BW RESULTS
JCU RESULTS

BEREA, Ohio – Although it was a disappointing day for Otterbein when you look at the final team scores, it was the first step in a positive direction when you look at the big picture and within the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC).

Despite continued adversity with the ongoing CoVID-19 pandemic, the Cardinals were able to launch their season with a pair of duals against top-10 opponents Sunday afternoon. Otterbein unfortunately dropped a shutout against No. 6 Baldwin Wallace and then fell to No. 2-ranked John Carroll by a final score of 36-13.

Otterbein forfeited the 133-pound match against BW, and later saw Levi Kibler (165) and Bradley Minnard (heavyweight) drop a pair of close 4-0 decisions.

Sophomore Ryan Whitten, entering ranked No. 1 in the country at 157 pounds, endured a challenging afternoon against two notable opponents. He began with a 12-4 loss to BW's Stanley Bleich, ranked third nationally at 149 pounds (where he was a recent first team All-American) but moving up a weight class.

Whitten then squared off with No. 3-ranked Sam Gross of John Carroll, dropping a 10-4 decision when it was all said and done.

Otterbein did get three victories against JCU by different outcomes. Freshman Nathan Leko (149) tallied a 16-0 technical fall, junior Joey Bradberry delivered a pin at 4:00 and classmate Jarrod Setliff (197) secured a nice 16-7 major.

The Cards are slated to be back in action next weekend up in Alliance, facing Heidelberg and the host Purple Raiders.