FINAL RESULTS

DAY 1 RECAP

CLEVELAND, Ohio – After an up-and-down Saturday for the Otterbein wrestling team at Central Regionals, Sunday morphed into a memorable stretch of pushing through more adversity for a pair of program journeyman looking to extend their college careers.

After semifinal losses to begin the day, Ryan Whitten (157) and Jarrod Setliff patiently stayed the course and worked back to have a chance at qualifying for the NCAA Championships in March. The duo did just that, ultimately prevailing in third-place bouts to clinch an automatic spot at the Big Dance…

Those podium efforts allowed the Cardinals to finish T-12th in the field of 20 total schools lacing up at the Veale Center. Baldwin Wallace took home the team title while Ohio Northern finished as a very respectable runner-up.

WHITTEN'S PATH:

The true senior won the 157-pound regional title as a freshman before seeing his NCAA's canceled (on site) due to COVID. He then barely had a season as a sophomore and missed out on nationals as a junior, by one spot, after a one-point loss in the 2022 third-place showdown.

He was forced to earn it every step of the way yet again, dropping a semifinal matchup to John Carroll standout Patrick McGraw to begin Sunday's slate. The Dayton native would need two victories to make it out… and they came.

His route back started in a grueling matchup with Calvin Cai from host CWRU, and Whitten emerged 1-0 by virtue of an escape point to begin the second period after choosing down. Everything was the up for grabs against Nick Nettleton (Mount Union) in the third-place contest…

Whitten once again used a strong start to the second period, earning two points for a reversal and then giving up a stalling point in the third to prevail 2-1. He improves to a 27-6 record this season and 91-22 for his time at Otterbein.

SETLIFF'S PATH:

The fifth-year veteran saw a near identical path to his teammate, beginning with a tough semifinal loss to top seed (and eventual champ) Doug Byrne of BW. Nevertheless, Setliff quickly regained momentum by pinning Olivet's Hiram Robinson just 18 seconds into the second period…

That set up a third-place showdown against John Carroll's Jesse Kanatzar, who previously bested Setliff (8-3 decision) back in November during a conference dual in the Rike Center. But that was then, and this is now…

Setliff took control early and never looked back, recording his first of SIX takedowns in the opening minutes and ultimately claiming top position on his counterpart four times in the final period to leave little doubt. He prevailed with a 12-5 decision to also get back to NCAA's for a second time.

The Medina native now stands 24-7 this season and 87-37 for his college run.

UP NEXT:

The duo will represent Otterbein on the national stage come March 10-11 at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, Va. Stay tuned for more details and full preview in the coming week!