Mendez, Davino Win Big Ten Titles, Buckeyes Take Second

Results | 2026 NCAA Allocations

Final 2026 Big Ten Championship Brackets

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State’s Ben Davino (133) and Jesse Mendez (141) won Big Ten Championships for the Buckeyes Sunday to help Ohio State earn a second-place team finish in the 2026 Big Ten Championships at the Bryce Jordan Center on the Penn State University campus.

Davino, a redshirt freshman, won his first league title while Mendez claimed his second.

The Buckeyes had eight total wrestlers battling in the final session Sunday for Top 3 finishes.

In the championship, Ohio State scored 148.5 points and came away with two champions, a second-place finisher, four thirds, a fourth, and two seventh-place finishes.

The team finish was the highest since a second-place effort in 2019.

In the early session Sunday, the Buckeyes swept all five consolation semifinal matches to advance to the third-place matches later in the evening.

All 10 Buckeyes earned a spot in the 2026 NCAA Championships in Cleveland. The event will be held March 19-21 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The NCAA selection show is scheduled for 8 p.m. Wednesday and will be streamed on NCAA.com.

Tom Ryan, head coach of the Buckeyes, has qualified 10 wrestlers for the NCAA championships for the second-consecutive year and for the fifth time in his Ohio State career. In all, 167 Buckeyes have made the NCAA championships in Ryan’s 20 years in Columbus with 75 earning All-America honors.

Mendez, the two-time defending national champion at 141, is the 19th NCAA qualifier at that weight during Ryan’s career in Columbus. He has sent 18 qualifiers at 149, 165, 174 and 184.

2026 Big Ten Wrestling

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

Wrestler of the Year: Jesse Mendez, Ohio State, 141

Freshman of the Year: Ben Davino, Ohio State, 133

Coach of the Year: Tom Ryan, Ohio State

Outstanding Wrestler of the Championships: PJ Duke, Penn State, 157

ALL-BIG TEN FIRST TEAM

Luke Lilledahl, Penn State, 125

Ben Davino, Ohio State, 133

Jesse Mendez, Ohio State, 141

Shayne Van Ness, Penn State, 149

PJ Duke, Penn State, 157

Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State 165

Levi Haines, Penn State, 174

Rocco Welsh, Penn State, 184

Josh Barr, Penn State, 197

Taye Ghadiali, Michigan, 285

ALL-BIG TEN SECOND TEAM

Jore Volk, Minnesota, 125

Marcus Blaze, Penn State, 133

Brock Hardy, Nebraska, 141

Ethan Stiles, Ohio State, 149

Antrell Taylor, Nebraska, 157

Mikey Caliendo, Iowa, 165

Christopher Minto, Nebraska, 174

Max McEnelly, Minnesota, 184

Camden McDaniel, Nebraska, 197

AJ Ferrari, Nebraska, 285

ATTENDANCE:

Session 1: 13,133

Session 2: 13,186

Session 3-4: 13,226

Total: 39,545

NCAA Wrestling Championship Schedule

2026 Big Ten Championships — Session IV
125 – Third – (2) Nic Bouzakis (OSU) def. (4) Jacob Moran (IND), D, 4-2
The first period was scoreless in the first match of the final session for the Buckeyes. Bouzakis opened the scoring with an escape to start the second for a 1-0 lead. The wrestlers started neutral in the final period. Bouzakis scored a takedown for a 4-1 lead after a Moran escape. After being warned for stalling, Bouzakis was penalized a point late to make it 4-2. Bouzakis got the win by decision to take third at the 2026 Big Ten Championships.

Bouzakis, wrestling in his third Big Ten Championship, went 4-1 overall and earned a spot in the 2026 NCAA Championships. Bouzakis is a three-time NCAA qualifier (2024, 2025, 2026).

133 – Finals – (3) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (1) Marcus Blaze (PSU), D, 2-2 TB-2
It was scoreless after the first period. Davino started from bottom to start the second and quickly escaped for a 1-0 lead. Each wrestler was warned for stalling with under 30 seconds to go in the period. Davino got in on a shot but did not score before time ran out. Blaze evened the match with an escape to start the third. The match went to sudden victory tied at 1-all. There was no scoring in the extra period, sending the bout to tiebreakers. Blaze started on bottom and escaped after 17 seconds to go up 2-1. Davino quickly escaped to tie it 2-2. Davino got the win with riding time advantage.

