Friday, March 20
Cleveland, Ohio
Noon
Ohio State
vs
2026 NCAA Championships
Mendez, Davino to Wrestle for NCAA Titles Saturday
3/20/2026 11:24:00 PM | Wrestling
Five Buckeyes earn All-America status
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Senior Jesse Mendez and redshirt freshman Ben Davino will wrestle for national titles Sunday after clutch semifinal victories Saturday in the 2026 NCAA Championships at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
In all, five Buckeyes earned All-America honors Saturday.
hio State has totaled 69.5 points after two days of competition, good for fifth-place headed into the final day of competition.
Mendez (141), Ben Davino (133) advanced to the finals after semifinal victories Saturday.
Davino will face No. 1 Jax Forest of Oklahoma State for the championship at 133. Mendez will be going for his third-consecutive NCAA Championship at 141 when he takes on No. 2 Sergio Vega of Oklahoma State.
Brandon Cannon (157), Paddy Gallagher (165) and Carson Kharchla (l74) earned All-America honors along with Davino and Mendez with wins in the consolation quarterfinals.
Mendez is the 10th Buckeye to earn All-America honors four times.
Matches to determine first through eighth places will start in the morning session Saturday and end with the NCAA Finals Sunday night.
The consolation finals begin at 11 a.m. (ESPNU/ESPN+) with the finals starting at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Ten Buckeyes earned a spot in the 2026 NCAA Championships, one of six schools to qualify a wrestler in all 10 weight classes.
Tom Ryan, head coach of the Buckeyes, has qualified 10 wrestlers for the NCAA championships for the second-consecutive year and for the fifth time in his Ohio State career. In all, 167 Buckeyes have made the NCAA championships in Ryan's 20 years in Columbus with 80 earning All-America honors.
Mendez, the two-time defending national champion at 141, is the 19th NCAA qualifier at that weight during Ryan's career in Columbus. Ryan has sent 18 qualifiers at 149, 165, 174 and 184.
NCAA Wrestling Championship Schedule
133-Ben Davino
SFs-(2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (3) Marcus Blaze (PSU), D, 3-2 TB1
In the rematch of the 2026 Big Ten Tournament title match won by Davino, there was no score in the opening three minutes. Davino started from bottom to open the second and quickly escaped for a 1-0 lead going to the third. Blaze evened the score with an escape to open the final period of regulation. The match went to overtime tied at 1-all. There was a scramble in under 20 seconds to go that did not result in a takedown. Ohio State challenged there should have been a takedown by Davino. After review, there was no takedown called and the overtime period ended. In the first tiebreaker, Davino started on bottom and escaped after 21 seconds for a 2-1 lead. Davino was called for stalling to even the score at 2-all in the third overtime. Davino then did not allow Blaze to escape to get the 3-2 win with a riding time advantage of eight seconds. Davino will wrestle for a national title Sunday night against No. 1 seed Jax Forest of Oklahoma State.
141-Jesse Mendez
SFs-(1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (5) Luke Stanich (LEH), SV, 4-1
There was no score in the opening three minutes. Mendez started from bottom in the second and escaped in 10 seconds for a 1-0 lead. Stanich tied it at 1-all with an escape in the third. With no additional scoring, the match went to sudden victory. Mendez struck with a takedown to win it by decision, 4-1. Mendez will wrestle for his third-consecutive national title Sunday against (2) Sergia Vega of Oklahoma State.
157-Brandon Cannon
Cons. QFs.-(8) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. (6) Jude Swisher (PENN)
Cannon attacked early and often in the opening period to take a 9-2 lead after three minutes. There was no score in the second before Cannon added two more takedowns in the third and with a point for riding time, won by major decision, 17-3. The win assured All-America honors for Cannon, who remains in contention for third-place. He will battle No. 15 Catrabone of Michigan in the morning session Sunday.
165-Paddy Gallagher
Cons. QFs-(16) Paddy Gallagher (OSU) def. (27) EJ Parco (STAN), SV, 5-2
No points made it to the scoreboard after the first three minutes. Gallagher scored with an escape to start the second. Parco evened the score after being awarded a penalty point for stalling called against Gallagher with 11 seconds left in the second. Parco added an escape point in the third for a 2-1 lead. Gallagher got the stalling point back after it was called against Parco with two seconds left to send the match to sudden victory tied at 2-all. Gallagher then got the win with a takedown with four seconds left to become an All-American with a 5-2 win by decision.
