Freshman Mendez Earns his Black Shirt
1/18/2023 5:39:38 PM | General, Wrestling
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Freshman Jesse Mendez is the 12th Buckeye all-time and the ninth on the 2022-23 roster to earn Black Shirt status, Tom Ryan, head coach of the Ohio State wrestling Buckeyes, announced Wednesday.
Mendez, a 133-pounder from Crown Point, Indiana., is 8-1 this season, which includes a 4-1 record in dual competition and a 2-0 mark in Big Ten duals.
Mendez, currently ranked in the No. 9 spot collegiately at 133 pounds by Intermat, completed his high school career at Crown Point High School with a 157-1 record. He won four Indiana state championships, one of 10 to do so in Indiana history.
True freshman @mendezjesse3 trades in his grey gear for black after a Top-15 win and breaking into the Top-10 at 133. Mendez becomes the first new Black Shirt of the 22-23 season#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/66SXw2D7wF— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) January 18, 2023
The Ohio State Black Shirts
All Ohio State wrestlers training inside the Jennings Wrestling Facility began wearing gray shirts in 2019-20. Only those individuals deserving of elite distinction will be bestowed a ‘black shirt’ and earn the privilege of wearing black in The Jennings. Once donning a black shirt, a student-athlete then joins the coaching staff in determining future ‘black shirt worthy’ teammates.
Becoming a Black Shirt …
* Rewards those who are doing things that in our program are non-negotiable – J Jaggers.
*Nominees must receive unanimous approval from coaching staff and current “Black Shirts”
* Must outwardly display a deep love for what you do — elite discipline, grit, selflessness, excellence
* Help team become more conscious of making decisions that will help the team to the next level
Black Shirts — By the Numbers
35 OSU Letterwinners
26 NCAA Qualifiers
17 All-Americans
15 NWCA Scholar All-Americans
5 Big Ten Championships
5 All Big Ten Selections
4 Big Ten Distinguished Scholars
1 Big Ten Medal of Honor
1 Big Ten Freshman of the Year
1 InterMat Freshman of the Year
Noting the Black Shirts
Kollin Moore (197)
• Four-Time All-American (2017-20)
• Four-Time NCAA Qualifier (3rd, 4th,
2nd, 2020 canceled)
• Four-Year letterwinner (2017-20)
• Big Ten Medal of Honor (2020)
• Three Time Big Ten Champion
(2017-18-20)
• Three-Time All-Big Ten (2017-18-20)
• Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2017)
• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2020)
• Undefeated in 2020 (27-0)
• NWCA Scholar All-American (2019-20)
Luke Pletcher (133/141)
• Four Year letterwinner (2017-20)
• Three Time All-American (2018-20)
• Three-Time NCAA Qualifier (4th, 4th,
2020 canceled)
• Big Ten Champion (2020/141)
• All-Big Ten (2020)
• NWCA Scholar All-American
(2018-19-20)
Sammy Sasso (149)
• Two Year letterwinner (2020-21)
• Two Time All-American (2020-21)
• NCAA Qualifier (2020 canceled,
2021/2nd, 2022)
• Big Ten Champion (2021)
• Big Ten Runner Up (2020, 2022)
• All-Big Ten (2021)
• Freshman of the Year (2020, InterMat)
• NWCA Scholar All-American (2020)
Ethan Smith (174)
• Three Year letterwinner (2019-21)
• Two Time All-American (2020-21)
• NCAA Qualifier (2020 canceled,
2021/5th, 2022)
• NWCA Scholar All-American (2021)
Kaleb Romero (184)
• Three Year letterwinner (2019-21)
• All-American (2020)
• NCAA Qualifier (2020 Canceled,
2021, 2022)
• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2021)
• NWCA Scholar All-American
(2019-20-21)
Malik Heinselman (125)
• Three Year letterwinner (2019-21)
• NCAA Qualifier (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
• NWCA Scholar All-American
(2019-20-21)
Dylan D’Emilio (141)
• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2021)
• NWCA Scholar All-American (2021)
• NCAA Qualifier (2021, 2022)
Carson Kharchla (165)
• Academic All-Big Ten (2021)
• OSU Scholar Athlete (2021)
• NCAA Qualifier (2022)
Tate Orndorff (Hwt)
• Letterwinner (2021)
• All-American (2021)
• NCAA Qualifier (2019, 2020, 2021/8th,
2022)
• NWCA Scholar All-American (2021)
Fritz Schierl (174)
• Four Year letterwinner (2018-21)
• Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2021)
• Academic All-Big Ten (2018-21)
• OSU Scholar Athlete (2017-21)
Gavin Hoffman (197)
• Two-year letterwinner (2020, 2021)
• NCAA Qualifier (2022)
• Big Ten Championships (2021, 2022-8th, 3-5 record)
• Academic All-Big Ten (2020, 2021)
• OSU Scholar-Athlete (2019, 2020, 2021)
#GoBucks
