Whiting added to Minnesota roster
MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota wrestling has expanded its 2024-25 roster, welcoming Clayton Whiting from Oconto Falls, Wis., and the University of Missouri.
Whiting comes to Minnesota after two years competing at 184 pounds with the Tigers, during which time he posted a 25-5 overall record.
“We are excited to welcome Clayton to the Minnesota Wrestling program,” Minnesota head coach Brandon Eggum said. “Clayton was a top recruit in his class and has had success at every level, now he gets the opportunity to compete in the premier wrestling conference. With his hunger for success and a commitment to training, he's poised to make a significant impact and will be a great fit with our team.”
This past season as a redshirt freshman, Whiting went 10-3 overall, including an 8-3 record in duals. Five of his wins were by major decision, three were by tech fall, and he added one by pin.
He started the year by going 4-0 to win the 184-pound title at the Tiger Style Invite. Whiting then proceeded to win his next three dual matches to start the year 7-0 and climb as high as No. 7 in the Intermat rankings. He remained in the starting lineup up until the final three duals of the season, beating three ranked opponents along the way.
As a true freshman in 2022-23, Whiting went 15-2 with one win by fall and one by tech fall. He competed in six open tournaments, winning three titles and sharing a fourth. His titles came at the Lindenwood Open, Cougar Clash, and UNI Open, while his co-championship came at the Roger Denker Open. In addition, he placed third at the Tiger Style Invite and recorded a 4-2 mark at The Midlands.
Whiting graduated from Oconto Falls High School, where he was a four-time Wisconsin state champion with a record of 163-5. He was named the 2022 Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award winner for the state of Wisconsin, as well as the 2022 Wisconsin Coaches Association Athlete of the Year. FloWrestling ranked Whiting as the No. 2 recruit in the 182-pound weight class and No. 32 in its pound-for-pound rankings.
In addition to his high school accomplishments, Whiting also was a three-time state champion in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman. He was a finalist at the 2022 Super 32 and came in third at the event in 2021. Whiting competed at the club level at Askren Wrestling Academy.