Davino, wrestling in his first Big Ten Championship, went 4-0 overall and earned a spot in the 2026 NCAA Championships. Davino is a first-time NCAA qualifier (2026).

B1G BEN ??????

In the final tiebreaker, No. 3 seed Ben Davino of @wrestlingbucks defeats No. 2 seed Marcus Blaze of Penn State to claim the 133-pound @B1GWrestling title.#NCAAWrestling x ?? BTN pic.twitter.com/JEo5MtNC43

— NCAA Men’s Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 8, 2026

Hear from Ben Davino after claiming his first Big Ten Championship. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/fFzkhitAc9

— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 8, 2026

The @wrestlingbucks‘ squads reaction to Ben Davino getting the upset W in TB2 over Marcus Blaze ????

Watch on @BigTenNetwork ?? pic.twitter.com/cqXZE5Tstf

— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) March 8, 2026

141 – Finals – (1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (2) Brock Hardy (NEB), D, 7-2
Hardy was warned for stalling early in the opening period. Mendez scored first with a takedown followed by a Hardy escape to make it 3-1 after the first period. Mendez added an escape point in the second to lead 4-1 headed to the third. Hardy added an escape point early in the final period. Mendez was warned for stalling before getting a late takedown to win by decision, 7-2.

Mendez, wrestling in his fourth Big Ten Championship, went 4-0 overall and earned a spot in the 2026 NCAA Championships. Mendez is a four-time NCAA qualifier (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026) and the two-time defending national champion (2024, 2025) at 141.

Another B1G win for the @wrestlingbucks ??

This time it’s the 1-seed at 141 lbs Jesse Mendez who just claimed his 2??nd @bigten Championship ??

Watch on @BigTenNetwork ?? pic.twitter.com/EL5jdUKHEh

— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) March 8, 2026

Jesse Mendez right after winning the 2026 Big Ten Championship at 141. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/B0XnTfP9b8

— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) March 8, 2026

149 – Finals – (1) Shayne Van Ness (PSU) def. (2) Ethan Stiles (OSU), F, 3:29
The first three minutes went without either wrestler scoring. Stiles started from bottom to open the second. Van Ness then got the pin at 3:29.

Stiles, wrestling in his first Big Ten Championship, went 2-1 overall and earned a spot in the 2026 NCAA Championships. Stiles is a two-time NCAA qualifier (2025, 2026).

157 – Third – (3) Kannon Webster (ILL) def. (7) Brandon Cannon (OSU), D, 9-2
Cannon started the scoring with an escape early in the second period for a 1-0 lead. Webster scored a late takedown for a 3-1 advantage going to the final period. He added another early in the final period for a 6-1 lead. Cannon earned an escape to make it 6-2. Webster scored another takedown to end the third to win by decision, 9-2.

Cannon, wrestling in his second Big Ten Championship, went 4-2 overall, finished fourth and earned a spot in the 2026 NCAA Championships. Cannon is a two-time NCAA qualifier (2025, 2026)

174 – Third – (4) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. (3) Patrick Kennedy (IOWA), D, 7-3
Kharchla got the opening takedown with under a minute left in the opening period to lead 3-1 after three minutes. Kharchla added an escape point early in the second for a 4-1 lead. Kennedy earned an escape to begin the third. Kharchla added another takedown to up the lead to 7-2 and get the win by decision, 7-3.

Kharchla, wrestling in his fourth Big Ten Championship, went 4-1 overall and earned a spot in the 2026 NCAA Championships. Kharchla is a four-time NCAA qualifier (2022, 2023, 2025, 2026).

197 – Third – (5) Luke Geog (OSU) def. (8) Gabe Sollars (IND), D, 7-5
Geog started quick with a pair of takedowns in the first minute for a 6-1 lead. Sollars added an escape late in the first and another to open the second to make it 6-3 Geog. From bottom to begin the third, Geog added an escape point after giving up a point for stalling. Geog was called for stalling again late but got the win by decision, 7-5.