174-Carson Kharchla
Cons. QFs-(4) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. (2) Simon Ruiz (COR), D, 5-3
Kharchla scored the first takedown after a scoreless opening period. After Ruiz escaped to open the second, Kharchla got the takedown and led 3-2 after five minutes. Kharchla scored a reversal in the third and held on after a Ruiz escape to win by decision, 5-3, to earn his second All-America honor of his career.
197-Luke Geog
Cons. QFs-(9) Angelo Posada (STAN) def. (12) Luke Geog (OSU)
Posada opened with a takedown to lead 3-0 after the opening period. An escape early in the second made it 4-1 Stanford. Posada added a takedown to make it 7-0 and with a penalty point for stalling against Geog made it 8-0 after five minutes. Posada finished off the match with a win by major decision, 9-0.
2026 NCAA Championships -- Session III
125-Nic Bouzakis
Cons. Rnd. 2-(3) Nic Bouzakis (OSU) def. (29) Tyler Chappell (PITT), F, 2:35
Bouzakis opened with a takedown for a 3-0 lead in under a minute before getting the pin at 2:35 to advance to the consolation quarterfinals. He then took on Rider's Tyler Klinsky, the No. 11 seed in the third round of consolations and lost by fall (6:45).
133-Ben Davino
QFs-(2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (7) Lucas Byrd (ILL), MD, 14-5
Davio wasted no time in jumping to a 7-0 lead with a takedown and four-point nearfall in less than 40 seconds. He led 10-2 after the opening three minutes. The lead increased to 13-4 after five minutes before an escape in the third secured the 14-5 win by major decision to secure a place in the semifinals and 2026 All-America honors. He then took on (3) Marcus Blaze of Penn State in semifinals.
141-Jesse Mendez
QFs-(1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) vs. (8) Vance Vombaur (MINN), MD, 16-4
Mendez secured a spot in the semifinals along with 2026 All-America honors with a 16-4 win by major decision over Big Ten foe Vance Vombaur of Minnesota. Mendez led 2-0 after the first on a pair of stalling penalty points called against Vombaur. It was 8-2 after five minutes with Mendez securing a pair of takedowns. He added two more in the third to secure the win. He is now Ohio State's 10th four-time All-American in program history. He advanced to face (5) Luke Stanich of Lehigh in the semifinals.
149-Ethan Stiles
Cons. Rnd. 2-(25) Michael Gioffre (ILL) def. (7) Ethan Stiles (OSU), D, 3-1 TB1
Stiles went the distance and then some in the second consolation round before falling to Michael Gioffre of Illinois 3-1 in tiebreakers. Stiles led 1-0 after two periods before a Gioffree escape sent the match to overtime. It remained tied after the extra two minutes. Gioffree got a reversal in the second overtime for a 3-1 advantage. Stiles was not able to score in the third overtime.
157-Brandon Cannon
QFs- (1) P.J. Duke (PSU) def. (8) Brandon Cannon (OSU), TF, 21-5
Duke led 9-2 after the first three minutes and added three more takedowns in the second for an 18-5 lead. Duke added a takedown in the third for a 21-5 win by technical fall. Cannon moved to the consolation quarterfinals to meet up with (6) Jude Swisher of Penn in the blood round.
165-Paddy Gallagher
Cons. Rnd. 2-(16) Paddy Gallagher (OSU) def. (31) Jared Keslar (PITT), D, 2-1
There was no scoring after the opening period. Gallagher escaped in the second for a 1-0 lead. Keslar evened it at 1-all with an escape in the third. Gallager got the win with a point for riding time, 2-1. Gallagher then took on (8) Matty Bianche (UALR) in the third round of consolations. It was another tight match with winning outcome for Gallagher, who advanced to the blood round with a 4-3 win by decision. He moved on to face (27) EJ Parco of Stanford.
