Ohio State finished in fifth place at the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 21, earning a total of 84.5 points at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
The result highlights the team’s strong performance, with five Buckeyes achieving All-America honors. Jesse Mendez became the 10th wrestler in Ohio State history to be named a four-time All-American. Graduate student Carson Kharchla earned his second All-America honor, while senior Paddy Gallagher, redshirt sophomore Brandon Cannon, and redshirt freshman Ben Davino received the distinction for the first time.
Mendez (141 pounds) and Davino (133 pounds) both reached their respective finals but fell short of national titles. Kharchla (174 pounds) and Cannon (157 pounds) each placed fourth, while Gallagher (165 pounds) finished eighth. In his final match, Mendez faced Sergio Vega of Oklahoma State and lost by decision in sudden victory, 4-1. Davino was defeated by Jax Forest of Oklahoma State in the last match of the championships.
Ten Ohio State wrestlers qualified for this year’s NCAA Championships, making it one of only six schools to have representation in all ten weight classes. Head coach Tom Ryan has now qualified ten wrestlers for nationals for two consecutive years and five times overall during his tenure at Ohio State. Over his twenty years leading the program, Ryan has seen 167 Buckeyes compete at nationals with 80 earning All-America status.
The tournament included notable performances from several team members across different weight classes. Brandon Cannon advanced to the third-place match at 157 pounds before finishing fourth after a technical fall loss to P.J. Duke of Penn State. Gallagher secured eighth place after facing former teammate Bryce Hepner, who now competes for North Carolina.
Looking ahead, Ohio State’s consistent presence among top teams at the NCAA Championships reflects ongoing strength within its wrestling program.