Jesse Mendez overcomes rivalries en route to second straight NCAA Wrestling title for Ohio State

Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez won an NCAA Wrestling title in a classic in 2024 and did it again in 2025 in Philadelphia. Mendez wasn’t the top dog this year until the end, going through rivals in this year’s bracket.

Mendez wrestled Penn State’s Beau Bartlett for the sixth time, this time in the semifinals, and beat him in tiebreakers. Bartlett beat him twice last year to get payback for the loss in last year’s NCAA finals.

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After that, Mendez beat Nebraska’s Brock Hardy in the final, who beat him 9-8 in the Big Ten Tournament. It’s hard to repeat, but Mendez won when it mattered most.

“Yeah, I mean, I’d say it’s hard to repeat,” Mendez said following his win Saturday night. “I think guys become complacent once they win that first one. You reach that milestone and you kind of become complacent, figure there’s a target on your back.

“But that didn’t happen to me. I stayed super focused. I had a mindset that I was hunting, not being hunted. But I took some bumps in the road. Took three losses, two at Big Tens. Got fourth at my own conference, and that led a lot of people to doubt me.”

Mendez is now 77-14 in his career, a three-time All-American and two-time national champion. The 141 pound Buckeye just stuck to his guns and beliefs and won a wild affair in the finals.

“But I saw a quote earlier, it was like two days after Big Tens, is why I seek validation from a world that crucified a perfect man,” Mendez said. “That stuck with me. And I stopped wrestling for the spectators and started wrestling for the people who pour into me and wrestling for myself.”
Mendez beat Hardy 12-9 after trailing 5-0, giving up a takedown and nearfall points in the first point. But an escape, takedown and nearfall led Mendez back and in control.

“Yeah, I mean, I think it’s something to do with clash of styles,” Mendez said. “He’s got really good defense. He stings my ankles. I sting him. I think it’s a mindset thing. I think we both want to put points on the board.

“When you get two forward-mindset type of guys I think it’s just inevitable there’s going to be points. That’s why I enjoy competing against him so much. Yeah, I mean, he’ll be one of my favorite competitors throughout college.”

Mendez didn’t do it alone after all. Despite wrestling being an individual sport, his teammates and family were the loudest supporters.

“I’m sitting here because of them,” Mendez said. “This isn’t a one-man army. I have a lot of people behind me. Those are my ride or dies.”