Match Eleven
Date/Time: Friday, Jan. 26 | 7:00 PM
Teams: Cleveland State (3-7, 1-2) vs. Ohio (5-3, 1-1)
Location: Cleveland, Ohio | Woodling Gymnasium
Follow: Video | Scoring | Tickets

Projected Matchups
125: Ben Aranda (6-9) vs. Ryan Meek (6-12)/Bryce Skinner (2-2)
133: Nick Molchak (8-11) vs. Mason Brugh (7-8)
141: Dylan Layton (12-6)/Michael Markulin (4-8) vs. Aidan Waszak (2-8)/Logan Cravatas (1-3)
149: Douglas Terry (10-8)/Ethan Mitchell (7-8) vs. No. 28 Derek Raike (14-8)/Dom Hoffarth (1-1)
157: Shane Heil (10-12)/Nick Abounader (2-5) vs. No. 13 Peyten Keller (13-2)
165: Tate Geiser (14-10)/Daniel Patten (6-8) vs. No. 12 Garrett Thompson (20-5)/Jacob Lledo (2-2)
174: DeAndre Nassar (6-7)/Ronald Dimmerling (1-10) vs. No. 16 Sal Perrine (13-8)
184: Joey Lyons (2-14) vs. No. 26 Zayne Lehman (10-5)
197: No. 33 Ben Smith (13-5) vs. Austin Starr (14-5)
285: No. 20 Daniel Bucknavich (15-2)/Mason Cover (5-5) vs. Jordan Greer (8-6)

Youth Night
Cleveland State will host a youth match between Lake Catholic and Brecksville at 5:30 p.m. Following the dual against OU, the Green and White will be singing autographs for the youth in attendance.

Last Time Out
The Vikings claimed four of the final five matches against NIU, but it wasn't enough as the Huskies won, 28-15. Tate Geiser (165 pounds), DeAndre Nassar (174 pounds), and Daniel Bucknavich (285 pounds) all won by decision, while Ben Smith (197 pounds) recorded a fall in 6:41.

Team Leaders
Dylan Layton and Daniel Bucknavich lead the way in falls with four, Tate Geiser has a team-best three technical falls, and Douglas Terry has four major decisions.

About Ohio
The Bobcats stand at 5-3 overall and 1-1 in the MAC after picking up their first conference win of the season on Friday, Jan. 19, against George Mason, 29-6. In the match, the Bobcats won nine of the ten bouts. Garrett Thompson leads the team with eight falls, Derek Raike with four technical falls, and Raike and Jeremy Olszko with three major decisions apiece.

Ohio has five wrestlers currently ranked in the NCAA Coaches' Poll: No. 28 Derek Raike (149 pounds), No. 13 Peyten Kellar (157 pounds), No. 12 Garrett Thompson (165 pounds), No. 16 Sal Perrine (174 pounds), and No. 26 Zayne Lehman (184 pounds).

Series History
This will be the 20th meeting between these two teams, with Ohio holding a 13-5-1 advantage. The Bobcats have won the previous two duals, including a 27-18 win last season. The Vikings last won in 2021 on the road, 23-12.

Vikings in the Rankings
Daniel Bucknavich (285 Pounds) – No. 20 (NCAA) | No. 21 (TCWR) | No. 22 (Flo) | No. 24 (Intermat)
Ben Smith (197 Pounds) – No. 33 (NCAA) | No. 33 (TCWR)

Preseason Poll
Cleveland State was chosen to finish third in the MAC for the 2023-24 season after receiving 86.5 points. Lock Haven was picked to claim its third straight title with 126.5 points, and Central Michigan was second with 119 points. 

Welcome Back, Placers
The Green and White return four placers from last season: Ben Aranda (125 Pounds), Jake Manley (133 Pounds), DeAndre Nassar (184 Pounds), and Daniel Bucknavich (285 Pounds).

The Return of the Champ
Ben Smith returns to the Cleveland State lineup after taking this past season off to focus on school. In 2022, Smith became the Vikings first-ever MAC Champion, winning at 197-pounds. This season, he will start the year as the favorite to win his second MAC title in the same weight class.

Up Next
Cleveland State will compete in its final open of the season at Edinboro on Saturday, Feb. 3.