Mendez Named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week
11/9/2022 2:00:55 PM | General, Wrestling
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Freshman Jesse Mendez was one of eight Ohio State wrestlers to win individual titles at the Michigan State Open last Saturday in East Lansing. He went 4-0 in his first collegiate event and was named the first 2022-23 Big Ten Wrestler of the Week for his efforts, the conference office announced Wednesday.
Earlier in the week, Mendez was named the Wrestler of the Week by NCAA Wrestling as well.
Jesse Mendez, of @wrestlingbucks, went 4-0 this weekend at the Michigan State Open. @PhenoMendez defeated returning All-American Lucas Byrd, to claim a Michigan State Open title in his Buckeye debut.#NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/0zsO8dDJ3b
— NCAA Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) November 7, 2022
Mendez faced No. 5-ranked Lucas Byrd of Illinois in the MSU Open 133-pound final and after neither wrestler scored in the opening three minutes, Byrd escaped to start the second for a 1-0 advantage that he held going into the final period. Mendez evened the match with an escape late in the third and then secured the 3-2 victory by decision with a takedown.
In the semifinals, Mendez defeated No. 20 Haiden Drury of Utah Valley State by decision, 5-0. In the opening round, Mendez earned his first collegiate win over Wilfried Tanefeu of Michigan by technical fall, 17-2.
MSU Open Division – 133
Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez-1st Place
Champ. Round 1 – Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) def. Wilfried Tanefeu (Michigan) | TF, 17-2
Quarterfinal – Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) def. Cody Moosman (Cleveland State) | Fall 4:27
Semifinal – Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) def. No. 20 Haiden Drury (Utah Valley University) | D, 5-0
1st Place Match – Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) won by decision over Lucas Byrd (Illinois) | D, 3-2
No. 4 Ohio State opens the dual schedule against No. 15 Virginia Tech at 7 p.m. Friday at the Covelli Center in Columbus.
#GoBucks
