolation bracket, where he will face 32^nd seeded Caleb Uhlenhopp of Utah Valley.
 
Lehman's first round triumph set him up for a bout with third seeded Stephen Little of Arkansas-Little Rock. Facing a 4-0 deficit entering the third, Lehman recorded an escape point to begin the period. In the end, Lehman could not overcome the two time All-American Little, losing by 7-1 decision. Lehman moves to the 197 lb. consolation bracket, where he will face either Wyatt Ingham of Wisconsin or Sonny Sasso of Virginia Tech
 
Perrine and Lehman will return to the mat tomorrow morning for consolation matches. Competition will start at 12 p.m. ET, with coverage on the ESPN family of networks.  
 
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