174-Carson Kharchla
QFs-(5) Patrick Kennedy (IOWA) def. (4) Carson Kharchla (OSU), D, 2-1 TB
The opening period was scoreless. Kharchla chose bottom to start the second and quickly escaped for a 1-0 lead. Kennedy evened the match at 1-all with an escape in the third. The match went to overtime even at 1-all. There was no scoring in the first overtime. Kennedy started on bottom in the second overtime and quickly escaped for a 2-1 lead. Kharchla chose neutral in the third overtime but did not score. Kharchla dropped to the consolation quarterfinals where he was paired with No. 2 seed Simon Ruiz of Cornell in the blood round.
184-Dylan Fishback
Cons. Rnd. 2-(11) Shane Cartagena-Walsh (RUT) def. (12) Dylan Fishback (OSU)
Cartagena-Welsh scored the opening takedown and led 3-1 after two periods. Fishback had a pair of escapes around a Cartagena-Walsh takedown in the third. The Rutgers 184-pounder then finished off the match for a win by decision, 8-1.
197-Luke Geog
Cons. Rnd. 2-(12) Luke Geog (OSU) def. (6) Justin Rademacher (ORST), D, 3-2
Trailing 1-0 going to the third, Geog scored a takedown early in the final period and held on to win by decision, 3-2. Moving to the third round of the consolation bracket, Geog battled Ohio's No. 19-seed Zayne Lehman. Geog prevailed 6-3 in the third round of consolations over Lehman to move to the blood round to take on (9) Angelo Posada (STAN).
285-Nick Feldman
Cons. Rnd. 2-(5) Nick Feldman (OSU) def. (6) Nathan Taylor (LEH), D, 8-6
Taylor managed the first takedown for a 3-2 lead after two periods. Feldman posted a pair of takedowns in the third to get the 8-6 win by decision and advance in the consolation bracket. There he faced (20) Dayton Pitzer of Pittsburgh. Feldman took the match to the third period before having to default (Inj.).
Ohio State at the 2026 NCAA Championships
125-Nic Bouzakis (2-2)
Champ. Rnd. 1-(3) Nic Bouzakis (OSU) def. (30) Sulayman Bah (COL), D, 9-5
Champ. Rnd. 2-(14) Jacob Moran (IND) def. (3) Nic Bouzakis (OSU), MD, 10-2
Cons. Rnd. 2-(3) Nic Bouzakis (OSU) def. (29) Tyler Chappell (PITT), F, 2:35
Cons. Rnd. 3-(11) Tyler Klinsky (RID) def. (3) Nic Bouzakis (OSU), F, 6:46
133-Ben Davino
Champ. Rnd. 1-(2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (31) Gable Strickland (LHU), TF, 17-2
Champ. Rnd. 2-(2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (15) Tyler Knox (STAN), TF, 21-5
QFs-(2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (7) Lucas Byrd (ILL), MD, 14-5
SFs-(2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (3) Marcus Blaze (PSU), D, 3-2 TB1
Fs-(2) Ben Davino (OSU) vs. (1) Jax Forest (OKST)
141-Jesse Mendez
Champ. Rnd. 1-(1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (33) Aldo Hernandez (APST), F, 2:13
Champ. Rnd. 2-(1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (17) Caedyn Ricciardi (NAVY), TF, 22-6
QFs-(1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (8) Vance Vombaur (MINN), MD, 16-4
SFs-(1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (5) Luke Stanich (LEH), SV, 4-1
Fs-(1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) vs. (2) Sergio Vega (OKST)
149-Ethan Stiles (1-2)
Champ. Rnd. 1-(7) Ethan Stiles (OSU) def. (26) Anderson Heap (DAV), MD, 10-2
Champ. Rnd. 2-(10) Aden Valencia (STAN) def. (7) Ethan Stiles (OSU), D, 7-5
Cons. Rnd. 2-(25) Michael Gioffre (ILL) def. (7) Ethan Stiles (OSU), D, 3-1 TB1
157-Brandon Cannon
Champ. Rnd. 1-(8) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. (25) Mason Shrader (CMU), D, 10-4
Champ. Rnd. 2-(8) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. (9) Daniel Cardenas (STAN), D, 8-7
