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With blood streaming over his chin, Jesse Mendez of the Ohio State Buckeyes claimed his second Big Ten championship at 141 lbs, capping off an undefeated season heading into the NCAA Championships late next week in Cleveland.
The final was a battle of the two most recent Big Ten champions, as Mendez took home the title in 2024 while Brock Hardy of Nebraska claimed it in 2025. Hardy beat Mendez in the Big Ten semifinals last year, though Mendez got his revenge in the final of the NCAA Championships, when he beat Hardy and won his second consecutive NCAA title.
Mendez has raised his game a level this year, scoring bonus points in almost every single match. Even wrestlers like Beau Bartlett (Penn State) and Hardy, who troubled Mendez in the past, haven't been able to touch him this year. Hardy has twice made Mendez work for his wins this, but Mendez was never really in danger of losing either match.
The Buckeye got on the board with a takedown in the first period, and found himself with a 4-2 lead late in the third. The third period was stopped twice due to a cut that opened up on Mendez's face, but that didn't prevent Mendez from winning the match and reclaiming his Big Ten title. He walked off the mat with blood flowing and a huge smile on his face, and he'll be heavily favored to join the ranks of three-time NCAA champions late next week in Cleveland.
Mendez's win followed immediately after Ben Davino won the title at 133 lbs, giving the Buckeyes two titles, a second place (Ethan Stiles), and a third (Nic Bouzakis) in the first four weight classes.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State's Jesse Mendez wins second Big Ten wrestling title
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The final was a battle of the two most recent Big Ten champions, as Mendez took home the title in 2024 while Brock Hardy of Nebraska claimed it in 2025. Hardy beat Mendez in the Big Ten semifinals last year, though Mendez got his revenge in the final of the NCAA Championships, when he beat Hardy and won his second consecutive NCAA title.
Mendez has raised his game a level this year, scoring bonus points in almost every single match. Even wrestlers like Beau Bartlett (Penn State) and Hardy, who troubled Mendez in the past, haven't been able to touch him this year. Hardy has twice made Mendez work for his wins this, but Mendez was never really in danger of losing either match.
The Buckeye got on the board with a takedown in the first period, and found himself with a 4-2 lead late in the third. The third period was stopped twice due to a cut that opened up on Mendez's face, but that didn't prevent Mendez from winning the match and reclaiming his Big Ten title. He walked off the mat with blood flowing and a huge smile on his face, and he'll be heavily favored to join the ranks of three-time NCAA champions late next week in Cleveland.
Mendez's win followed immediately after Ben Davino won the title at 133 lbs, giving the Buckeyes two titles, a second place (Ethan Stiles), and a third (Nic Bouzakis) in the first four weight classes.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State's Jesse Mendez wins second Big Ten wrestling title
Continue reading...
