2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships: Jesse Mendez pulls of spladle to clinch spot in semifinals

You never know what you’re going to see out of Jesse Mendez. The No. 1 seed from Ohio State got a pin in the quarterfinals over Nebraska’s Brock Hardy to clinch All-American status.

Mendez will wrestle in the semifinals Friday night, but he’ll have one of the best highlights of the entire tournament. He locked up a spladle, which you don’t see often at the collegiate level.

Look below and see for yourself as the T-Mobile Center exploded.

DISGUSTING SPLADLE FROM JESSE MENDEZ pic.twitter.com/G2yi65nvxQ

— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) March 22, 2024

The spladle, as you can see, is when Mendez uses a leg and an arm to lock up his opponent’s legs. Doing so brings Hardy’s shoulders to the mat for the pin.

“I’ve never drilled a spladle in my life,” Mendez said. “But when you see it and you’re mid-match, you just gotta rip it. That’s kind of what happened.”

Mendez will wrestle Iowa State’s No. 5 Anthony Echemendia in Friday night’s semifinals.

How to watch 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships

Fubo’s spring offer just kicked off – For a limited time, new subscribers can save $20 on their first month of Fubo’s Pro, Elite, and Premier plans.

Fans not in attendance for this year’s NCAA Wrestling Tournament have the option of streaming on Fubo TV. Below is how to watch across all sessions!

Dates: Friday-Saturday (March 22nd to 23rd)
Session 4: 8:00 p.m ET (Friday)
Session 5: 12:00 p.m. ET (Saturday)
Session 6: 7:00 p.m. ET (Saturday)

Location: T-Mobile Center (Kansas City, MO)
Channel: ESPN and ESPNU
Live Stream: Fubo TV (Try for free)