WESTERVILLE – The Otterbein women's wrestling program is capping off its inaugural season in a big way this weekend. Four Cardinals will be competing in the NCWWC National Championships at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, and one of them enters as a favorite to win a national title.

"I've worked super hard, and I think I'm going to go out there and dominate and get the job done as long as I wrestle like I know how and just be myself," senior Olivia Shore said. "Making history for this school would be awesome."

Shore joins freshmen Grace Murphy, Rylee Touhalisky and Hailey Hatfield as national qualifiers from Otterbein this season after all four student-athletes earned spots by placing in the top four in their respective weight class at the NCWWC Region 4 Championships on Feb. 22.

All four are looking to looking to put an exclamation point on what has already been an exciting, successful season for a Cardinal team that is tied for 13th nationally in the National Wrestling Coaches Association's final team rankings and is ranked 14th nationally by The Open Mat. Otterbein currently boasts the only collegiate women's wrestling team in central Ohio, and the NCAA's announcement in January that it voted to recognize women's wrestling as its 91st championship sport beginning in 2026 generated even more buzz around the program.

Featuring teams from all three NCAA divisions, the 2025 National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, March 7-8, beginning at 10 a.m. each day.
Before departing for Iowa on Wednesday, head coach Chris Kline and the four nationally qualifying Cardinals met with the Otterbein athletics communications office to answer a few questions about this season and the upcoming national championships.
 
Olivia Shore, senior, 103 pounds (Saint Paris, Ohio/Miami East High School)

Shore, the Region 4 champion at 103 pounds, boasts an 18-1 record with 12 wins via pin this season. She was the 103-pound champ and was named Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Quad Cities D3 Invite and won her weight class at the Tiffin Open while adding a runner-up finish at the Indiana Tech Warrior Open this year.

"Olivia has led by example all season. The other girls see the work she puts in and her focus, and when you give that type of effort, you get the results that you want," Kline said. "It's been exciting to see her grow and progress here at Otterbein, and we're excited to see what this week holds for her."

Shore is ranked No. 1 in Region 4 and No. 5 nationally in her weight class by the NWCA and is the top-ranked wrestler at 103 pounds by The Open Mat. The first female to win a match at boys state in Ohio and a two-time girls state champion in high school, Shore is seeking her second collegiate national title after winning the NCWWC crown at 101 pounds as a freshman at Tiffin in 2022.

Q: What attracted you to Otterbein to be part of its inaugural women's wrestling team?
A: I liked Coach Kline's history in wrestling, and I also wanted to stay close to home. And my aunt is an Otterbein alum, and she always had good things to say about it. Once I visited, I liked the atmosphere and felt like it would be a great place for me.

Q: How would you describe your leadership on this team?
A: I feel happy and safe and the best version of myself here at Otterbein, and I enjoy helping younger girls starting out. I grew up with a lot of siblings and had a leadership role, so I'm kind of a natural leader.

Q: Talk about how special this season has been for you.
A: It's been really special. Being able to be a leader to younger girls has been really cool. It's special to see that we've built such a good environment, and people want to come here. Having that great environment and all that positive energy is awesome. I love everything about my life and everything about wrestling. I'm really grateful.

Q: How have you improved as a wrestler from the beginning of the season to now?
A: I've been out with injuries the past couple years, so being able to finally get my body back to get matches in to get me ready for the national tournament feels good.

Q: How did all the support everyone showed you at your home meet on Jan. 28 spark the team into the postseason?
A: It was awesome for the girls to see and feel that environment of people caring about us and showing their support and love. Being in that environment in our home gym gave us more fire.

Q: How did you prepare for the regional championships and what were your expectations going in?
A: I prepared like I always prepare. I trained hard like I usually do and made sure my body always felt good. I have the weight-cut down to a science now, so it's all about trusting my training and getting extra work if I need it.

Q: What does it feel like to be a national qualifier again?
A: Winning never gets old, and being the best never gets old. It's a good feeling, and I'm excited to do it again this weekend. As long as I trust in the Lord and trust in my team and do what I always do, I'm ready to roll.

Q: What are you most excited about for your trip to Iowa to compete in the national championships?
A: I'm excited to have this experience with other girls on the team. For the girls that made it, it's going to be really awesome and fun. Regardless of the outcome, it's a historic moment for Otterbein, and I'm excited to be part of it. And I think I'm going to get the job done, so I'm excited."
 
