Ohio State wrestler Jesse Mendez won his second straight national championship at 141 pounds by beating No. 1 Brock Hardy 12-9 in the finals.
He is the first Buckeye wrestler to win multiple national championships since Kyle Snyder, who won three straight (2016-18) and is the sixth all-time to do so. He also joins Logan Stieber (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015), Tommy Rowlands (2002, 2004), J Jaggers (2008, 2009) and Kevin Randleman (1992, 1993).
Mendez came back from losing twice in the Big Ten tournament, with Hardy knocking him out of the championship bracket and Penn State’s Beau Bartlett beating him in the third-place match. He also beat Bartlett in NCAAs, taking him down in the semifinals 2-1 to get to Hardy.
It was a high scoring bout in the championship with Mendez going down 5-4 after the first period, but taking an 11-6 lead into the third period. He was able to hold on along with an extra point for riding time.
In the semifinals against Bartlett, the two went to a tiebreaker period, and Mendez’ escape in the first gave him the advantage with Bartlett on bottom for the second. Mendez was able to keep control for 30 seconds to take the win and advance to the finals to avenge both of his Big Ten losses.
Mendez got to that point by beating No. 30 Briar Priest of Pitt 21-5 in the first round, Sergio Lemley of Michigan 11-2 in the second round and Vance VomBaur of Minnesota 17-5 in the quarterfinals.
Ohio State tied for fifth place as a team with Minnesota at 51.5 points, behind Penn State — which broke its record from last year for most team points with 177.0 — Nebraska (117.0), Oklahoma State (102.5) and Iowa (81.0).
