Two Buckeyes are set to wrestle for national glory on Saturday night, and the excitement is palpable.
Jesse Mendez is aiming for his third consecutive national championship at 141 pounds. He'll face off against Oklahoma State’s Sergio Vega, fresh off a nail-biting semifinal victory over Lehigh’s Luke Stanich. Mendez clinched the win with a 4-1 decision in sudden victory, showcasing his resilience and skill.
Mendez, the top seed, is on the verge of making Ohio State history. A win would place him alongside Logan Stieber and Kyle Snyder as the only Buckeyes to capture three NCAA titles. Even more impressive, a victory would cap an undefeated season, a feat achieved by just four other Buckeyes, including legends like Stieber and Snyder.
Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Ben Davino is looking to claim his first national championship at 133 pounds. He’ll face the No. 1 seed, Jax Forrest from Oklahoma State. Davino, the second seed, secured his spot in the finals by defeating Penn State’s Marcus Blaze, echoing his victory in the Big Ten championship.
In the 133-pound semifinal, Davino triumphed in a tiebreaker, riding out Blaze for 30 seconds to seal his place in the finals. The match saw some drama with a challenge from Cael Sanderson, leading to a lengthy delay before the result was confirmed.
Together, Mendez and Davino are poised to become the first Ohio State duo to win national titles in the same season since 2015, when Logan Stieber and Nathan Tomasello achieved the feat. That year also marked the Buckeyes' first and only team championship. However, with Penn State holding a commanding lead in the team standings, the Nittany Lions are favorites to take this year’s national title.
All eyes will be on the mat as these Buckeyes aim to etch their names in the history books.