QFs-(1) P.J. Duke (PSU) def. (8) Brandon Cannon (OSU), TF, 21-5
Cons. QFs-(8) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. (6) Jude Swisher (PENN), MD, 17-3
Cons. SFs-(8) Brandon Cannon (OSU) vs. (15) Cameron Catabone (MICH)
165-Paddy Gallagher
Champ. Rnd. 1-(16) Paddy Gallagher (OSU) def. (17) Braeden Scoles (ILL), MD, 13-4
Champ. Rnd. 2-(1) Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) def. (16) Paddy Gallagher (OSU), MD, 12-0
Cons. Rnd. 2-(16) Paddy Gallagher (OSU) def. (31) Jared Keslar (PITT), D, 2-1
Cons. Rnd. 3-(16) Paddy Gallagher (OSU) def. (8) Matty Bianchi (UALR), D, 4-3
Cons. QFs-(16) Paddy Gallagher (OSU) def. (27) EJ Parco (STAN), SV, 5-2
Cons. SFs-(16) Paddy Gallagher (OSU) vs. (13) Andrew Sparks (MINN)
174-Carson Kharchla
Champ. Rnd. 1-(4) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. (29) Avery Bassett (LHU), D, 8-3
Champ. Rnd. 2-(4) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. (20) Daschle Lamer (ORST), MD, 13-3
QFs-(5) Patrick Kennedy (IOWA) def. (4) Carson Kharchla (OSU), D, 2-1 TB1
Cons. QFs-(4) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. (2) Simon Ruiz (COR), D, 5-3
Cons. SFs-(4) Carson Kharchla (OSU) vs. (9) Beau Mantanona (MICH)
184-Dylan Fishback (1-2)
Champ. Rnd. 1-(12) Dylan Fishback (OSU) def. (21) Tomas Brooker (APST), D, 8-6
Champ. Rnd. 2-(5) Brock Mantanona (MICH) def. (12) Dylan Fishback (OSU), MD, 13-5
Cons. Rnd. 2-(11) Shane Cartagena-Walsh (RUT) def. (12) Dylan Fishback (OSU), D, 8-1
197-Luke Geog (3-2)
Champ. Rnd. 1-(21) Rune Lawrence (WVU) def. (12) Luke Geog (OSU), SV, 9-6
Cons. Rnd. 1-(12) Luke Geog (OSU) def. (28) Kael Wisler (MSU), D, 6-4
Cons. Rnd. 2-(12) Luke Geog (OSU) def. (6) Justin Rademacher (ORST), D, 3-2
Cons. Rnd. 3-(12) Luke Geog (OSU) def. (19) Zayne Lehman (Ohio), D, 6-3
Cons. QFs-(9) Angelo Posada (STAN) def. (12) Luke Geog (OSU)
285-Nick Feldman (2-2)
Champ. Rnd. 1-(5) Nick Feldman (OSU) def. (28) Jarrett Stoner (MIZZ), D, 5-4
Champ. Rnd. 2-(21) Juan Mora (OKLA) def. (5) Nick Feldman (OSU), D, 4-2
Cons. Rnd. 2-(5) Nick Feldman (OSU) def. (6) Nathan Taylor (LEH), D, 8-6
Cons. Rnd. 3-(20) Dayton Pitzer (PITT) def. (5) Nick Feldman (OSU), DEF, 10-1
In all, five Buckeyes earned All-America honors Saturday.
hio State has totaled 69.5 points after two days of competition, good for fifth-place headed into the final day of competition.
Mendez (141), Ben Davino (133) advanced to the finals after semifinal victories Saturday.
The first real meal for Jesse Mendez after #NCAAWrestling Champs will be a ??@wrestlingbucks' two-time NCAA Champ earned a 4-1 decision to secure a spot in the 141 lbs Finals ?? pic.twitter.com/gl21zMZw3W
— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) March 21, 2026
Davino will face No. 1 Jax Forest of Oklahoma State for the championship at 133. Mendez will be going for his third-consecutive NCAA Championship at 141 when he takes on No. 2 Sergio Vega of Oklahoma State.
Brandon Cannon (157), Paddy Gallagher (165) and Carson Kharchla (l74) earned All-America honors along with Davino and Mendez with wins in the consolation quarterfinals.
BEN DAVINO IS AN ALL-AMERICAN ????#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/bKlo3alNYE
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 20, 2026
Mendez is the 10th Buckeye to earn All-America honors four times.
Mendez, one of one.
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 20, 2026
Jesse Mendez is now a 4?x All-American ??#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/Qj90h9QzSE
Matches to determine first through eighth places will start in the morning session Saturday and end with the NCAA Finals Sunday night.
