Senior Jesse Mendez and redshirt freshman Ben Davino will compete for national titles after winning their semifinal matches at the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships, according to a March 20 announcement from Ohio State. The event is being held at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
The Buckeyes have five wrestlers who earned All-America honors during Saturday’s competition. Ohio State currently stands in fifth place with 69.5 points after two days of action.
Mendez, competing at 141 pounds, secured his spot in the finals with a 4-1 decision and will attempt to win his third consecutive NCAA championship against Sergio Vega of Oklahoma State. Davino advanced in the 133-pound class after a close overtime victory and will face top-seeded Jax Forest of Oklahoma State for the title.
Brandon Cannon (157 pounds), Paddy Gallagher (165), and Carson Kharchla (174) also achieved All-America status by winning their respective consolation quarterfinals. Mendez became only the tenth Buckeye wrestler to earn All-America honors four times.
Ohio State qualified wrestlers in all ten weight classes for the second year in a row, one of just six schools to do so this year. Head coach Tom Ryan has now qualified ten wrestlers for nationals five times during his tenure, with a total of 167 Buckeyes making appearances at the championships over his twenty years leading the program.
The final rounds determining first through eighth places are scheduled to begin Sunday morning, with championship matches set for Sunday night on ESPN.