Geog, wrestling in his second Big Ten Championship, went 4-1 overall and earned a spot in the 2026 NCAA Championships. Geog is a two-time NCAA qualifier (2025, 2026).

HWT – Third – (3) Nick Feldman (OSU) def. (10) Ben Kueter (IOWA), D, 6-2
In the final match of the championship for the Buckeyes, there was no score in the opening three minutes. Kueter escaped to start the second for a 1-0 lead after five minutes. Starting neutral in the third, Feldman scored a takedown with 1:15 left to take a 3-1 lead. Kueter earned an escape to make it 3-2 with a minute to go. Feldman added a takedown to close out the final period to win by decision, 6-2.

Feldman, wrestling in his third Big Ten Championship, went 4-1 overall and earned a spot in the 2026 NCAA Championships. Feldman is a three-time NCAA qualifier (2024, 2025, 2026).

2026 Big Ten Championships — Session III
125-Cons. SFs – (2) Nic Bouzakis (OSU) def. (8) Dean Peterson (IOWA), D, 6-4
Peterson opened with a takedown followed by a Bouzakis escape for a 3-1 Iowa lead. Bouzakis took a 4-3 lead with a takedown with two minutes gone in the opening period. Bouzakis added an escape point to open the second and went to the third period leading 5-3. Bouzakis built more than a minute of riding time in the third. Peterson was awarded a point on a Bouzakis penalty (locked hands) before Bouzakis got the win by decision, 6-4.

157-Cons. SFs. – (7) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. (4) Cameron Catrabone (MICH), D, 4-0
There was no score after the opening three minutes. Cannon built two minutes of riding time in the second period and chose neutral to start the third. Catrabone was issued a stall warning about 30 seconds into the final period. Cannon scored the first takedown late in the third and with a point for riding time got the win by decision, 4-0.

165-7th – (8) Paddy Gallagher (OSU) def. (6) Braeden Scoles (ILL), MFF
Gallagher won the seventh-place match at 165 after Illinois’ Braeden Scoles medically forfeited. Gallagher, wrestling in his third Big Ten Championship, went 3-2 overall and earned a spot in the 2026 NCAA Championships. Gallagher is a three-time NCAA qualifier (2023, 2025, 2026).

174-Cons. SFs – (4) Carson Kharchla (OSU) def. (11) Lenny Pinto (RUT), D, 7-0
Kharchla scored the opening takedown with just over two minutes gone in the first for a 3-0 lead. He finished the period with just under a minute of riding time accumulated. Kharchla added a point with a quick escape in the second for the only scoring of the middle period. Kharchla added a third period takedown for a 7-0 advantage and win by decision.

184-7th – (6) Dylan Fishback (OSU) def. (8) Angelo Ferrari (IOWA), MFF
Fishback won the seventh-place match at 184 after Iowa’s Angelo Ferrari medically forfeited. Fishback, wrestling in his first Big Ten Championship, went 4-1 overall and earned a spot in the 2026 NCAA Championships. Fishback is a three-time NCAA qualifier (2024, 2025, 2026)

197-Cons. SFs – (5) Luke Geog (OSU) def. (3) Remy Cotton (RUT), MD, 10-0
Geog opened with a takedown for a 3-0 lead. Geog scored in the second with a pair of nearfall points for a 5-0 lead. He also upped his riding time advantage to more than four minutes. An escape in the third made it 6-0 just before a takedown upped the lead to 9-0. With a point for riding time, Geog got the win by major decision, 10-0.

HWT-Cons. SFs – (3) Nick Feldman (OSU) def. (5) Braxton Amos (WIS), D, 4-1
There was no scoring in the opening three minutes. Amos escaped to start the second for a 1-0 lead. Feldman was given a stalling warning midway through the second. Feldman evened the bout at 1-all with an escape to open the third. Feldman got the win by decision, 4-1, with a late takedown in the third.

