by Michaela Alfano '25

Ohio Wesleyan University senior Tyler Bodovetz (Streetsboro) will represent the Battling Bishops at the NCAA Division III wrestling championship, to be hosted by Johnson & Wales University on Friday and Saturday in Providence, R.I.

Bodovetz took the long road to the national championship meet.  After dropping his semifinal match at the NCAA Division III Central Regional tournament on March 1, Bodovetz came back to win 2 matches in a row in the consolation bracket to place third and grab the final spot to compete and represent Ohio Wesleyan at the NCAA Division III championship.

Bodovetz is the first Bishop to make it to the national stage since 1979 when Mark Rodan competed, and is the first to do so since the Ohio Wesleyan wrestling program was reinstated to varsity status.  The chance to represent the Bishops and this program means the world to Bodovetz.

"It feels good.  It's a better feeling because it shows that our program can turn out these kinds of performances.  I'm very grateful to be in this position but there is still more work to do," said Bodovetz.

Sticking to the basics at the high level while never giving up on his goals has allowed Bodovetz to reach this place.  Having a team that holds each other accountable in unique ways and looking at the season as glass-half-full instead of half-empty kept him going in those tough moments.

Wrestling is just as much a physical game as it is a mental game.  Strong leadership and teammates have been critical for Bodovetz.  He shared that after dropping his semifinal match, coming back to win the next two was a big mental challenge.

"When you just break it down to scoring the next point, winning the next opportunity, the more you start overthinking it and getting super serious, all the emotions flaring up, that's when it drains you," said Bodovetz.

He approached his time between the matches by trusting the process and staying laid back.  He rehydrated, talked through the game plan with his coaches, and got support from his teammates, all of whom helped him to go on and succeed.

Between his matches, he had about an hour and a half to regroup, which was jam-packed.  It was full of gaining energy, locking in, and working as a team with his coaching staff to keep his mind clean.  He leaned into the moment and the support of his team.  Even knowing he needed to win the next two matches, he took each moment in stride, just excited to get back on the mat.

"He has a high level of effort and attitude.  That is the philosophy built into our program.  He got a little setback in the semifinals but to be able to give all that effort and go the hard way is pretty satisfying," said head coach Paul Reid.

Leaning into where you start and being loyal is something that has been something true to Bodovetz throughout his 4 years as more success has come his way.  In all the work he does, he remembers where he is from, which has always been OWU.  He shared that the bond and support system they've built here has made him even more sure in his choice.

Since the program returned, Bodovetz has played a major role.  He shared that the program has grown by leaps and bounds, crediting his teammates for the culture they have built.  Growth is not defined by the wins and the losses because outside of wrestling there also has been individual growth as people.

The team is truly a family, which Bodovetz says is the reason he was able to make it to this stage.  The constant support from the team around him is a source of strength and encouragement, especially in situations where he has had to come from behind to win.  But even when there have been losses, he looks at them as lessons.

"I know some people say Ls aren't for losses, they're for lessons.  All of my losses have been lessons.  Just taking time to get in, watch film, and sit back to learn has been the best way to grow," said Bodovetz.

Reid described Bodovetz as tough through and through.  He is the kind of athlete who puts in the work day in and out to get better.  That toughness comes from learning from the losses.  Bodovetz takes each match one at a time, but keeps the lessons he's learned along the way with him.

A big way that he has grown over the last few years has been to draw from everyone else's leadership.  Bodovetz credits his teammates for being good at helping others shine.  He has learned when to step back and listen but also when to be the louder voice in the room. The program here has allowed him to really lean into the team culture, where every teammate helps the others grow.

Going into this tournament, he is going to stick to what he knows.  He knows that the journey will be hard but giving his all in practice, talking with his teammates, and listening to his coaches will set him up for success.

"Setbacks are going to happen, and things aren't going to go your way.  You're going to need to respond pretty much automatically.  You can be upset for a minute or two but you have to flip the switch and be ready to go again, which Tyler did exceptionally well," shared Reid.

Anything can happen, but Bodovetz is ready to compete at the national championship.  He is going to bring his all to the mat, leaving everything out there to represent Ohio Wesleyan proudly.