The consolation finals begin at 11 a.m. (ESPNU/ESPN+) with the finals starting at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Ten Buckeyes earned a spot in the 2026 NCAA Championships, one of six schools to qualify a wrestler in all 10 weight classes.
Tom Ryan, head coach of the Buckeyes, has qualified 10 wrestlers for the NCAA championships for the second-consecutive year and for the fifth time in his Ohio State career. In all, 167 Buckeyes have made the NCAA championships in Ryan's 20 years in Columbus with 80 earning All-America honors.
Mendez, the two-time defending national champion at 141, is the 19th NCAA qualifier at that weight during Ryan's career in Columbus. Ryan has sent 18 qualifiers at 149, 165, 174 and 184.
NCAA Wrestling Championship Schedule
- Saturday, March 21
- Consolation finals | 11 a.m.
- Championship finals | 6:30 p.m.
133-Ben Davino
SFs-(2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (3) Marcus Blaze (PSU), D, 3-2 TB1
In the rematch of the 2026 Big Ten Tournament title match won by Davino, there was no score in the opening three minutes. Davino started from bottom to open the second and quickly escaped for a 1-0 lead going to the third. Blaze evened the score with an escape to open the final period of regulation. The match went to overtime tied at 1-all. There was a scramble in under 20 seconds to go that did not result in a takedown. Ohio State challenged there should have been a takedown by Davino. After review, there was no takedown called and the overtime period ended. In the first tiebreaker, Davino started on bottom and escaped after 21 seconds for a 2-1 lead. Davino was called for stalling to even the score at 2-all in the third overtime. Davino then did not allow Blaze to escape to get the 3-2 win with a riding time advantage of eight seconds. Davino will wrestle for a national title Sunday night against No. 1 seed Jax Forest of Oklahoma State.
GOT THE CROWD ON THEIR FEET ???
— NCAA Men's Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 21, 2026
(2) Ben Davino (133) of @wrestlingbucks gets the 3-2 decision over (3) Marcus Blaze of Penn State to advance to the finals. #NCAAWrestling x ?? ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/9ikUI8PNu0
Have a moment, Ben ?? #NCAAWrestling x @wrestlingbucks pic.twitter.com/0R5czRWQXG
— NCAA Men's Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 21, 2026
The rematch of the 133 lbs #B1GWrestling Championship goes to Ben Davino ??@wrestlingbucks' 2-seed defeated 3-seed Marcus Blaze 3-2 to punch his ticket to the #NCAAWrestling Championship bout ??? pic.twitter.com/oqm8Hak4Yx
— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) March 21, 2026
HIM ????? pic.twitter.com/Jnk50DyU5n
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 21, 2026
141-Jesse Mendez
SFs-(1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (5) Luke Stanich (LEH), SV, 4-1
There was no score in the opening three minutes. Mendez started from bottom in the second and escaped in 10 seconds for a 1-0 lead. Stanich tied it at 1-all with an escape in the third. With no additional scoring, the match went to sudden victory. Mendez struck with a takedown to win it by decision, 4-1. Mendez will wrestle for his third-consecutive national title Sunday against (2) Sergia Vega of Oklahoma State.
???? pic.twitter.com/Mu3MA7qbmE
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 21, 2026
THE BADDEST MAN ALIVE ???????????????
— NCAA Men's Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 21, 2026
(1) Jesse Mendez (141) of @wrestlingbucks defeats (5) Luke Stanich of Lehigh with a 4-1 decision to book his trip to the finals. #NCAAWrestling x ?? ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/cZ4ZbBMFCW
157-Brandon Cannon
Cons. QFs.-(8) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. (6) Jude Swisher (PENN)
Cannon attacked early and often in the opening period to take a 9-2 lead after three minutes. There was no score in the second before Cannon added two more takedowns in the third and with a point for riding time, won by major decision, 17-3. The win assured All-America honors for Cannon, who remains in contention for third-place. He will battle No. 15 Catrabone of Michigan in the morning session Sunday.
CANNON FIRED ????