Ohio State at the 2026 Big Ten Championships
125-Nic Bouzakis (3-1/3rd)

QFs – (2) Nic Bouzakis (OSU) def. (7) Nicolar Rivera (WIS), TF, 17-2
SFs – (6) Joey Volk (MINN) def. (2) Nic Bouzakis (OSU), D, 8-1
Cons. SFs – (2) Nic Bouzakis (OSU) def. (8) Dean Peterson (IOWA), D, 6-4
Third – (2) Nic Bouzakis (OSU) vs. (4) Jacob Moran (IND)

133-Ben Davino (4-0/1st)

Round 1 – (3) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (14) Jager Eisch (MINN), TF, 19-2
QFs – (3) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (6) Jacob Van Dee (NEB), D, 5-1
SFs – (3) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (10) Blake Boarman (PUR), TF, 21-5
Fs – (3) Ben Davino (OSU) def. (1) Marcus Blaze (PSU), D, 2-2 TB-2

141-Jesse Mendez (3-0/1st)

QFs – (1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (8) Billy DeKraker (NU), F, 1:04
SFs – (1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (4) Nasir Bailey (IOWA), TF, 19-4
Fs – (1) Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. (2) Brock Hardy (NEB), D, 7-2

149-Ethan Stiles (2-1/2nd)

QFs – (2) Ethan Stiles (OSU) def. (10) Drew Roberts (MINN), D, 4-1
SFs – (2) Ethan Stiles (OSU) vs. (3) Joseph Zargo (WIS)
Fs – (1) Shayne Van Ness (PSU) def. (2) Ethan Stiles (OSU), F, 3:29

157-Brandon Cannon (4-2/4th)

Round 1 – (7) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. (10) Victor Voinovich (IOWA), D, 6-0
QFs – (2) P.J. Duke (PSU) def. (7) Brandon Cannon (OSU), MD, 20-7
Cons. 2 – (7) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. (9) Stoney Buell (PUR), DEF
Cons. 3 – (7) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. (6) Charlie Millard (MINN), D, 9-4
Cons. SFs. – (7) Brandon Cannon (OSU) def. (4) Cameron Catrabone (MICH), D, 4-0
Third – (3) Kannon Webster (ILL) def. (7) Brandon Cannon (OSU), D, 9-2

165-Paddy Gallagher (3-1/7th)

174-Carson Kharchla (4-1/3rd)

184-Dylan Fishback (3-2/7th)

Round 1 – (6) Dylan Fishback (OSU) def. (11) J.D. Perez (NU), TF, 17-2
QFs – (3) Silas Allred (NEB) def. (6) Dylan Fishback (OSU), SV, 4-1
Cons. 2 – (6) Dylan Fishback (OSU) def. Sepanta Ahanj-Elias (UMD), TF, 17-1
Cons. 3 – Shane Cartagena-Walsh (RUT) def. (6) Dylan Fishback (OSU), D, 7-2
7th – (6) Dylan Fishback (OSU) def. (8) Angelo Ferrari (IOWA), MFF

197-Luke Geog (4-1/3rd)

Round 1 – (5) Luke Geog (OSU) def. (12) Dylan Connell (ILL), MD, 9-1
QFs – (5) Luke Geog (OSU) def. (4) Branson John (UMD), D, 9-4
SFs – (1) Josh Barr (PSU) def. (5) Luke Geog (OSU), TF, 18-3
Cons. SFs – (5) Luke Geog (OSU) def. (3) Remy Cotton (RUT), MD, 10-0
Third – (5) Luke Geog (OSU) def. (8) Gabe Sollars (IND), D, 7-5

285-Nick Feldman (4-1/3rd)

Round 1 – (3) Nick Feldman (OSU) def. (14) Caleb Marzolino (IND), TF, 21-6
QFs – (3) Nick Feldman (OSU) def. (6) Luke Luffman (ILL), D, 5-2
SFs – (2) A.J. Ferrari (NEB) def. (3) Nick Feldman (OSU), D, 2-1
Cons. SFs – (3) Nick Feldman (OSU) def. (5) Braxton Amos (WIS), D, 4-1
Third – (3) Nick Feldman (OSU) def. (10) Ben Kueter (IOWA), D, 6-2

#GoBucks

Mendez, Davino Win Big Ten Titles, Buckeyes Take Second

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