Ohio State was recognized on Mar. 8 with several major awards following the conclusion of the 2026 Big Ten Wrestling Championships. The Buckeyes finished second in the team standings and saw three members of their program honored by the conference.
The recognition highlights Ohio State’s strong performance during the season and at the championships, reflecting both individual and coaching excellence within the program.
Senior Jesse Mendez was named the 2026 Big Ten Wrestler of the Year after winning an individual title at 141 pounds. Freshman Ben Davino earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors, also capturing a conference title at 133 pounds. Both wrestlers were selected for All-Big Ten First Team honors. Redshirt sophomore Ethan Stiles was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team after finishing as runner-up at 149 pounds.
Head coach Tom Ryan received Big Ten Coach of the Year recognition. Under his leadership, Ohio State posted an 18-1 dual meet record for the season and scored 148.5 points to secure second place at the league championships.
Other notable awardees included PJ Duke of Penn State, who was named Outstanding Wrestler of the Championships at 157 pounds. The event drew significant attendance across its sessions, with a total turnout of 39,545 spectators.
Looking ahead, these accolades underscore Ohio State’s continued prominence in collegiate wrestling and set expectations for future seasons.