Central Michigan drops close matchup against Ohio
Central Michigan redshirt junior Mason Shrader wrestles Cleveland State redshirt freshman Connor Saylor at McGuirk Arena, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025. Shrader won by tech fall 19-4. (CM-Life | Mark Hoover)
With three matches left, Central Michigan held a slim one-point lead over the Bobcats on Sunday. Over the next three matches, the lead disappeared, with Ohio taking the lead and the win in the final bout.
Unlike the previous matches, Central Michigan took a big early lead, with Grant Stahl, Sean Spidle, and Andrew Austin picking up wins. Spidle picked his win up by a major decision, giving Central Michigan a 10-0 lead.
Derek Raike for Ohio took on Kellen Aure from Central Michigan. Raike took an early lead and kept the points rolling as he picked up a huge tech fall for the Bobcats cutting the Central Michigan lead in half to 10-5.
Johnny Lovett hopped on the mat for Central Michigan to try and regain some of the momentum for the Chippewas, and after an 8-2 win against Logan Cravatas, this win gave the Chippewas a 13-5 lead.
Ohio's Jack Lledo and CMU's Chandler Amaker wrestled a defensive match, with Lledo capturing the 4-2 win to put the score at 13-8.
The marquee matchup was two of the best wrestlers in the Mid-American Conference, Garett Thompson for Ohio taking on Alex Cramer from Central Michigan.
Thompson dominated the matchup with a quick takedown, then piling up the points, finally finishing up 12- 1 to earn the major decision and get four points for the Bobcats to cut Central Michigan's lead to 12-13.
The Bobcats took their first of the match after Jeremy Olszko defeated Adrien Cramer 5-1 and after eight matches Ohio held a slim 15-13 lead.
Luke Cochran took on Austin Starr from Ohio and with a 4-2 win. Central Michigan took the lead again heading into the match of the meet.
The final match was Bryan Caves from Central Michigan going up against Jordan Greer and after a 4-1 win, Greer took the final three points for the Ohio Bobcats and put the Bobcats over the edge for the first time against Central Michigan in five years.
Central Michigan Wrestling will be back on the road against Edinboro University on Friday.
