With a few weeks remaining in their second season as a varsity program, the Otterbein University women's wrestling team is proving why they have a solid foundation moving the program forward. This weekend, the Cardinals will compete in their final tune-up before Regionals at the DIII Quad Cities Invitational, hosted by Augustana University.
The DIII Quad Cities Invitational features 32 Division III teams from across the country. This won't be the first high-stakes invitational on the Cardinals' schedule this year, as the team had trips to Northwestern and Iowa on the docket. Ending the 2025 calendar year, Otterbein competed in the Midlands Championships, hosted by Northwestern University.
In mid-January, the squad traveled to Iowa City for a pair of duals against No. 1 Iowa and No. 9 Lehigh. The experience allowed the team to wrestle inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, a mecca known well in the wrestling world.
"The Iowa experience was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity," said freshman Abby Green. "For a hard-core college wrestling fan, being able to say that you have not only been inside the Carver arena, but you've competed against the Iowa Hawkeyes is especially memorable. This was truly a core memory for me."
Green competed in the 138-pound match against Lehigh at CHA. Despite the Cardinals dropping both matches, it proved to be a vital learning experience for the team, battling some of the best wrestlers in the country.
"It's an experience I'll always remember. Just being in the arena was awesome," added junior Marvet Hejazin. "But I'm grateful because I feel as if we set the culture for this season and the rest to come. The growth of our team has been awesome. Our team is younger, but I think that's the best thing that could have happened."
The significant growth of the program from year one to year two speaks volumes about head coach Chris Kline, his vision for the future and his ability to recruit. Unable to fill a full lineup in their inaugural season, the Cardinals have multiple wrestlers at many weight classes, creating a competitive environment and depth within the lineup.
Hejazin – a Westerville North product – bonded with Kline over building this program in their hometown. A transfer after her freshman year, Hejazin not only changed schools, but completely changed sports to wrestle for Kline and the Cardinals.
"I didn't really have the idea to ever wrestle in college. I was already in college playing a different sport. He said something to me that's always stuck to me … he said that this was his dream to coach at a school that was in the town he grew up in. It was something that sat with me for a really long time," added Hejazin.
Less than two weeks after the Iowa trip the Cardinals hosted their lone home event of the season – one in memorable fashion. Prior to the matches, Otterbein celebrated its lone senior, Olivia Shore, who was greeted with a lengthy ovation, demonstrating the impact she has made in the women's wrestling community. Shore transferred into Otterbein last season for year one where she won the 103 pound National Championship.
Kline and graduate assistant Leilah Castro presented Shore with her National Championship ring, as she gracefully thanked those in attendance for their impact on her and her career.
"What excited me most about growing our program is knowing that our team is only going to get stronger. We have grown in talent and numbers so much since last season and I cannot wait to see how the future unfolds. " added Green.
Last year, Otterbein hosted the
first-ever collegiate women's wrestling match in central Ohio, hosting John Carroll and falling by a narrow 25-24 margin. With NBC 4 in attendance, the event and social media craze was the highest-engaged post related to Otterbein last season.
The sport continues to make strides at the national level. At the 2025 NCAA Convention, the sport was approved unanimously to hold NCAA Championships. Previously, the national championships were not sponsored by the NCAA and were held under the name National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships.
The growth of the sport continued into this year as well. At this year's NCAA Convention, the motion was approved to create a dedicated championship for Division III women's wrestling expected to launch in 2028. When Otterbein added women's wrestling, it became the 160th collegiate program and 51st in Division III. Those numbers have increased in the last two years alone with more schools adding this fast-growing sport.
After this weekend, Otterbein will have two weeks to prepare for the NCAA Regionals, hosted by Tiffin University Feb. 20-21. The top three placers in each weight class will advance to the NCAA National Championships in Iowa on Mar. 6-7.