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 21, 2026
Brandon Cannon is an All-American ??#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/3ldfojnZj4
BOOM ???? pic.twitter.com/acSpCdVhqU
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 21, 2026
165-Paddy Gallagher
Cons. QFs-(16) Paddy Gallagher (OSU) def. (27) EJ Parco (STAN), SV, 5-2
No points made it to the scoreboard after the first three minutes. Gallagher scored with an escape to start the second. Parco evened the score after being awarded a penalty point for stalling called against Gallagher with 11 seconds left in the second. Parco added an escape point in the third for a 2-1 lead. Gallagher got the stalling point back after it was called against Parco with two seconds left to send the match to sudden victory tied at 2-all. Gallagher then got the win with a takedown with four seconds left to become an All-American with a 5-2 win by decision.
PADDY STAMPED IT ????
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 21, 2026
Paddy Gallagher is an All-American ????#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/kLAcAXsuKe
W FOR GALLAGHER ?? pic.twitter.com/5udch2yTQ6
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 21, 2026
174-Carson Kharchla
Cons. QFs-(4) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. (2) Simon Ruiz (COR), D, 5-3
Kharchla scored the first takedown after a scoreless opening period. After Ruiz escaped to open the second, Kharchla got the takedown and led 3-2 after five minutes. Kharchla scored a reversal in the third and held on after a Ruiz escape to win by decision, 5-3, to earn his second All-America honor of his career.
MR ?? TIME ALL-AMERICAN ????
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 21, 2026
No one more deserving than Carson Kharchla ??#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/FWGKjGg9Tv
DUBB ?? pic.twitter.com/x1qq0uFzQA
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 21, 2026
197-Luke Geog
Cons. QFs-(9) Angelo Posada (STAN) def. (12) Luke Geog (OSU)
Posada opened with a takedown to lead 3-0 after the opening period. An escape early in the second made it 4-1 Stanford. Posada added a takedown to make it 7-0 and with a penalty point for stalling against Geog made it 8-0 after five minutes. Posada finished off the match with a win by major decision, 9-0.
2026 NCAA Championships -- Session III
125-Nic Bouzakis
Cons. Rnd. 2-(3) Nic Bouzakis (OSU) def. (29) Tyler Chappell (PITT), F, 2:35
Bouzakis opened with a takedown for a 3-0 lead in under a minute before getting the pin at 2:35 to advance to the consolation quarterfinals. He then took on Rider's Tyler Klinsky, the No. 11 seed in the third round of consolations and lost by fall (6:45).
133-Ben Davino
QFs-(2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (7) Lucas Byrd (ILL), MD, 14-5
Davio wasted no time in jumping to a 7-0 lead with a takedown and four-point nearfall in less than 40 seconds. He led 10-2 after the opening three minutes. The lead increased to 13-4 after five minutes before an escape in the third secured the 14-5 win by major decision to secure a place in the semifinals and 2026 All-America honors. He then took on (3) Marcus Blaze of Penn State in semifinals.
141-Jesse Mendez
QFs-(1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) vs. (8) Vance Vombaur (MINN), MD, 16-4
Mendez secured a spot in the semifinals along with 2026 All-America honors with a 16-4 win by major decision over Big Ten foe Vance Vombaur of Minnesota. Mendez led 2-0 after the first on a pair of stalling penalty points called against Vombaur. It was 8-2 after five minutes with Mendez securing a pair of takedowns. He added two more in the third to secure the win. He is now Ohio State's 10th four-time All-American in program history. He advanced to face (5) Luke Stanich of Lehigh in the semifinals.
Jesse Mendez doing what Jesse Mendez does. #NCAAWrestling x @wrestlingbucks pic.twitter.com/FIfidkCp8w
— NCAA Men's Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 20, 2026
149-Ethan Stiles
Cons. Rnd. 2-(25) Michael Gioffre (ILL) def. (7) Ethan Stiles (OSU), D, 3-1 TB1
Stiles went the distance and then some in the second consolation round before falling to Michael Gioffre of Illinois 3-1 in tiebreakers. Stiles led 1-0 after two periods before a Gioffree escape sent the match to overtime. It remained tied after the extra two minutes. Gioffree got a reversal in the second overtime for a 3-1 advantage. Stiles was not able to score in the third overtime.