Grace Murphy, freshman, 207 pounds (Columbus, Ohio/Whetstone High School)

Murphy placed third in the 207-pound bracket at the Region 4 Championships to earn All-Region recognition and a trip to nationals. She is 15-6 on the season, recording all of her victories via pin.

"Grace has grown so much, probably more than anyone else on the team," Kline said. "It was a struggle for her to get started at first because she wasn't too sure of herself. But we were able to get her back to wrestling, and she has grown both as a wrestler and an individual. She's learned how strong she is."

A two-year letter winner in wrestling in high school, Murphy earned Most Outstanding Wrestler and Golden Brave awards as a senior and was named Most Valuable Wrestler as a junior. She enters the national meet ranked No. 2 in Region 4 by the NWCA.

Q: What attracted you to Otterbein to be part of its inaugural women's wrestling team?
A: Coach Kline was a big part of it. I really like the environment he created and his coaching style. Also, it's the first year for women's wrestling here, and I thought it would be really cool to make history. The smaller team also drew me here. I'm not very outgoing, so knowing I could get closer to my teammates and that it was their first time being on this team here too was really special.

Q: Talk about how special this season has been for you.
A: I was skeptical in the beginning. I didn't want to wrestle initially because I thought college was going to be too overwhelming, and I didn't know if I could balance both academics and wrestling. But I've had really awesome support, and everyone has encouraged me to work hard on and off the mat. Seeing that I could place at a tournament and qualify for nationals is something that I never thought was possible. I experience a lot of self-doubt, so I'm proud of my accomplishments and am excited to see what else I can do.

Q: How have you improved as a wrestler from the beginning of the season to now?
A: My attitude has changed. I was really overwhelmed with school at first with everything being new to me, and I wasn't pushing myself to my full capabilities. But everyone has been really supportive, and I've improved mentally and on the mat as well.

Q: How did you prepare for the regional championships and what were your expectations going in?
A: Everybody told me that I would do great, but I didn't think qualifying for nationals was possible. It takes me 30 minutes to warm up before a match. I put my headphones in and walk around and watch my competition. I really try to focus and talk positively to myself.

Q: What does it feel like to be a national qualifier as a freshman?
A: It was surreal. It really hasn't sunk in yet, but I'm proud of my accomplishments, and everyone has been super supportive.

Q: What are you most excited about for your trip to Iowa to compete in the national championships?
A: I'm excited to wrestle in the arena. I went to state last year and was really overwhelmed because it was my first time on that kind of stage, and the big lights were super intimidating. In Iowa, we get the opportunity to practice beforehand, which will be really helpful. I'm also excited to spend this time with my teammates and share this experience with them.
 
Rylee Touhalisky, freshman, 110 pounds (Findlay, Ohio/Findlay High School)

Touhalisky placed fourth in the 110-pound bracket at the Region 4 Championships to earn All-Region honors and a berth to nationals. She is 23-11 on the season with 12 of those wins coming via pin.

"Rylee didn't have a lot of belief in herself at first, but she has grown a lot this season," Kline said. "It's fun to watch her wrestle because she's aggressive no matter what."

A three-year letter winner in wrestling and two-year letter winner in lacrosse in high school, she enters the national meet ranked No. 4 in Region 4 by the NWCA.

Q: What attracted you to Otterbein to be part of its inaugural women's wrestling team?
A: I really liked the environment Coach Kline was creating here. Also, I was the person that created the first girls team at Findlay High School, and I wanted to be a part of creating the first team here at Otterbein.

Q: Talk about how special this season has been for you.
A: I really enjoyed how close-knit we were as a team this year. We have a family-type environment here.

Q: How have you improved as a wrestler from the beginning of the season to now?
A: I've improved on the mental side. At the beginning, I wasn't confident that I would do well this year. But now, I know I'm good, and I've seen that.

Q: How did you prepare for the regional championships and what were your expectations going in?
A: Since I was ranked No. 4 in the region, I was hoping to place at least fourth. My expectation going in was to place fourth, and that's what I did. To prepare, I've been coming in for practice at special times because my labs interfere with normal practices.

