Mendez, Davino to Wrestle for NCAA Titles Saturday
Ben Davino
COLUMBUS, Ohio —
Senior Jesse Mendez and redshirt freshman Ben Davino will wrestle for nationwide titles Sunday after clutch semifinal victories Saturday within the 2026 NCAA Championships at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.In all, 5 Buckeyes earned All-America honors Saturday.
hio State has totaled 69.5 factors after two days of competitors, good for fifth-place headed into the ultimate day of competitors.
Mendez (141), Ben Davino (133) superior to the finals after semifinal victories Saturday.
The first actual meal for Jesse Mendez after #NCAAWrestling Champs can be a ??@wrestlingbucks‘ two-time NCAA Champ earned a 4-1 determination to safe a spot within 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 can 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 together with Davino and Mendez with wins within the comfort quarterfinals.
BEN DAVINO IS AN ALL-AMERICAN ????#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/bKlo3alNYE
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 20, 2026
Mendez is the tenth Buckeye to earn All-America honors 4 occasions.
Mendez, certainly one of one.
Jesse Mendez is now a 4?x All-American ??#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/Qj90h9QzSE
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 20, 2026
Matches to decide first by eighth locations will begin within the morning session Saturday and finish with the NCAA Finals Sunday night time.
The comfort finals start at 11 a.m. (ESPNU/ESPN+) with the finals beginning at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Ten Buckeyes earned a spot within the 2026 NCAA Championships, certainly one of six colleges to qualify a wrestler in all 10 weight lessons.
Tom Ryan, head coach of the Buckeyes, has certified 10 wrestlers for the NCAA championships for the second-consecutive 12 months and for the fifth time in his Ohio State profession. In all, 167 Buckeyes have made the NCAA championships in Ryan’s 20 years in Columbus with 80 incomes All-America honors.
Mendez, the two-time defending nationwide champion at 141, is the 19th NCAA qualifier at that weight throughout Ryan’s profession in Columbus. Ryan has despatched 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.
2026 NCAA Championships — Session IV
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 received by Davino, there was no rating within the opening three minutes. Davino began from backside to open the second and shortly escaped for a 1-0 lead going to the third. Blaze evened the rating with an escape to open the ultimate interval of regulation. The match went to time beyond regulation tied at 1-all. There was a scramble in below 20 seconds to go that didn’t lead to a takedown. Ohio State challenged there ought to have been a takedown by Davino. After evaluation, there was no takedown known as and the time beyond regulation interval ended. In the primary tiebreaker, Davino began on backside and escaped after 21 seconds for a 2-1 lead. Davino was known as for stalling to even the rating at 2-all within the third time beyond regulation. Davino then didn’t permit Blaze to escape to get the 3-2 win with a using time benefit of eight seconds. Davino will wrestle for a nationwide title Sunday night time in opposition to No. 1 seed Jax Forest of Oklahoma State.
GOT THE CROWD ON THEIR FEET ???
(2) Ben Davino (133) of @wrestlingbucks will get the 3-2 determination over (3) Marcus Blaze of Penn State to advance to the finals. #NCAAWrestling x ?? ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/9ikUI8PNu0
— NCAA Men’s Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 21, 2026
Have a second, 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 rating within the opening three minutes. Mendez began from backside within the second and escaped in 10 seconds for a 1-0 lead. Stanich tied it at 1-all with an escape within the third. With no further scoring, the match went to sudden victory. Mendez struck with a takedown to win it by determination, 4-1. Mendez will wrestle for his third-consecutive nationwide title Sunday in opposition to (2) Sergia Vega of Oklahoma State.
???? pic.twitter.com/Mu3MA7qbmE
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 21, 2026
THE BADDEST MAN ALIVE ???????????????
(1) Jesse Mendez (141) of @wrestlingbucks defeats (5) Luke Stanich of Lehigh with a 4-1 determination to e book his journey to the finals. #NCAAWrestling x ?? ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/cZ4ZbBMFCW
— NCAA Men’s Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 21, 2026
157-Brandon Cannon
Cons. QFs.-(8) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. (6) Jude Swisher (PENN)
Cannon attacked early and sometimes within the opening interval to take a 9-2 lead after three minutes. There was no rating within the second earlier than Cannon added two extra takedowns within the third and with a degree for using time, received by main determination, 17-3. The win assured All-America honors for Cannon, who stays in rivalry for third-place. He will battle No. 15 Catrabone of Michigan within the morning session Sunday.
CANNON FIRED ????