157-Brandon Cannon
QFs- (1) P.J. Duke (PSU) def. (8) Brandon Cannon (OSU), TF, 21-5
Duke led 9-2 after the first three minutes and added three more takedowns in the second for an 18-5 lead. Duke added a takedown in the third for a 21-5 win by technical fall. Cannon moved to the consolation quarterfinals to meet up with (6) Jude Swisher of Penn in the blood round.
165-Paddy Gallagher
Cons. Rnd. 2-(16) Paddy Gallagher (OSU) def. (31) Jared Keslar (PITT), D, 2-1
There was no scoring after the opening period. Gallagher escaped in the second for a 1-0 lead. Keslar evened it at 1-all with an escape in the third. Gallager got the win with a point for riding time, 2-1. Gallagher then took on (8) Matty Bianche (UALR) in the third round of consolations. It was another tight match with winning outcome for Gallagher, who advanced to the blood round with a 4-3 win by decision. He moved on to face (27) EJ Parco of Stanford.
174-Carson Kharchla
QFs-(5) Patrick Kennedy (IOWA) def. (4) Carson Kharchla (OSU), D, 2-1 TB
The opening period was scoreless. Kharchla chose bottom to start the second and quickly escaped for a 1-0 lead. Kennedy evened the match at 1-all with an escape in the third. The match went to overtime even at 1-all. There was no scoring in the first overtime. Kennedy started on bottom in the second overtime and quickly escaped for a 2-1 lead. Kharchla chose neutral in the third overtime but did not score. Kharchla dropped to the consolation quarterfinals where he was paired with No. 2 seed Simon Ruiz of Cornell in the blood round.
184-Dylan Fishback
Cons. Rnd. 2-(11) Shane Cartagena-Walsh (RUT) def. (12) Dylan Fishback (OSU)
Cartagena-Welsh scored the opening takedown and led 3-1 after two periods. Fishback had a pair of escapes around a Cartagena-Walsh takedown in the third. The Rutgers 184-pounder then finished off the match for a win by decision, 8-1.
197-Luke Geog
Cons. Rnd. 2-(12) Luke Geog (OSU) def. (6) Justin Rademacher (ORST), D, 3-2
Trailing 1-0 going to the third, Geog scored a takedown early in the final period and held on to win by decision, 3-2. Moving to the third round of the consolation bracket, Geog battled Ohio's No. 19-seed Zayne Lehman. Geog prevailed 6-3 in the third round of consolations over Lehman to move to the blood round to take on (9) Angelo Posada (STAN).
285-Nick Feldman
Cons. Rnd. 2-(5) Nick Feldman (OSU) def. (6) Nathan Taylor (LEH), D, 8-6
Taylor managed the first takedown for a 3-2 lead after two periods. Feldman posted a pair of takedowns in the third to get the 8-6 win by decision and advance in the consolation bracket. There he faced (20) Dayton Pitzer of Pittsburgh. Feldman took the match to the third period before having to default (Inj.).
Ohio State at the 2026 NCAA Championships
125-Nic Bouzakis (2-2)
Champ. Rnd. 1-(3) Nic Bouzakis (OSU) def. (30) Sulayman Bah (COL), D, 9-5
Champ. Rnd. 2-(14) Jacob Moran (IND) def. (3) Nic Bouzakis (OSU), MD, 10-2
Cons. Rnd. 2-(3) Nic Bouzakis (OSU) def. (29) Tyler Chappell (PITT), F, 2:35
Cons. Rnd. 3-(11) Tyler Klinsky (RID) def. (3) Nic Bouzakis (OSU), F, 6:46
133-Ben Davino
Champ. Rnd. 1-(2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (31) Gable Strickland (LHU), TF, 17-2
Champ. Rnd. 2-(2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (15) Tyler Knox (STAN), TF, 21-5
QFs-(2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (7) Lucas Byrd (ILL), MD, 14-5
SFs-(2) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (3) Marcus Blaze (PSU), D, 3-2 TB1
Fs-(2) Ben Davino (OSU) vs. (1) Jax Forest (OKST)
141-Jesse Mendez
Champ. Rnd. 1-(1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (33) Aldo Hernandez (APST), F, 2:13