Q: What does it feel like to be a national qualifier as a freshman?
A: It feels good because I know there were people doubting me. It's a good confidence boost, and I don't know if I will be able to do it again, so this is special.

Q: What are you most excited about for your trip to Iowa to compete in the national championships?
A: I know the girl I'm facing in the first round is really good, so getting to wrestle her will be a great experience to see where I'm at compared with other wrestlers.
 
Hailey Hatfield, freshman, 117 pounds (Centerburg, Ohio/Delaware Hayes High School)

Hatfield placed fourth in the 117-pound bracket at the Region 4 Championships to earn All-Region accolades and a spot at nationals. She is 21-11 on the season with nine of those victories coming via pin.

"Hailey is an awesome individual," Kline said. "She was the first one who committed to our program, so for a long time, it was just me and her. I've known her the longest of all the girls, and it's awesome to see someone who does the right things and puts in a lot of hard work and always has a positive attitude earn a spot in the national tournament. She absolutely deserves it."

A four-year letter winner in wrestling in high school, Hatfield was a state qualifier as a freshman and sophomore and was named a state alternate as a senior. She enters the national meet ranked No. 4 in Region 4 by the NWCA.

Q: What attracted you to Otterbein to be part of its inaugural women's wrestling team?
A: I really liked Coach Kline. I met him at my tournaments in high school, and one my coaches knew him and encouraged me to talk to him. I was the first person on our team to commit here, which was pretty cool, and watching everyone else join was really cool.

Q: Talk about how special this season has been for you.
A: It has been a lot of fun. I didn't think the team was going to be huge, but it's been nice because I've been able to connect with everybody more. We have a close-knit family atmosphere, and I did better than I thought I would, which is exciting.

Q: How have you improved as a wrestler from the beginning of the season to now?
A: I struggled at the beginning of the season with maintaining certain things, but I feel like I've really improved with my discipline.

Q: How did you prepare for the regional championships and what were your expectations going in?
A: We had some really good practices beforehand. We talked a lot about our mentality, which helped a lot. And before every practice, we talk about what we're grateful for, which is a good reminder. We worked hard, and it paid off.

Q: What does it feel like to be a national qualifier as a freshman?
A: I'm kind of shocked, but I'm really proud of myself. I don't think it has fully hit me yet.

Q: What are you most excited about for your trip to Iowa to compete in the national championships?
A: Just the experience. I want to see the arena, and it'll be fun to watch my teammates wrestle. I'm excited that I get this chance because I might never get it again, so I want to make the most of it.
 
Chris Kline, head coach

Kline joined the Otterbein Athletics staff in the fall of 2023 to lead the women's wrestling program as the school's 22nd varsity sport. A standout wrestler at Westerville North High School, he was a three-time state qualifier, two-time state placer and the OHSAA state champion as a senior. He later wrestled collegiately at Ohio University and coached wrestling at Westerville North and Hilliard Davidson high schools.

Q: Looking back to the beginning of the season, what were your expectations for this team this year?
A: This was going to be new to me as well, so I just wanted to see where everyone was at and then develop from there. But from day one, I had a lot of belief in these girls. As the season progressed, I saw that we could compete, and I kept putting it in their heads that they came here for a reason and deserved to get out there and wrestle in the big show.

Q: What are your thoughts on having four national qualifiers in the program's inaugural season?
A: It's an amazing accomplishment, especially in the first year of our program. It shows girls that as we continue to grow our team that they can achieve big things here.

Q: How has having Olivia on the team benefited such a young roster?
A: She helps set the tone for practice and helps the girls focus. A lot of them watched Olivia wrestle when they were younger, so there's a lot of respect for her. She holds everybody accountable. I couldn't have asked for anyone better to help me start this program.

Q: What are your expectations for the national championships?
A: Obviously, I want to see Olivia get back on top, and I truly believe that she can do it. But at the end of the day, I just want to see them all wrestle their best and have fun and enjoy the moment.

Q: How does this season serve as a springboard for future success for the program?
A: We've shown that we have a good balance of hard work and fun in this program, and when you have good balance, it leads to success. Moving forward, I expect even more national qualifiers. I think this can be a great spot for women's wrestling, and I'm super excited to see what the future holds.