Brandon Cannon is an All-American ??#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/3ldfojnZj4
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 21, 2026
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 factors made it to the scoreboard after the primary three minutes. Gallagher scored with an escape to begin the second. Parco evened the rating after being awarded a penalty level for stalling known as in opposition to Gallagher with 11 seconds left within the second. Parco added an escape level within the third for a 2-1 lead. Gallagher acquired the stalling level again after it was known as in opposition to Parco with two seconds left to ship the match to sudden victory tied at 2-all. Gallagher then acquired the win with a takedown with 4 seconds left to grow to be an All-American with a 5-2 win by determination.
PADDY STAMPED IT ????
Paddy Gallagher is an All-American ????#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/kLAcAXsuKe
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 21, 2026
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 primary takedown after a scoreless opening interval. After Ruiz escaped to open the second, Kharchla acquired the takedown and led 3-2 after 5 minutes. Kharchla scored a reversal within the third and held on after a Ruiz escape to win by determination, 5-3, to earn his second All-America honor of his profession.
MR ?? TIME ALL-AMERICAN ????
No another deserving than Carson Kharchla ??#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/FWGKjGg9Tv
— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 21, 2026
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 interval. An escape early within the second made it 4-1 Stanford. Posada added a takedown to make it 7-0 and with a penalty level for stalling in opposition to Geog made it 8-0 after 5 minutes. Posada completed off the match with a win by main determination, 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 below a minute earlier than getting the pin at 2:35 to advance to the comfort quarterfinals. He then took on Rider’s Tyler Klinsky, the No. 11 seed within the third spherical of consolations and misplaced 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 leaping to a 7-0 lead with a takedown and four-point nearfall in lower than 40 seconds. He led 10-2 after the opening three minutes. The lead elevated to 13-4 after 5 minutes earlier than an escape within the third secured the 14-5 win by main determination to safe a spot within 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 within the semifinals together with 2026 All-America honors with a 16-4 win by main determination over Big Ten foe Vance Vombaur of Minnesota. Mendez led 2-0 after the primary on a pair of stalling penalty factors known as in opposition to Vombaur. It was 8-2 after 5 minutes with Mendez securing a pair of takedowns. He added two extra within the third to safe the win. He is now Ohio State’s 10th four-time All-American in program historical past. He superior to face (5) Luke Stanich of Lehigh within 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 space after which some within the second comfort spherical earlier than falling to Michael Gioffre of Illinois 3-1 in tiebreakers. Stiles led 1-0 after two durations earlier than a Gioffree escape despatched the match to time beyond regulation. It remained tied after the additional two minutes. Gioffree acquired a reversal within the second time beyond regulation for a 3-1 benefit. Stiles was not ready to rating within the third time beyond regulation.
157-Brandon Cannon
QFs- (1) P.J. Duke (PSU) def. (8) Brandon Cannon (OSU), TF, 21-5
Duke led 9-2 after the primary three minutes and added three extra takedowns within the second for an 18-5 lead. Duke added a takedown within the third for a 21-5 win by technical fall. Cannon moved to the comfort quarterfinals to meet up with (6) Jude Swisher of Penn within the blood spherical.
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 interval. Gallagher escaped within the second for a 1-0 lead. Keslar evened it at 1-all with an escape within the third. Gallager acquired the win with a degree for using time, 2-1. Gallagher then took on (8) Matty Bianche (UALR) within the third spherical of consolations. It was one other tight match with profitable end result for Gallagher, who superior to the blood spherical with a 4-3 win by determination. 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 interval was scoreless. Kharchla selected backside to begin the second and shortly escaped for a 1-0 lead. Kennedy evened the match at 1-all with an escape within the third. The match went to time beyond regulation even at 1-all. There was no scoring within the first time beyond regulation. Kennedy began on backside within the second time beyond regulation and shortly escaped for a 2-1 lead. Kharchla selected impartial within the third time beyond regulation however didn’t rating. Kharchla dropped to the comfort quarterfinals the place he was paired with No. 2 seed Simon Ruiz of Cornell within the blood spherical.
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 durations. Fishback had a pair of escapes round a Cartagena-Walsh takedown within the third. The Rutgers 184-pounder then completed off the match for a win by determination, 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 within the closing interval and held on to win by determination, 3-2. Moving to the third spherical of the comfort bracket, Geog battled Ohio’s No. 19-seed Zayne Lehman. Geog prevailed 6-3 within the third spherical of consolations over Lehman to transfer to the blood spherical to tackle (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 primary takedown for a 3-2 lead after two durations. Feldman posted a pair of takedowns within the third to get the 8-6 win by determination and advance within the comfort bracket. There he confronted (20) Dayton Pitzer of Pittsburgh. Feldman took the match to the third interval earlier than having to default (Inj.).
Ohio State on 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