Champ. Rnd. 2-(1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (17) Caedyn Ricciardi (NAVY), TF, 22-6
QFs-(1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (8) Vance Vombaur (MINN), MD, 16-4
SFs-(1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (5) Luke Stanich (LEH), SV, 4-1
Fs-(1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) vs. (2) Sergio Vega (OKST)
149-Ethan Stiles (1-2)
Champ. Rnd. 1-(7) Ethan Stiles (OSU) def. (26) Anderson Heap (DAV), MD, 10-2
Champ. Rnd. 2-(10) Aden Valencia (STAN) def. (7) Ethan Stiles (OSU), D, 7-5
Cons. Rnd. 2-(25) Michael Gioffre (ILL) def. (7) Ethan Stiles (OSU), D, 3-1 TB1
157-Brandon Cannon
Champ. Rnd. 1-(8) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. (25) Mason Shrader (CMU), D, 10-4
Champ. Rnd. 2-(8) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. (9) Daniel Cardenas (STAN), D, 8-7
QFs-(1) P.J. Duke (PSU) def. (8) Brandon Cannon (OSU), TF, 21-5
Cons. QFs-(8) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. (6) Jude Swisher (PENN), MD, 17-3
Cons. SFs-(8) Brandon Cannon (OSU) vs. (15) Cameron Catabone (MICH)
165-Paddy Gallagher
Champ. Rnd. 1-(16) Paddy Gallagher (OSU) def. (17) Braeden Scoles (ILL), MD, 13-4
Champ. Rnd. 2-(1) Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) def. (16) Paddy Gallagher (OSU), MD, 12-0
Cons. Rnd. 2-(16) Paddy Gallagher (OSU) def. (31) Jared Keslar (PITT), D, 2-1
Cons. Rnd. 3-(16) Paddy Gallagher (OSU) def. (8) Matty Bianchi (UALR), D, 4-3
Cons. QFs-(16) Paddy Gallagher (OSU) def. (27) EJ Parco (STAN), SV, 5-2
Cons. SFs-(16) Paddy Gallagher (OSU) vs. (13) Andrew Sparks (MINN)
174-Carson Kharchla
Champ. Rnd. 1-(4) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. (29) Avery Bassett (LHU), D, 8-3
Champ. Rnd. 2-(4) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. (20) Daschle Lamer (ORST), MD, 13-3
QFs-(5) Patrick Kennedy (IOWA) def. (4) Carson Kharchla (OSU), D, 2-1 TB1
Cons. QFs-(4) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. (2) Simon Ruiz (COR), D, 5-3
Cons. SFs-(4) Carson Kharchla (OSU) vs. (9) Beau Mantanona (MICH)
184-Dylan Fishback (1-2)
Champ. Rnd. 1-(12) Dylan Fishback (OSU) def. (21) Tomas Brooker (APST), D, 8-6
Champ. Rnd. 2-(5) Brock Mantanona (MICH) def. (12) Dylan Fishback (OSU), MD, 13-5
Cons. Rnd. 2-(11) Shane Cartagena-Walsh (RUT) def. (12) Dylan Fishback (OSU), D, 8-1
197-Luke Geog (3-2)
Champ. Rnd. 1-(21) Rune Lawrence (WVU) def. (12) Luke Geog (OSU), SV, 9-6
Cons. Rnd. 1-(12) Luke Geog (OSU) def. (28) Kael Wisler (MSU), D, 6-4
Cons. Rnd. 2-(12) Luke Geog (OSU) def. (6) Justin Rademacher (ORST), D, 3-2
Cons. Rnd. 3-(12) Luke Geog (OSU) def. (19) Zayne Lehman (Ohio), D, 6-3
Cons. QFs-(9) Angelo Posada (STAN) def. (12) Luke Geog (OSU)
285-Nick Feldman (2-2)
Champ. Rnd. 1-(5) Nick Feldman (OSU) def. (28) Jarrett Stoner (MIZZ), D, 5-4
Champ. Rnd. 2-(21) Juan Mora (OKLA) def. (5) Nick Feldman (OSU), D, 4-2
Cons. Rnd. 2-(5) Nick Feldman (OSU) def. (6) Nathan Taylor (LEH), D, 8-6
Cons. Rnd. 3-(20) Dayton Pitzer (PITT) def. (5) Nick Feldman (OSU), DEF, 10-1
#GoBucks
Players Mentioned
133 lbs.
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133
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HWT
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184
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157 lbs
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184 lbs.
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165 lbs
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133/141 lbs.
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149
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