Jesse Mendez and Ben Davino came tantalizingly close to clinching national titles, showcasing their grit and determination at the NCAA Championships.
Mendez faced a tough battle against Oklahoma State’s No. 2-seeded Sergio Vega. In a nail-biting overtime, Mendez fell 4-1, marking his first loss of the season.
A victory would have placed him alongside Ohio State legends like Logan Stieber and Kyle Snyder, who have multiple NCAA championships under their belts. Mendez also aimed to join the elite group of undefeated Buckeyes, a feat accomplished by Stieber, Snyder, Kollin Moore, and Rex Holman.
Ben Davino, the 133-pound Big Ten champion, also competed for a national title. His impressive season ended with a 5-2 loss to Oklahoma State’s top-seeded Jax Forrest. As a redshirt freshman, Davino's future in Columbus looks promising, with plenty of opportunities to build on his success.
Ohio State put up a commendable performance at the 2026 NCAA Championships, though the event was largely dominated by Cael Sanderson’s Penn State squad. The Nittany Lions secured their 13th national title in 15 years with a commanding presence, fielding six finalists and setting a record team score.
In the team standings, Ohio State secured fifth place with 84.5 points, trailing behind powerhouses Penn State (181.5), Oklahoma State (131), Nebraska (100.5), and Iowa (92.5).
Mendez and Davino led a strong group of five All-American Buckeyes in 2026. Brandon Cannon (157), Paddy Gallagher (165), and Carson Kharchla (174) joined them in earning All-American honors.
Cannon and Kharchla both finished fourth after falling in their third-place matches to Penn State’s PJ Duke and Iowa’s Patrick Kennedy, respectively. Gallagher ended in eighth place after a tough seventh-place match against Missouri’s Cam Steed.
Here's a quick rundown of Ohio State's performance at the championships:
- 125: Nic Bouzakis (2-2)
- 133: Ben Davino (4-1)
- 141: Jesse Mendez (4-1)
- 149: Ethan Stiles (1-2)
- 157: Brandon Cannon (3-2)
- 165: Paddy Gallagher (4-2)
- 174: Carson Kharchla (3-2)
- 184: Dylan Fishback (1-2)
- 197: Luke Geog (3-2)
- 285: Nick Feldman (2-2)
The Buckeyes' performance was a testament to their talent and tenacity, setting the stage for future success in collegiate wrestling.